In this article Friends of the Earth outline the key elements of a Green New Deal that would enable people and communities to drive a just transition to a zero carbon future.
Under the Paris Agreement 195 countries have agreed to work to limit global warming to 1.5C. The latest scientific assessment by the UN said this will “require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society”. We have to cut our polluting emissions in half by 2030 and to near zero by 2050, which means Irish emissions have to fall 6-7% year-on-year, every year, from now to 2050. However, Irish emissions are rising, not falling.
But there is hope. The Citizens' Assembly report on climate change came up with far-reaching but practical proposals. As a special all-party Oireachtas committee grapples with how to progress them and the new Minister, Richard Bruton, is promising a new "all-of-government climate action plan", we are proposing a 12-step programme to quit fossil fuels. This "Green New Deal" would deliver warmer homes that are cheaper to run, community-owned renewable electricity, better public transport with lower fares, and greater transparency and accountability in Government decision making.
1. An SSIA-scheme for insulation
We need to upgrade at least 100,000 homes a year between now at 2030. Householders are going to have to invest themselves, but the state has to make it attractive and simple. Something like the old SSIA scheme, for every €4 you invest in retrofitting your home the state gives you €1.
2. A 'Tipperary Energy Agency for every county'
Householders also need project management support to figure out what they need to get done and what contractor to trust to do it and at what price. The Tipperary Energy Agency has built up an unrivalled capability and reputation for doing that well in a way that appeals to people. We need to scale up the same capacity in every county in Ireland, modelled on the success of Tipp Energy.
3. Every new house must be zero carbon
Houses last for a 100 years. And we need cut our emissions in half by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. Given how leaky and polluting our current housing stock is every new house we build from now on has to be zero carbon.
4. Prioritise upgrading social housing
The Government must resource and mandate local authorities to upgrade the existing social housing stock as an absolute priority. And all new social housing must be zero carbon. The benefits of the transition must be inclusive and leave no one behind.
5. Every school a solar school, and unlock the rooftop revolution
Every school, parish halls, sports clubs and farm buildings should have solar panels on their roofs generating electricity and generating income. It’s happening across Europe, but it doesn’t happen here as any power you don’t use goes to the ESB for free, so it doesn’t make economic sense to invest. Ireland does community-scale well, from Tidy Towns to GAA. We need to unlock that potential with a rooftop revolution that puts citizens at the heart of the energy transition, making it something that’s done by and with them.
6. A Just Transition Taskforce
We have known for 20 years that we have to stop burning coal and peat for electricity and Government is still dragging its heels. We need a Just Transition Taskforce now, with representatives from the unions, the ESB and Bord Na Mona, all the state agencies, NGOs and local community development representatives. It needs to have the resources and the authority to support the affected workers, their families and communities, to plan for a sustainable future and realize it.
7. Leave Moneypoint offline
Coal provided just 12% of our electricity in 2017, but over 29% of our climate pollution from electricity. Our only coal-fired power plant, Moneypoint, is actually closed and has been for months, due to a fault. And the lights are still on, proving we don’t need to burn coal even during peak winter demand.
8. Stop burning peat for electricity
Peat is even worse, providing just 7% of our electricity but producing 20% of our pollution. We’ve been subsidizing that to the tune of more than €100 million a year: that direct subsidy ends in 2019. We should just stop burning peat in 2020 and use the subsidies we save to support the affected workers and communities.
9. Invest in public transport, cycling and walking; and reduce fares
Transport is the area our pollution has risen fastest. We should implement the very simple Citizens' Assembly recommendation that 1/3 of the transport budget should go on roads and 2/3 should go to public transport, cycling and walking (reversing the current ratio). We also need to reduce bus, tram and train fares to make them more accessible and attractive. Ireland has one of the lowest public transport subsidies in Europe.
10. 5-year Carbon Budgets
The new climate and energy plan should come with two 5-year carbon budgets, voted on by the Dáil. That’s simply the total amount of pollution Ireland will emit from 2021-2025 and 2026-2030. Departments then negotiate within that for their share of the pie, just like the fiscal budget and implement policies to stay within their budget.
11. Carbon Impact Assessments
No Government policy that might affect our emissions should be adopted by Cabinet in the dark. They should run the numbers and estimate how much emissions will go up or down. That assessment should be in front of Cabinet when they make the decision and it should be published when they announce any new policy, plan or programme.
12. A cheque in the post
We are going to need to increase the price on carbon, in line with the polluter pays principle. It will give a steady signal that every time we have a choice, choosing the less polluting option will save us money, as will investing in energy saving. But we have to do the carbon tax in a way that protects the most vulnerable and is socially fair.
We support the suggested 'carbon tax and refund' scheme where the increase in the carbon tax would go straight back to people as an equal lump sum 'cheque-in-the-post'. If you spend less than the average person on polluting things you end up with a cash bonus. If you spend more than the average person on polluting things you end up out of pocket. Less well-off households spend less on average than richer households on polluting goods, so they should end up a little better off under a carbon tax and refund scheme.