Wednesday, July 16, 2008

More Carbon Tax nonsense from Ireland's ESRI

The The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) claims that an EU-wide tax on CO2 emissions would ensure that Irish industries, like farming, would not be at a disadvantage compared to other European countries.
I would suggest that the learned gentlemen of the ESRI should get out of their academic ivory tower.They are insulated from reality. Pronouncements from this body are treated as gospel. To question its findings is a form of sacrilege. Well the time has come to bin some of its suggestions.

With sky rocketing oil prices on the world market, huge petrol and diesel price rises have fed through to industry and the consumer. This is a carbon tax in action. Farming,fishing,transport and industrial sectors of the Irish economy are in dire straits. Unemployment has risen sharply.The ESB has announced a 17.5% price rise in electricity for August 1st. with another hike due in January 08. Huge gas price rises are in the pipeline. These will cripple consumers and the productive sector.

The ESRI claim-that an EU wide carbon tax would not leave Irish industry and agriculture at a disadvantage to the other EU countries-indicates the limited nature of the Institute’s thinking. Irish industry and agriculture compete on a world wide basis and not just on an EU basis. Meanwhile countries such as India,China,Russia plough ahead with a massive expansion in the generation of electricity using fossil fuels. Their Governments have no intention of cutting back on the use of fossil fuels.

We already have carbon taxes in operation in Ireland at present. Enough is enough. Any weakening in the value of the Euro would further exacerbate the situation. It is time for the learned gentlemen of the ESRI to come up with something practical for a change. Theoretical models will not put bread and butter on the table.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

We have to reduce our consumption of fossil fuel simply because they are getting more expensive and we have to import them. China can afford to burn coal, we can't. Of course carbon based fuels should be taxed, they are the most valuable resource we have.

rainywalker said...

Mr. Barry,
Here, here! We are on the same page now. Good sense for both our countries.

John Barry said...

The US has huge oil deposits in the Artic, off shore and in oil shale. It should exploit them. Over a 10-20 year period it can wean itself off oil imports from the Middle East. It also has huge coal deposits.
China has an appalling environmental record. Just look at the smog in Beijing. It is a huge contributor to the rising CO2 levels. Why should we penalise ourselves if China can get away scot-free and undo the good done by others.
The point I was making was that over the last six months there has been a huge rise in the cost of oil and gas. As far as most people are concerned that is carbon tax enough. Why should we destroy our economy with an extra carbon tax imposed by the Government and allow the Chinese -who abide by no rules- to be come an economic super power. The Chinese will not impose a carbon tax on oil imports. Just look at their activities in Sudan where they support oppression in Southern Sudan. Effectively the Chinese control most of the Sudanese oil industry. They are not in the least worried about conservation. They are making no effort to cut down on their oil imports. They are involved in a natural resources grab throughout the world. They have even extended their influence into parts of South America. At the UN they have supported Mugabe and also vetoed efforts to tackle problems in Sudan and Burma. The West needs to wake up.

Anonymous said...

The point is that the carbon tax will be set so people will just about afford it, if they had to, but it would be attractive for people to use alternative energy sources. Saving on fossil fuel imports and carbon emmisions

rainywalker said...

Between oil, oil shale and gas we likely have enought fuel for 300 years in the US and Alaska. But you wont hear that much in Washington or from the lap dog media.