Climate Committee must outline a carbon tax roadmap in January – Naughton

The Climate Action Committee must outline a roadmap towards carbon pricing in its report in January, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Chair of the Climate Action Committee, Hildegarde Naughton, said more heat and power generation alternatives are needed before introducing carbon taxation of €80 – €90 per ton.

Deputy Naughton said: “The cross-party Committee on Climate Action is presently reviewing the entire State response to Climate Change.

“The Committee must outline a roadmap towards carbon pricing in its report in January.

“Ireland has not done enough. No doubt about that. But any solution needs cross party support as the choices to be made may not be faced up to when difficult decisions have to be taken.

“We need to have an agreed pathway to reduce our carbon emissions in place no matter what party is in Government.”

Deputy Naughton continued: “We cannot force people into fuel poverty by introducing a significant price of carbon increase where no alternatives to fossil fuels are available.

“There needs to be a substantial increase in alternative forms of heat and power generation before we could introduce such a large tax increase.

“If we have alternatives in place by 2030 it is very conceivable that the cost of carbon could increase to €80 or €90 per metric ton, or even beyond.

“This would then serve as an incentive to use more carbon efficient forms of heat and power generation.

“As the Taoiseach reiterated today in the Dáil, I believe that if we are going to increase carbon taxes, Ireland  should follow the model being pursued in Canada, where the money is given back to people in the form of tax credits and welfare payments for those at risk of fuel poverty.

“The Special Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change is a once off opportunity to get this right.

“We must all work together to formulate a workable trajectory for carbon pricing.”

ENDS