Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 13 July 2021
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action
Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed)
Dr. Hannah Daly:
I thank the Deputy. I have a few suggestions, which include changing taxation to a model based on efficiency as well as emissions. Road pricing is also important, as Mr. Cazzola alluded to. Some more progress on taxation and regulation is also required. With regard to parking charges, there is currently massive public subsidisation to allow for free parking. My local town, the lovely seaside village of Kinsale, is rammed with cars, which are taking up waterfront space in this world-famous village. As Dr. Caulfield alluded to, this relates to the area of behavioural change but it relates even more so to values. Once people notice how much public space is used to store private vehicles, they cannot miss it. They see it everywhere. The public acceptability of people leaving their cars in towns for the day and our values in that regard need to change.
No comments