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)

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the presentations, which were thought-provoking. I was anxious for us to have this debate because I have been concerned for some time about this notion that we can have 1 million EVs on the road by 2030 and that this will, to some extent, solve the problem. The witnesses' research and modelling has clearly identified that this is not enough. I support everything they have said about it not being a matter of a one to one switch and about how we have to reduce the use of cars and the numbers of cars. They have covered all of this. They have come at these issues from an academic perspective but I am mindful that we are in a political environment and that this has to be sold to the public. Just because it is the right thing to do does not always mean that it will be accepted by the public. While there has been considerable buy-in with regard to climate change and reducing carbon output, even within the political sphere, I have seen the difficulties in addressing the kinds of measures that are necessary. Carbon pricing, for example, does not have universal political support.

I am conscious that, come the next election and when consumers start to see the impact on their lives, these issues may become politically divisive. That is why I am interested in any examples the witnesses may have of other jurisdictions where this has been done well. It seems that, notwithstanding people's desire to do what is right, unless the incentives are clear and obvious, behavioural change will not be achieved. The witnesses are correct about incentivising the purchase of electric bicycles and so on but it is a big step to move from a car to a bike. It is probably a smaller step to move from an EV to an electric bike. With the assistance of the witnesses, we need to chart the behavioural change required over time.

I look on in wonderment every September when we, as politicians, are challenged to address school transport issues with the Department of Transport. If a pupil is 0.1 km too close to the school, he or she does not get the ticket. I am of the view that all kids within the catchment area of the school should get free transport. There should be no charge whatsoever. This would have two effects. It would take away the incentive or necessity for the parents to drive but it would also get children using public transport at an early stage. If they become early adopters, they will be retained for life. It is the same with EVs. I have seen people who have taken the jump to an EV and, as a result, have changed many other aspects of their lives with regard to carbon output. I would be interested to hear about that.

The taxi fleet was mentioned. There was an interesting example in that regard in Copenhagen or Amsterdam. Dr. Caulfield might refer to that. Does he see any role for green hydrogen? As the witnesses will know, the ESB has some imaginative plans to generate green hydrogen at Moneypoint through the proposed deployment of significant wind farms off the west coast. Is there a role for that? Should we bring it forward? This goes back to what Dr. Daly said about the large transport fleet and heavy goods vehicles. I am sorry; I have gone on a bit.

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