Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As other speakers have said, when we debate carbon taxation and climate change, we are, in effect, debating the future of humanity on our planet, the future of communities and peoples all over our world and, in some parts of our world, the future of their civilisation. That is what is at stake when we debate climate change and the future of our environment and our biodiversity.

When confronting a challenge of this scale, the best place to start is the science and the opinions of scientists on this topic. They have considered what are the most effective steps that can be taken to help mitigate this catastrophe, to help lessen the chaos and to help ensure that the generations to come have some chance of the standard of living that this and previous generations, or most of us, have been able to access. What do the scientists say? The advice from the majority of them who have considered this topic is clear. What is the view of our own Climate Change Advisory Council, CCAC - extraordinarily, not mentioned once by the Opposition in this entire debate - on the topic? Its view is that "Carbon tax is a key component of transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy".

The CCAC has also stated:

A very wide range of research in Ireland and elsewhere has shown that raising the cost of emitting greenhouse gases is essential if we are to halt global warming.

That is the view of the CCAC.

I heard a number of speakers, particularly in Sinn Féin, quote from a paper from the ESRI. Let us look at other papers from the ESRI and what have they stated. A paper from the ESRI this month stated:

In the coming years, major reductions to carbon emissions are going to be required to meet Irish and European objectives on climate action. A key part of this strategy will be the use of carbon taxes.

That is the view of the ESRI, oft quoted this evening, on the core issue we are confronting.

I heard Deputy Ó Broin quote from literature published by the University of Toronto. He made reference to a meta-paper. I was not quite sure what kind of analysis he was referring to but I researched it and maybe he is referring to a paper by Jessica Green, from the University of Toronto, in 2020 that did indeed raise issues and question the role carbon taxation can play, including in helping us to avoid a collapse of our environment. Deputy Ó Broin did not, however, make any reference to Roger Martin and a paper of his. He said a review of his "profiles a growing body of academic research and good evidence ... to show that careful carbon pricing policy may be a tool to help Canada ... prosper in the long term". Roger Martin is dean of the school of management at the University of Toronto. Deputy Ó Broin did not quote Danny Harvey either. Professor Harvey has said that carbon taxes work by encouraging people to change their habits. Professor Harvey is professor of geography, also at the University of Toronto. Deputy Ó Broin did not, I am sure, consider a paper by Tracy Snoddon and Trevor Tombe that stated, "Carbon taxes are not only an efficient tool to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, but they are also an increasingly important source of government revenue." That was also published by the University of Toronto.

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