After all political parties in the Dáil agreed to declare a “climate emergency” last week, attention is turning to ways of cutting greenhouse gas emissions – and how much it would cost. Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton and the chair of the state’s Climate Change Advisory Council John Fitzgerald have both insisted that they would look closely at the cost of measures to be supported by the Government in reducing Ireland’s emissions. Finally, some good news: measures to mitigate this may be cheaper to implement on farms than in transport or heating.
After all political parties in the Dáil agreed to declare a “climate emergency” last week, attention is turning to ways of cutting greenhouse gas emissions – and how much it would cost. Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton and the chair of the state’s Climate Change Advisory Council John Fitzgerald have both insisted that they would look closely at the cost of measures to be supported by the Government in reducing Ireland’s emissions. Finally, some good news: measures to mitigate this may be cheaper to implement on farms than in transport or heating.
Three experts who spoke at a recent seminar organised by the Irish Climate Science Forum (ICSF) discusses potential action in agriculture, heat and transport, which taken together must cut emissions by 20% in the next decade. While the ICSF promotes sceptic views on climate change, the three speakers did not question the reality of global warming or Ireland’s international obligations. Teagasc economist Trevor Donnellan presented some of the 25 measures the agency identified for the next decade.
The largest single carbon saving potential lies in planting more trees, which would cost €45/t CO2e
Those capable of causing the deepest cuts to emissions from farms are also among the cheapest. Improvement in the dairy herd’s EBI would actually save €200/t of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) removed, thanks to better livestock efficiency.
Switching from CAN to protected urea fertilisers would cost just over €8/t CO2e – and that’s because existing urea would have to be converted as well to tackle ammonia emissions. The largest single carbon saving potential lies in planting more trees, which would cost €45/t CO2e.
By contrast, energy consultant and former head of low carbon technologies at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Kevin O’Rourke presented costs multiple times higher for heating measures. Deep retrofits of 200,000 poorly insulated homes, for example, would cost an estimated €300/t CO2e. O’Rourke said his figures converted from data used by the Irish Academy of Engineering had not been robustly verified and were for indication only.
The development of public transport would carry high capital costs
Finally, transport. UCD associate professor of engineering David Timoney said that the largest gains may come from carrying more passengers in existing private vehicles, through innovations such as ride-sharing services already successful in the US. Meanwhile, the development of public transport would carry high capital costs.
He also calculated the cost of current Government incentives for electric cars, which he said carry high greenhouse gas emissions for the production of their batteries. Once purchase grants, reduced road tax and foregone fuel taxes are factored in over the lifetime of an electric car, the state currently pays €1,360/t CO2e avoided, Timoney said.
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