Carlow’s emissions compared to China’s during heated discussion on Climate Action Plan

Carlow’s carbon emissions were compared to China’s during a heated discussion on the local authority’s Climate Action Plan.

A presentation on the implementation of the plan was made to councillors at the February plenary meeting of Carlow County Council.

Climate Action Co-Ordinator Jannette O’Brien told the meeting that the council has improved its energy efficiency by 41 per cent since 2009.

Therefore, it is on track to meet its 2030 target of a 50 per cent improvement in energy efficiency.

However, the local authority must reduce its carbon emissions by 52 percent if it to reach its 2030 target in that regard.

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There has been a 14 per cent reduction in non-electricity related emissions, much of which relate to transport.

93 of the council’s 101 vehicles remain diesel powered, although the council says it plans to decarbonise its entire fleet.

As part of this plan, it is currently undergoing a procurement process for three electric vans.

Ms O’Brien told the meeting that education and awareness play a crucial role in the council’s plan, and emphasised in-house training and community workshops.

A number of councillors spoke in the aftermath of the presentation, with the majority praising the council’s environmental team for the work it is doing.

The Cathoirleach, Cllr Ken Murnane, told Ms O’Brien that her passion for the environment always impresses him.

His Fianna Fáil colleague, Cllr Fintan Phelan, agreed and described the presentation as “a breath of fresh air”.

However, there were a number of councillors who raised concerns regarding climate related issues.

Fine Gael councillor Michael Doran commended Ms O’Brien for her “tremendous work” but had one question related to infrastructure projects.

Cllr Doran said: “It came up at the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) meeting and maybe the executive might have a comment to make.

“It was with regards something I heard on the radio regarding Galway and their plan for a ring road.

“It ended up [with] the planning board or wherever it went and part of their Climate Action Plan actually was used as a tool against them.

“So I’d just be afraid that some of these plans could be used maybe for objectors on infrastructure projects. It could be anything from a major road to Irish Water or the ESB or anybody else.”

He concluded by asking whether the council has done any research to discover whether a similar scenario could arise in Carlow.

In response to Cllr Doran, Ms O’Brien said she was aware of what was happening with other local authorities’ plans.

She continued: “I suppose with ours, it can’t happen. I’d be very surprised if it could because we gave careful consideration to the formation of the plan. The plan is for us in terms of what we do as a local authority, so it’s our buildings, our fleet.”

Ms O’Brien added that by outlining the actions it can take itself, the council’s plan should prevent anything similar happening locally.

While also welcoming the presentation, independent councillor Will Paton also raised concerns over infrastructure projects.

Cllr Paton said: “Given that we’ve opened the new housing office in Carlow town and [given] our plans for the Bank of Ireland, we’re going to need energy in there.

“The question then is, if we’re going to spend more energy, how do we cut back elsewhere? What sort of plans are we going to be looking at?”

In response, Ms O’Brien said that Cllr Paton had raised “a very valid point” around energy usage.

She continued: “We have to remember for the Climate Action Plan, the baseline is absolute. No matter what we do, we are mandated to make the same reductions.

“However, I will say, when we are acquiring new properties, there are energy considerations. To be fair to my colleagues, they are very aware now - I am not sure if it’s passion or nagging.

“I’m not quite sure which works but look it, they are putting very, very stringent measures in place to make sure we are monitoring and doing the best we can there.”

Ms O’Brien added that once the council participates in the Pathfinder retrofitting programme, it should have “more wiggle room” when it comes to energy usage.

Meanwhile, two councillors raised more general concerns about the Government’s climate policy.

Independent councillor Charlie Murphy spoke on the decision to scrap the Dublin Airport passenger cap.

He said that that decision will lead to “hundreds of thousands of extra carbon” being released into the atmosphere.

He pointed out that airlines do not pay any tax on aviation fuel, whilst motorists have to pay tax on petrol and diesel.

Cllr Murphy also highlighted the Taoiseach’s trip to Brazil for the United Nations’ COP summit in November of last year.

While he acknowledged that Ms O’Brien is doing what she is asked, he questioned what impact the work will have on Ireland’s carbon emissions.

He concluded: “So look it, you’re doing what you can, you’re doing your job, you’re doing what you're asked to do but my God Almighty.

“Our carbon footprint, within the county of Carlow, is 3 per cent within the county. It wouldn’t even move the needle nationally.”

Sinn Féin councillor Andy Gladney had similar grievances, referencing a rumoured Government plan to ban stoves.

Cllr Gladney said: “I was reading in the paper yesterday that the Government is considering banning solid-fuel stoves.

“It would be very easy for someone sitting in the Department or the Government that has a big cushy job and plenty of money.

“They’re not living in the country on an old age pension, relying on a stove to heat the house.”

“They mustn’t be living in the real world, taking into consideration stopping an old age pensioner or somebody from having a stove to reduce emissions in the atmosphere. I can’t get my head around this.”

He also expressed frustration at the use of council vans to monitor dumping cases throughout the county.

He stated: “Another thing that bothers me as well is when Carlow County Council sends out a small van, which is producing emissions, to look at rubbish dumped somewhere out the countryside.

“He takes a photo of it and he has to come back in because he can’t keep it all in the van. He then has to get a contractor to come out in a bigger truck and he’s causing twice as many emissions by going out in the bigger truck.”

Cllr Gladney added that this was “all contradictory” and “a load of b***s**t”. However, he said he wasn’t trying to point the finger at Ms O’Brien or the Chief Executive, Coilín O'Reilly.

However, Mr O’Reilly said he was “more than happy” to have the finger pointed at him and to stand by his decisions.

“It gets into my head, it’s doing my head in,” Cllr Gladney concluded. To this, Cllr Murnane said: “I can see it’s tormenting you, Andy.”

At the end of the discussion, Cllr Murphy came back in to provide the meeting with an update on China’s carbon emissions.

He stated: “I just Googled it there. They’ve opened a brand new coal mine in China and it’s producing 40,000 tonnes of coal per day.”

Cllr Murphy then made a reference to radio presenter James Lakes, who is also employed as the council’s Environmental Protection Officer.

It is unclear what he meant by this remark and he received no response from the council executive.

Carlow County Council says it aims to “show leadership in the area of effective adaptation and mitigation against climate change”.

It is following the Government’s target by aiming to reduce its carbon emissions by 51 per cent by 2030.