Progressive Democrats’ Little Green Book

They are back to old form, not bothering with the online version. So we are stuck with a press release. Much of this is in the manifesto from last Sunday. “Crucially, we believe that environmental sustainability can be delivered in a way that doesn’t damage the economy,” he [McDowell] said.

To be fair, they have had ten years to “divorce economic growth from carbon emissions” (a regular FF buzz-phrase). The last report from the EPA suggests that isn’t happening. Their environment and rural life policy from their website (which, I hazard, is not to dissimilar from the little green book) emphasises public transport.

Despite the PDs being widely credited with holding up Government purchases of buses for Dublin Bus. Other than that it is laudable stuff.

1 Raise the energy efficiency of all new homes and commercial buildings.

2 Introduce “hands-off ” zoning by local authorities for all sports, recreational and education-related lands to protect our urban “green lungs”.

3 Phase out inefficient, incandescent light bulbs.

4 Ensure peat-fired electricity stations use 30% renewable material by 2015.

5 Use every appropriate tax, excise relief and financial incentive to make Ireland a world leader in renewable energy crop production and use.

6 Invest €13 billion promoting a switch from private to public transport.

7 Ensure petrol and diesel have on average a 5.75% biofuel mix by 2009.

8 Ensure all new buses in the public fleet use a biofuel blend of at least 30%.

9 Replace the car tax system with one based on fuel efficiency.

10 Establish a National Waste Management Agency and a dedicated Water and Sewerage Services Office in the EPA.