‘Unless we do enough we’ll end up with most of Meath under water’

Paul Murphy
First there was Storm Ophelia, then we got the full force of Storm Emma. Some of us, especially farmers, might think it has already arrived but is “the deluge” next to hit us?
It is according to Fine Gael Cllr Noel French who told Meath County Council this week that if urgent action isn’t taken to tackle climate change “we’ll end up with most of Co Meath under water”.
He was speaking as council officials announced plans for making energy savings in a two-year and 12-year action. It intends reducing Meath County Council emissions by 33% by 2020; cutting C02 emissions in the county by at least 40% by 2030; and increasing its resilience by adapting to the impacts of climate change. It has already made one small but significant change by cutting out paper cups in the council – 60,000 a year but stresses there are benefits for households and businesses by using energy more efficiently. Low-income families will benefit as they get the energy saving message, putting more money into their pockets for spending in local businesses, the Council says. It is sending out the message that climate action will become increasingly important if Meath wants to continue to attract inward investment from big businesses.

“Creating jobs – Irish corporate leaders on climate change have identified that tens of thousands of jobs can be created across Ireland by moving to a low carbon economy” says the draft Climate Action Strategy proposed by the council.
Cllr French produced a map which purported to show large areas of Ireland and Britain, including Co Meath and Co Louth, under water if the effects of climate change are not tackled. He said that some steps had been taken on climate change but they had started at a late stage. He said he had proposed motions on the issue at Council level in 2011 and 2015. This is highly important. It is going to affect all of us, our children and our grandchildren”. He said if urgent action is not taken now very little land would be left above sea level. “That is what is coming. Unless we do enough we’ll end up with most of Meath under water”, he said.

Although a 33% reduction in emissions was ambitious he didn’t think this target would be met in the time allowed. “We’re living in fairyland. We need to tackle this in a two-year period. Half of Bangladesh will be under water in two years time”. He wanted to know why the Meath Council couldn’t copy Tipperary which has a large solar panel project and has cut its energy bill by 11%.
His FG colleague Cllr Alan Tobin said that conflicting messages were coming out about climate change. “We’re being confused into thinking nothing will happen but sea levels are rising year after year. He said that in his own home he now had complete LED lighting. He said that three schools had been built in Ashbourne in the last three years and the only energy-saving measure that had been done was the harvesting of rainwater from the roofs.

Independent Cllr Trevor Golden drew attention to Germany where, he said, there was the highest rates of recycling in the world. 
However, the price of electricity there had “rocketed” because of the heavy subsidisation of green initiatives. The agricultural industry here should be encouraged to become more energy efficient, he said. Independent Cllr Sharon Keogan drew attention to the Government scheme in which heating control systems were provided free for households.