The Climate Chap: The luck of the Irish

22 Aug, 2022

When I was a kid living in London, I knew that New Zealand and Ireland were wonderful and yet comparable countries – island and proud nations, relying on farming, huge migration of talent, the diaspora, a thirst for alcohol, and full of characters. Naturally we all knew about the All Blacks, whereas the Emerald Isle played Gaelic football and hurling – not really rugby.

What happened? We lost a home test series to a nation where rugby is at best their third sport!

So, it got me thinking about which country is winning the climate crisis test match. Ireland has a head start as their population is slightly greater than New Zealand, Dublin and Auckland similar size, and economically Ireland is part of Europe and therefore a market of over 750 million on its doorstep, compared to our 28 million across the ditch.

We knew all about Ireland’s wonderful dairy products, however this now accounts for only 1 percent of their GDP whereas it still dominates our economy. Like us Ireland relies heavily on tourism, but years ago made a strategic decision to become a “knowledge-based” economy and now has pharmaceuticals, finance and especially information technology as leading and incredibly profitable industries. They also have a number of premier universities, to which our daughter Chloe will shortly enjoy a two-year post-doctorate scholarship at the University of Dublin. Proud parents.

Don’t get me wrong, we have super emerging industries including games software, movies, wine, space rockets – but no national strategy. Leaving aside education and tourism, we are still highly dependent on primary industries such as dairy, meat, logs, fish and kiwifruit – all industries of high volume, emerging competition, and low value and all subject to climate change.

Knowledge industries are effectively shielded from the effects of climate change. Advantage Ireland.

We share methane gasses as a major contributor to nasty emissions. We have 45 percent as methane whereas Ireland has 38 percent, but two of the highest pollution levels in the world. However, Ireland is committed to reducing all emissions by 51 percent by 2030 whereas we are looking towards an unrealistic reduction of 50 percent of fossil fuel emissions by 2030, but only 10 percent of methane by then.

Our Minister of Climate Change has openly acknowledged that we will not achieve these goals and therefore have to invest in “offshore” projects where us taxpayers will fund overseas initiatives to the tune of billions of dollars annually.

Where there is a monumental and frankly match-winning difference is that Ireland actually has a detailed plan. We have at best a plan to have a plan to have a plan in the form of a newly published National Adaptation Strategy aimed at minimising the impact of climate change on our infrastructure, communities, industries and folks.

Ireland’s short-term plans includes emission reductions of 75 percent in the electricity sector, 50 percent for transport, 40 percent for homes, 25 percent for agriculture. and 35 percent for industry. Overall, a 51 percent reduction by 2030. Not only is there a budget for this, but over 1000 specific detailed plans to achieve these impressive goals. Extra neat measures include a target of one million EV vehicles, insulating and heating 500,000 homes, and switching 500,000 folks away from driving. The public sector is prohibited from buying vehicles and

heating systems based on fossil fuels. Finally, 80 percent of electricity generation will be by renewables, especially offshore wind.

To give a few points to us Kiwis, we already have 80 percent renewable electricity generation as we have hydro, whereas Ireland sadly has no mountains. Also, we will have two emerging national strategies – one for Maori, one for the rest of us – whereas Ireland only has one.

As mentioned, we now have a National Adaptation Plan, but it’s incredibly light on specifics, no mention of how costs will be covered, and a further two years before detailed plans can be formulated and legislated for. What is certain however is that our approaching 70 local authorities will each own adaptation projects for their communities and therefore will need to rapidly recruit staff to own this challenge and naturally at ratepayer expense. By contrast Ireland has had its plans in place since 2019 and are already implementing 183 specific projects.

Game set and match. Luck of the Irish!

Where there is a monumental and frankly match-winning difference is that Ireland actually has a detailed plan