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20th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium
Limerick Institute of Technology, 17th - 19th February 2010
The Green Economy: opportunity for, or threat to Ireland?
Introduction: The Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland in conjunction with Limerick Institute of Technology invite ESAI members and members of the public to partake in a question and answer session on the opening night of the Environ 2010 Colloquium. (8pm Wednesday 18th February 2010) The topic is ‘The Green Economy: Opportunity for, or threat to Ireland?’ This is your chance to put your questions to Trade Union representatives, sustainability experts and party politicians on an area that is likely to dominate Ireland’s economic and social life in the years to come.
Panelists include: Simon Coveney TD Fine Gael, Liz McManus TD Labour, Dan Boyle Green Party Senator, Richard Douthwaite Co-Founder of the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability (FEASTA) and Prof. Frank Convery, Chairman of the Comhar Sustainable Development Council. Dr Mark Costello, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, New Zealand; and EcoServe, Dublin will act as chairperson.
In these challenging times with climate change beginning to make its presence felt throughout the globe and the issue of peak oil and food security on the horizon there remain many challenges for a small, open economy like Ireland. Part of the proposed solution to these external challenges is a shift to a “greener” economy. On the face of it this sounds like a great opportunity for Ireland. The ICTU recently issued a statement to the fact that up to 40,000 jobs could be created in green industries within Ireland in areas such as energy, water, green technologies, housing etc. Ireland could eventually generate most of its electricity through new sustainable technologies; many new jobs could be created through new emerging green industries; the field of education could also be revitalised through the creation of new training and research initiatives for people within the green economy.
Already there are encouraging signs of a shift to a green economy. In education the “Green Schools” initiative is leading the way and is one of the most successful educational initiatives across the global green movement. Ireland is one of the 9 EU countries that intend to promote the expansion of renewable energy and bundle their green electricity activities in a joint high-voltage network under the North Sea. The Government also has ambitious plans to put 250,000 electric cars on the roads by 2020 and to increase the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources to 40%. Indeed, Ireland could become an exporter of sustainable energy within 20 years.
However, the emergence of this new economy will present challenges for many sectors within the present economy. The Government will need to create an appropriate legislative and political framework for the emergence of green businesses in the form of tax breaks and appropriate policy to support green entrepreneurs and technologists. New national agencies may need to be created to oversee such important sectors as water, transport and waste. Battery recharge stations will have to be rolled out nationwide if the import and use of 250,000 electric cars is to be viable. The banking sector will have to increase its investment level (currently 1 – 2% in the area of energy) in these new green businesses.
The development of the green economy can make a significant contribution to restoring Ireland’s economy by creating employment and export opportunities in green enterprises. However, will this shift to a greener economy be an opportunity to revitalise the economic climate within Ireland, or a threat? Will a new generation of long term unemployed be created as many workers within more traditional industries are left behind in a newer smarter economy? Will the cost of the new green technologies be prohibitively expensive? Will a “green bubble” emerge to take the place of the collapsed property boom? Are Irish politicians up to the challenges posed by a shift to a greener economy? Will the Government have the money to subsidise new green initiatives such as electric cars, until sufficient demand drives down prices within the global markets? Is it worth allocating substantial funding for research and development into new green technology or has Ireland already been left behind by countries such as Denmark and Germany? Can Ireland carve out a niche for itself in the global green technology market?
REGISTER NOW for Environ 2010
Limerick Institute of Technology, 17th - 19th February 2010
The Green Economy: opportunity for, or threat to Ireland?
Introduction: The Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland in conjunction with Limerick Institute of Technology invite ESAI members and members of the public to partake in a question and answer session on the opening night of the Environ 2010 Colloquium. (8pm Wednesday 18th February 2010) The topic is ‘The Green Economy: Opportunity for, or threat to Ireland?’ This is your chance to put your questions to Trade Union representatives, sustainability experts and party politicians on an area that is likely to dominate Ireland’s economic and social life in the years to come.
Panelists include: Simon Coveney TD Fine Gael, Liz McManus TD Labour, Dan Boyle Green Party Senator, Richard Douthwaite Co-Founder of the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability (FEASTA) and Prof. Frank Convery, Chairman of the Comhar Sustainable Development Council. Dr Mark Costello, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, New Zealand; and EcoServe, Dublin will act as chairperson.
In these challenging times with climate change beginning to make its presence felt throughout the globe and the issue of peak oil and food security on the horizon there remain many challenges for a small, open economy like Ireland. Part of the proposed solution to these external challenges is a shift to a “greener” economy. On the face of it this sounds like a great opportunity for Ireland. The ICTU recently issued a statement to the fact that up to 40,000 jobs could be created in green industries within Ireland in areas such as energy, water, green technologies, housing etc. Ireland could eventually generate most of its electricity through new sustainable technologies; many new jobs could be created through new emerging green industries; the field of education could also be revitalised through the creation of new training and research initiatives for people within the green economy.
Already there are encouraging signs of a shift to a green economy. In education the “Green Schools” initiative is leading the way and is one of the most successful educational initiatives across the global green movement. Ireland is one of the 9 EU countries that intend to promote the expansion of renewable energy and bundle their green electricity activities in a joint high-voltage network under the North Sea. The Government also has ambitious plans to put 250,000 electric cars on the roads by 2020 and to increase the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources to 40%. Indeed, Ireland could become an exporter of sustainable energy within 20 years.
However, the emergence of this new economy will present challenges for many sectors within the present economy. The Government will need to create an appropriate legislative and political framework for the emergence of green businesses in the form of tax breaks and appropriate policy to support green entrepreneurs and technologists. New national agencies may need to be created to oversee such important sectors as water, transport and waste. Battery recharge stations will have to be rolled out nationwide if the import and use of 250,000 electric cars is to be viable. The banking sector will have to increase its investment level (currently 1 – 2% in the area of energy) in these new green businesses.
The development of the green economy can make a significant contribution to restoring Ireland’s economy by creating employment and export opportunities in green enterprises. However, will this shift to a greener economy be an opportunity to revitalise the economic climate within Ireland, or a threat? Will a new generation of long term unemployed be created as many workers within more traditional industries are left behind in a newer smarter economy? Will the cost of the new green technologies be prohibitively expensive? Will a “green bubble” emerge to take the place of the collapsed property boom? Are Irish politicians up to the challenges posed by a shift to a greener economy? Will the Government have the money to subsidise new green initiatives such as electric cars, until sufficient demand drives down prices within the global markets? Is it worth allocating substantial funding for research and development into new green technology or has Ireland already been left behind by countries such as Denmark and Germany? Can Ireland carve out a niche for itself in the global green technology market?
REGISTER NOW for Environ 2010
