Businesses and consumers ‘can reduce their carbon footprints more’

Ireland’s sustainable development council, Comhar, was responding to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) report which recently stated that the “human-induced problem of climate change” could bring about a rapid worsening of the Earth’s weather.

Professor Frank Convery, chairperson of Comhar, said that there were a number of ways Irish businesses and consumers could reduce their emissions.

“Air travel is the biggest negative by far and will be difficult – but not impossible – to address, with offsetting a prospect if it is credible,” he explained.

“Big gains in other areas – such as a hybrid car or better insulation – will require investment, but this can be brought forward and highest carbon efficiency performance standards assured.”

In conclusion, Professor Convery estimated that each individual in the country could save around four tonnes of carbon annually “without too much stress”, as long as there was “additional focused effort”.

James Cooper