The Green Party claim that the government is covering up the truth about the scale of the problem of climate change.
The Green Party believes that difficult policy decisions need to be made and that the next National Development Plan has to be climate change proofed in order to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Otherwise, we face financial and environmental disaster.
According to the Green Party, global warming is the biggest challenge this century.
The Green Party believe that to date the coalition has failed to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Green Party TD Eamon Ryan references Nicholas Stern's report on climate change which says,
The sooner you start making climate change investments the better for your economy.
The construction industry, in part, supports the Green Party's view particularly when it comes to balanced regional development. Liam Kelleher, Director General of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), says that balanced regional development will lead to a more prosperous and sustainable country overall.
The government on the other hand claims that it is very green. However, greenhouse gas emissions are significantly higher than they should be requiring immediate action.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 January 2007. The reporter is Paul Cunningham.
