Carbon Credits and Unemployment in Ireland

national | public consultation / irish social forum | press release

Friday August 01, 2014 12:51

by Mick MacThomais

Carbon Credits preventing job creation in Ireland

The average Iris person is presumed to create 17 tonnes of carbon a year. This is called our carbon footprint. Since the ratification of the Kyoto agreement by Ireland 2002 which seen quotas on carbon been produced,the value of the carbon credit has realised real wealth.

The average carbon credit in "laymans terms" trades on the open market for E20 per tonne. Companies with a big carbon production rate say 40,000 tonnes and a quota for only 10,000tonnes ,must purchase the deficit of carbon credits (30,000 tonnes) on the open market or invest in new carbon reducing machinery.

The race to the bottom in the cheap energy sector has seen a panic to create the desirable carbon credit from clubhouses and organizations "carpooling" to reducing their carbon footprint and cashing in ,to larger multi corporates installing energy saving lighting.

What has this to do with unemployment in Ireland you may ask?

Recent figures put the unemployment rate in Ireland at 12.5% 253,200 people. Each person has a carbon footprint of 17 tonnes and each tonne is worth E20.

So lets run the figures; 253,200 people unemployed x 17 tonnes carbon footprint = 4,304,400 tonnes of carbon (when working)

. Each tonne is worth an average of E20

4,304,400 x Euro 20 = E86,088,000

It is therefore more cost effective for companies requiring carbon credits to save 86 million euro in machinery costs changeover that it would be to invest in expansion of their labor sector.

Unemployment therefore creates a carbon market which business are more likely to capitalize on than in employing people ,giving them a wage and subsequently more consumer spending increasing their carbon footprint.

The Kyoto agreement must therefore be given a new language as its purpose is not to impoverish the people of the world but to enrich it ,however it is clearly lacking when it comes to the reality of the "Race to the bottom" and the scramble to create carbon credits.I have not include the prison population but the carbon futures market is looking bright there too!

Suspend Kyoto for a new language appropriate to the times. Contact your local TD to express concerns.

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Comments (1 of 1)

Give every person a carbon allowance

by Fred

Fri Aug 01, 2014 13:38

The atmosphere belongs to us all and not just big business so instead of the current system, they should give every person a carbon allowance rather than just giving one to corporations or businesses. These people could then reduce their footprint and sell their excess carbon allowance to companies thus bringing more money into the local economy from these companies and hence help to create employment there instead of just filling the coffers of rich investors and financiers yet again.

In other words let's socialise the broken cap n trade system and make it do something useful besides just lining the pockets of the rich.

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