More David Attenborough and less Karl Marx would be good for the left |
Is it possible to be both left-wing and serious about climate action? The evidence is mixed. In the last Dáil, the Green Party was torn apart by rival factions – one prioritising economic justice, the other environmental. In the current Dáil, divisions have opened up among parties of the left on how to deal with rising fuel costs.
Sinn Féin strongly opposes planned carbon tax increases, while the Labour Party says reneging on carbon tax commitments would be environmentally irresponsible – it calls instead for the Government to “do more to transition the economy away from fossil fuels”.
This is not the only environmental issue on which fault lines have developed in the non-governmental left. Sinn Féin loudly campaigned for retention of the nitrates derogation, while the Social Democrats described Ireland’s bid to extend it as “grossly irresponsible and hypocritical” given the extent of nitrates pollution of our water supplies.
Funding for active travel is another source of tension, with Sinn Féin cranking up the outrage over the spending of €127,000 on a bike storage facility for staff at University Hospital Kerry. “Pure waste,” fumed Pearse Doherty. Other Opposition parties were more muted about a project that may be pricey but is ultimately designed to take more cars off the road.
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Britain’s deep political divides were plain to see on the streets of........