Press Release – O’Gorman congratulates St Patricks NS on Carbon Footprint Analysis

25/06/08

Green Party Dublin 15 representative, Roderic O’Gorman has congratulated the students and teachers of St. Patricks NS, Diswellstown on the way they have worked to reduce the schools carbon emissions. He was speaking at the launch of the schools Carbon Footprint Analysis.

“The Green Schools Committee in St. Patricks have done a fantastic job. Through their actions, they have implemented a three stream recycling system, with bins for organic, recyclable and landfill waste. The students have also been very active in persuading their parents assist them walk or cycle to school, rather than take the car. All these actions have contributed to a very low level of carbon emissions from the school. These kids are really leading the way in fighting climate change. The idea of a carbon audit for schools is really positive as it both allows them identify ways of being more environmentally friendly, but also save money”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“The audit also demonstrates the success of investing in shared facilities like St. Patricks NS, which also acts as a community facility for the Diswellstown area. This is shown by the fact that, even when compared with some of the most environmentally friendly schools in the UK, St. Patricks has a significantly lower rate of carbon emissions”.

“The Minister for Transport has recently announced his intention to allocate up to €2 million each year to assist the transport aspect of the Green Schools Programme. It is really important that we get as many children as possible out of the car and walking and cycling to school. The pupils and parents of St Patricks NS have demonstrated this is possible and I am pleased that the Government has committed to providing the money to support this”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman

Ends

Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
rodericogorman@gmail.com

diswellstown_-_carbon_audit_and_reduction_plan

Carbon Shame! I emit 5.69 tonnes of CO2 per annum

I’m suffering from a major bout of ‘carbon shame’. I’ve just calculated my yearly emissions using the new carbon calculator on the www.change.ie website, set up by the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley. After inputting my details about travel, household heating and flights etc, my yearly carbon emissions were calculated at 5.69 tonnes. While this is a good bit below the average person’s yearly emissions which is 8 tonnes, it was still considerably more than I was expecting, especially as in only use public transport. Now I can’t feel self righteous as I sit on a crowded bus anymore.

The website is a great idea as not only does it tell you how much you pollute, but it also gives tips on how to cut down your emissions. For example, I’m taking a long hall flight to Vancouver this September to go to a friends wedding. This adds an extra 1.6 tonnes to my yearly total. If I cut out any long distance plane flights next year, I will cut my emissions to 4 tonnes, half the average persons and a good bit more respectable.

The www.change.ie website and the carbon calculator form part of a national campaign initiated by the Minister for the Environment to highlight the dangers of climate change.

While the Government can do a lot about tackling climate change, such as changing the taxation of cars and introducing grants for insulation, real progress against global warming will only be made when each individual plays their own part. That’s why this website is so important as it allows each of us to see the amount of pollution we are creating, but also gives tips on how we can reduce this. I would urge everyone 15 to log onto the website, www.change.ie and get calculating their own carbon footprint.