Peat in Ireland a century-long Tradition. About one-sixth of the Republic is covered by peat bogs. In the thirty years, the Irish began to use peat in a large scale as an energy carrier and industrial-reduce – dual-Use: The peat mining created jobs and reduced at the same time, Ireland’s dependency of Oil imports. 1964 was finally called by the Turf Development Act, should promote the industrial peat usage, the semi-state company Bord na Móna.
But now should be brought to an end with the peat removal. Recently, the group announced: 17 active peat bogs are closed, and 45 more are expected to follow within the next seven years. The end of an Era.
This decision, it is said, is alone not for the sake of climate protection. So going from the combustion of peat greenhouse gas emissions that are fuelling climate warming. Tom Donnellan, the CEO of Bord na Móna, told the Guardian that he had recognised the reduction of CO2-emissions as the “greatest challenge for the planet”.
Actually, the removal will decrease numbers of the group since a few years: have Been funded in 2015 to three million tonnes of peat, should it be in the year 2024, two million tons, by 2025, only half as much. Meanwhile, Bord na Móna produces 60 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources. Also the company likes to speak of a new Era.
also economic considerations are: a comparison of peat with the energy carrier coal, The peat less energy is stored in the combustion but is more C02-free. According to estimates, the peat industry contributes between three and six million tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions. But a the end of the peat means the removal of an end to the CO2 emissions? Scientists are skeptical in the face of such promises. Because even disused peat bogs emit carbon dioxide.
Also harvested bogs releasing CO2
Moore allendem plant Material caused by the accumulation of the fail – over thousands of years. By the Binding of carbon in the peat contribute to climate regulation. But you can only do that if you remain as a functioning habitat.
The scientist Florence Renou-Wilson, who conducts research at University College Dublin, to Moors, to see the withdrawal of Bord na Móna from the peat promotion solely as a profit driven. The Moors, in which, over decades and longer, peat has been punched out, exhausted, “done and gathering dust” – quoted by the Guardian Renou-Wilson. The company was not in a restoration and rehabilitation of the Moore – what would be an essential prerequisite for the reduction of CO2 emissions From harvested peatlands of approximately 2.6 million tons of greenhouse gases escape into Ireland annually. Otherwise it would be the land would be restored: Functional Moore can even contribute to a reduction of CO2. You would have to be watered.
the protection of the climate are overblown, but so far, little is effectively the objectives of Irish heads of government, Leo Varadkar. With an investment program in the amount of EUR 22 billion he wants to join his country in the first ranks of the environmentalists. Of such a role in Ireland, but far away: in Relation to all the inhabitants of the CO2-emissions per year 13 tonnes per head, which is the third highest in the EU.
in Addition, Ireland is to meet in the next two years, the EU standards and the emission level in comparison to 1990 levels 20 per cent lower for 2030 a reduction of 40 percentage points is planned. Realistically, these goals are not, but At the first mark, Ireland is scarring probably around 16 million tons over the target value by 2040, 50 million tons are missing. These violations could cost the Republic of Ireland between 230 and 600-million-Euro penalty. To increase also from the plans of the Irish government, the tax on CO2 emissions, there is as yet nothing of the kind.
In the eyes of David Boyd, a UN special Rapporteur for human rights, hurt the Irish climate balance, even human rights. In a court hearing he accused the Irish government, and “knowingly to a dangerous level, contribute to climate change”. The Irish environment Minister Richard Bruton said last week that Ireland was “far off course”.
