Dr Tadhg O'Mahony

Blog

  • IPCC report notes necessity of deep systems transformation

    4 April 2022|Adaptation, climate action, Development, Nature, Public investment, Scenarios, Sustainability, systems, transformation, Vision, Wellbeing Thumbing through the IPCC AR6 WGII section 1.5.2 on ‘enabling transformation’ really stands out. The second report of the IPCC concerns Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, but also has key conclusions for emissions mitigation and sustainable development. Chapter 1 emphasises that… Read more

  • Major transport problems to deepen without system transformation

    3 March 2022| For at least 8,000 years global settlement and transport planning has been defined by walkability. Transit, or ‘public transport’ based spatial and transport planning dominated from the mid-19th century, and automobile or car-based spatial and transport planning began in the 1950’s, or the 1960’s in Ireland. Recognising that spatial planning and transport… Read more

  • Systems transformation is essential for a net-zero future

    27 January 2022 On the 15th of December, the Green Party convention held a special session on Systems Change with TD Brian Leddin, Clare O’Connor and Tadhg O’Mahony. During the session, from about 10:30 onwards, Tadhg had the opportunity to outline: 1. Why systems change is essential if we are to reach net-zero greenhouse gas… Read more

  • Are growth and sustainability compatible? Currently clearly no…

    28 May 2021 The simple and straightforward answer to this question is no, not in its current form.  In environmental sustainability, economic growth is the megadriver behind climate and ecological breakdown, this is a robust conclusion in sustainability science. For social sustainability, growth is inappropriately shared and is driving inequality. Luxuries are consumed at the… Read more

  • Discount rates in Ireland: critical to low-carbon transition

    19th May 2021 When we appraise investment in public projects, discounting is the approach used to put future costs and benefits, in present economic values.  Discounting is particularly important for public projects for transition -to reduce emissions and improve the environment- and to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. This is because the… Read more

  • Appearing at Ireland’s Parliamentary Committee on Climate Action

    14th April 2021|carbon emissions, climate action, Development, Ireland, Planning, Sustainability, transport Ireland’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action is a pushing forward national public policy. I appeared at the Committee on the 23rd of February 2021, in the first of three hearings on transport. The purpose was to discuss how to meet the new target… Read more