Consumer carbon tax demand.

Byline: By NICOLA TALLANT

CONSUMERS should be taxed on the energy they use in a bid to reduce their carbon footprint, it was claimed yesterday.

Environmentalists said a carbon levy it is vital if Ireland wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Government has agreed to reduce its output by 30 per cent by 2020 - and this year to cut them by three per cent.

Susan Scott, of the Economic and Social Research Institute, said people should be charged for the damage they are doing to the environment.

She added: "It is ironic you don't charge someone for doing damage and that is what they're doing."