Does this country have a policy for dealing with climate change and its consequences?
As the eternal optimist we are always on the lookout for good news even though our metaphorical boat has been at sea for quite a while with no sign of dry land or even a seabird or two. But, as Britishness dictates, we should be stoical about our rapidly changing environment and look into finding a solution. Solutions, plenty of these are mentioned, quite a few never get off the drawing board, of these only a few projects will ever be complete and most of these will forever remain ecological prototypes, anomalies of the economically driven norm.
Last week the British government announced it was not going to adopt a feed in tariff system for renewable energy which would have both modernised and decentralised our energy system, saving fossil fuels from being burned and some cash as well. So, how did the British public respond……by saying that we wouldn’t accept any further green taxes or penalties on heavy emitters. All the while Shell and BP announce more record profits of £7billion combined. Well at least British Gas will be giving back some of its profits in the form of 4 energy efficient light bulbs for each of its customers. So, there is some progress, even if it’s from an unlikely source.
Does anyone remember Live Earth? Was all the electricity used to power the concert a needless waste of carbon dioxide? Has the public consensus changed in the fact that lifestyle and behavioural traits have changed? Have we become more ecologically aware?
To look at our staggering government, submerged by bureaucracy and riddled with infighting, you may have thought that climate change has been forgotten. Businesses have filled the gap (supposedly) using market mechanisms to make investment in clean energy technology more financially rewarding. Yet how much of this is sincerity from the business community (who must take the most blame for getting into this mess) and how much is ‘Greenwash’, to use George Monbiot, just PR stunts and manipulative advertising campaigns. The market hasn’t changed enough to ensure we all drive hybrids, light our homes with energy saving bulbs or offset our emissions when we fly, but at least these are now options that are readily available. Unfortunately the options are available to buy myself a 4x4(for less than a Hybrid), use a thousand halogen bulbs to light my home and to fly of where I like when I like and by as many possible stopover routes possible.
The market must change, incentives must be there for people to have ecologically viable options on a mass scale rather the very minor scale we have at the moment. Government could provide the incentives to change consumer behaviour and there are champions of the feed in tariff who want it included in the Climate Change Bill (due to be signed in law this summer). Germany, a country with less wind, sunlight and tides than us is already approaching the 20% renewables target for 2020 set by the EU. With our natural resources, just imagine the possibilities.
So, the individual doesn’t have to change that much as long as the social environment we live in changes. If government and business can sort their act out then the transition to an ecologically dextrous economy is closer than we think.
As the eternal optimist we are always on the lookout for good news even though our metaphorical boat has been at sea for quite a while with no sign of dry land or even a seabird or two. But, as Britishness dictates, we should be stoical about our rapidly changing environment and look into finding a solution. Solutions, plenty of these are mentioned, quite a few never get off the drawing board, of these only a few projects will ever be complete and most of these will forever remain ecological prototypes, anomalies of the economically driven norm.
Last week the British government announced it was not going to adopt a feed in tariff system for renewable energy which would have both modernised and decentralised our energy system, saving fossil fuels from being burned and some cash as well. So, how did the British public respond……by saying that we wouldn’t accept any further green taxes or penalties on heavy emitters. All the while Shell and BP announce more record profits of £7billion combined. Well at least British Gas will be giving back some of its profits in the form of 4 energy efficient light bulbs for each of its customers. So, there is some progress, even if it’s from an unlikely source.
Does anyone remember Live Earth? Was all the electricity used to power the concert a needless waste of carbon dioxide? Has the public consensus changed in the fact that lifestyle and behavioural traits have changed? Have we become more ecologically aware?
To look at our staggering government, submerged by bureaucracy and riddled with infighting, you may have thought that climate change has been forgotten. Businesses have filled the gap (supposedly) using market mechanisms to make investment in clean energy technology more financially rewarding. Yet how much of this is sincerity from the business community (who must take the most blame for getting into this mess) and how much is ‘Greenwash’, to use George Monbiot, just PR stunts and manipulative advertising campaigns. The market hasn’t changed enough to ensure we all drive hybrids, light our homes with energy saving bulbs or offset our emissions when we fly, but at least these are now options that are readily available. Unfortunately the options are available to buy myself a 4x4(for less than a Hybrid), use a thousand halogen bulbs to light my home and to fly of where I like when I like and by as many possible stopover routes possible.
The market must change, incentives must be there for people to have ecologically viable options on a mass scale rather the very minor scale we have at the moment. Government could provide the incentives to change consumer behaviour and there are champions of the feed in tariff who want it included in the Climate Change Bill (due to be signed in law this summer). Germany, a country with less wind, sunlight and tides than us is already approaching the 20% renewables target for 2020 set by the EU. With our natural resources, just imagine the possibilities.
So, the individual doesn’t have to change that much as long as the social environment we live in changes. If government and business can sort their act out then the transition to an ecologically dextrous economy is closer than we think.
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