Is the 'Big Ask' too big an ask?

Most of you should now be familiar with the 'Big Ask' campaign launched by Friends of the Earth (http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/news/big_ask.html).

The gist is to strengthen the Climate Change Bill (this week being debated in the Commons) to include an 80% cut in emissions and ensure that Aviation and Shipping are included in the Bill. This may sound easy but its not going done too well with the powers that be. On a personal level flights can constitute most of a person's carbon allowance for the year with ships being a much more carbon efficient, though limited, form of travel. The problem arises from where flights and shipping is used for trade and business. Winter strawberries may be the ultiate luxury in the upermarket as are fresh flowers from any season all year round. But they have their downsides which is that they use up huge amounts of fuel to fly them hearing rather than the conventional way of trade which is to ship goods from country to country.

So, what is the government doing about it? Nothing. Why? Because too much of our modern consumer society rests on having what we want when we want. Asking people not to fly or sail is difficult, as we are an island nation, but rather than punitively taxing these forms of travel they should be included with all other emitting sources. A balanced price of carbon (plus incentives for carbon-neutral products like no VAT or tax rebates) will solve the issue quicker and with less aggravation than heavy handed tax raising. Also, with green taxes they go straight back to the treasury to pay for non-environmental issues such as schools, hospitals or the many wars we are currently involved.
So, we have to ask for a carbon trading scheme that includes every emitter, right down to the individual, in order for it to be workable and fair. It also has to be part of a European carbon trading scheme in order for companies not re-registering themsleves in somewhere that is not taking part in the scehme (although the flow of businesses into Switzerland, Iceland and Norway will probably occur).
At the moment the government is hesitant to include aviation and shipping which is why the 'Big Ask' is so important. If there is enough popular pressure for these measures to be included then the government will find it difficult to ignore the matter, although popular opinion hasn't stopped them in the past.
We'll keep you posted.