The Big Ask Climate Debate comments_728 April 2008
Dear Tony and Tony,
I was very interested to read both of your comments on climate change. I for one have become incredibly concerned about the issue over the past year.
The problem is of course global and the efforts made in the UK could be seen as insignificant on the larger stage. However, I would suggest that we as a wealthy country of many years, have a responsibility to address the issue in a global way and not merely concern ourselves with CO2 emissions in the UK. Not only is climate change a great threat but it is also a great opportunity for Britain to lead the way and bring to other countries technologies and best practices that can make a difference.
Firstly, I would like to see STRONG legislation put in place that will reshape our society. Carbon tax, for example, needs to be introduced NOW to address the potentially catastrophic market failure that we are experiencing at present.
Secondly, corporations in the UK should be required by law to report on their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) peformance, just as they are required to issue financial statements. I am aware that most UK brokers already have ESG research teams in place but I am a firm believer in enforcing this crucial matter with legislation.
Thirdly, VAST sums of money should be allocated towards green technology R&D. I am surprised that there isn't more activity in the realm of biofuels for example, which would require very little in the way of change for the consumer yet would have a significant impact on CO2 emissions. Why is it not possible to legislate for a B20 (20% biodiesel) mix on all vehicles for example? Has this been looked into? Biodiesel can be extracted from a wide range of natural products including trees, plants, animal fat and algae. The processing of this is not that expensive and the raw materials are all around us (if you would like further information on the economic viability of such ventures, I will gladly provide the figures). I would like to see the UK exporting our technologies to countries like China benefiting the environment, our economy and their economy.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly. I would like to see Britain lead the way by negotiating a deal with Brazil or perhaps Indonesia with a form of compensation for reforestation. This is, according to the Stern Report, the most cost effective way to tackle the issue so why are we not doing more? I envisage a strategic partnership with one of the two to pay them to plant EXTRA trees (i.e. those cut down are deducted from the payment) for the worlds benefit. This may sound ridiculous in terms of a possible implementation yet the initial effect is not the point. The point is the message that we are sending to the rest of the world that climate change is an issue that needs addressing NOW and as a nation, we are prepared to make sacrifices. Third world countries often say that it is all very well that the developed countries say that they cannot cut their trees down but they need economic growth. So why don't we partner up with a third world nation - just as businesses do with foreign companies - and provide them with that economic growth through the transfer of technology and resources.
I believe that leadership is about sticking one's neck out for what one believes in. I'm sure that Mr Blair has those qualities in abundance. So why not as a swan song tackle the issue that is more important than any other and take on climate change head-on?
Doug Bell
The big joke about this Government is they have caused this problem in this country since they where elected . They have increased the amount of immigrants which have increased the amount of waste , water , emissions , and buildings . This has destroyed our country side polluted our rivers and air due to the increase of car ownership , and the volume of people living on a small Island . Their answer to this problem is to build more houses , more roads ,and let more immigrants into the country . They also have a great plan to charge environmental taxes on the people that have lived in the UK all of their lives . First they build houses on the water plains of the south coast , and then they charge the people that have lived there most their lives more for their water ?
These taxes are nothing but a scam by Tony Blair and his money grabbing gang to extract more money our of the millions for the good of the Millionaires .The only way to help the environment is to do something practical , and stealing money of the poor to give to the rich is going to achieve nothing . Has Tony Blair said that this money would be put into a fund for building Wind farms , offshore wave technology , or even solar panels for every new built house in the country . ( may be even a huge grant for anyone who wants to place solar panels on there old house ) The answer is no ! This money goes straight back to the Treasury where they will spend it on their pensions or may be another Propaganda Minster to brain wash the many .
The real truth is Tony Blair doesn't want you to use less fuel or have solar panels . The Uk and the whole Worlds Economical stability rest on OIL and the sale of OIL . If you use less Oil , electricity , Gas then the Government receives less Taxes which means they have less money in their pockets ,and I assure you if there is one thing this Government wants and that is more and more money . This whole Eviromenal tax is for them , and until this country is run by the elected people of this country and not by big Business they will continue to bulldozer our country side , rivers , and parkland .
Bad things happen when good men sit around and do nothing !
Well I can't even see the good men anymore , and it seems the bad ones are doing something ,but for themselves !
Spencer Scott
Things that Government Need to do:-
Drop ALL taxes on Insulation, home power generation, Contraceptives
Stop encuraging people to have children - Stop paying Child benefit and all other benefits to people who insist on having children - If they can't afford to have them without government support then they shouldn't be having them at all! Cutting the Birth rate will slow down the number of new consumers which will have a strong impact in the future.
Stop the "war on Terror" let people in other countries live their own lives without fearing our bombs killing them - the best way to stop terrorists is to stop interfearing in their countries in the first place! Bring ALL our troops home! The military is one of the biggest users of fuel and consumable supplys - lets cut down the need for a military!
Cut the Paperwork! especially EU regulations - how many trees must die to be in the centre of Europe? Give more power back to communities and individuals (Big Government is a Big problem!)
Devolve more government departments to the regions - stimulate the other parts of the country, People spending several hours a day commutting to london is not a sensible use of time, effort or money! Tax Companies according to how far their employees have to travel to get to and from work - do this and they will soon start to recruit closer to their workplace! (and fewer people traveling fewer miles will help cut transport costs/pollution!)
Stop the ID cards - they are such a waste of time, effort and money and will INCREASE the dangers from Identity theft whilst doing NOTHING to stop terrorists. The money saved from this white elephant project could be better spent on improving other forms of IT investment, increase working from home inititives!
Teleconference more - there is no REAL need to see politicans on the television night after night visiting other countries on "fact finding missions", stay at home and work on line! that will save the country millions of pounds and the planet hundreds of tons of emmisions!
Iain Parkes
Why are taxpayers always targeted when government is looking for solutions? With climate change, governments should be targeting the real offenders - the manufacturers.
If the car industry only sold Hybrid cars, then that's all the consumer could buy!
If all foods were packaged in packaging that can be recycled (many plastics aren't collected by local authorities) then there'd be less demand on landfill sites!
If energy saving lightbulbs came in the same shapes and sizes as standard bulbs, there'd be no need to continue manufacturing standard bulbs (it's too costly & unecological for consumers to change all the lamps in their house to ones that can take energy efficient shaped bulbs)
They're small changes but they'd make a huge difference. Get tough on the manufacturers and you'll have the support of the consumer!
Wendy Hegley
One way for the Government to really show its concerns re climate change is to stop any further increase in airport capacity. Not only are aircraft one of the fastest growing sources of CO2 but the very construction of additional runways etc is bad for the environment - concrete is one the most pernicious materials to manufacture. We really dont need the Tescos of this world flying in out of season vegetables from Africa and people have to accept that some rationing of their package holidays abroad is necessary. Also there is more scope for teleconferencing for global companies. There is no reason at all why we can't accept the present amount of aircraft use in this country as being entirely sufficient for our needs.
Brian Spencer
I commend Tony Blair on making a public act in these terms and pulling the British masses together; he is a person in a position of power and that holds great responsibility and I do not envy him his role.
However, Nuclear Power can not be a way forward. We simply do not understand it enough to experiment with this potentially lethal process.
It is also time we learned to realise that the Earth is on our side and if we work with her, she can provide for us.
We need to be adjusting the ways we even think about living. Consumer mentality must stop on all levels, public education on greed must be addressed, every human being is responsible for all that we have done on this planet and we can not keep escaping into computers and technology. The fundamental, core beliefs of society has to change. Greed and consumption are at the heart of this issue and it must be broken up down to its very foundation. Only then can we tackle the global devastation that is taking place and was being written about over 40 years ago, when no one wanted to listen.
Emmisions into the atmosphere come from complex sources such as packaging for a start, and also meathane that comes from cows that are in a multitude due to greed of human beings. If everyone would just behave themselves and learn some moderation, it would reduce toxic emissions vastly. Alternative and natural products need to be supported and not so expensive for the general consumer. Public transport and as many have posted here, alternative energy modes need to be supported and encouraged.
But the first step is human beings need to wake up and realise how incredibly greedy they are and that in their very behaviour, they demand mass manufacting, they support it and condone it and then complain about it. It is not just large companies and global institutions who are killing our Earth, it is everyone! Maybe if the idea of social status changed and the more we have, the more we are, then our planet would have a chance.
Dog eat Dog mentality needs to go. Ideas of who we think we need to be must go.
We must make these changes for our children. It will not come for us, it is too late and far worse is coming for our children. Think about every package you unwrap, everything you think you need, every product you buy in order to maintain who you think you should be.Maybe this wont be posted because it it is not scientific enough, it is not proffessional enough. But that is about social status again and the manipulation of the public and their acceptance of wanting to live blindly.
Bariane Louise Rowlands
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