Standby for climate change….
…and you could be standing for some time according to an article in the BBC’s Green Room. Ann Pettifor (Exc of Advocacy International) argues that it’s all very well to switch your appliances off, change your lightbulbs to EE and make sure you recycle but that’s all just a drop in the ocean considering the rate at which we’re heading towards runaway climate change.
In ‘What About China’ James Bruges uses this story to describe the same sentiment…
‘Father and daughter are watering the garden. Father is at the tap while the girl controls the hose. When they have finished the father says, “that’s enough now, stop all the holes in the spray head with matchsticks.” “Dad,” she replies, “are you mad? Turn the tap off!”‘
The father’s stupid approach is rather like present policies where we are urged to travel less and turn our heating down a few degrees. Meanwhile world leaders are encouraging the extraction of as much fossil fuel as possible. I don’t agree that our individual commitment is irrelevant - we each have a very real responsibility to examine our habits and change them for the greener - but I do think that just plugging away in a vacuum is a bit like sticking your head in the sand.
Once out of the ground fossil fuels will be burned. The key to emissions reduction is to stop extraction at source. Unfortunately it’s the politicians who control the government’s energy policies so it’s up to us to persuade them to change.
You can make a difference in the political arena. Use your vote. Urge your politicians to put a cap on the use of fossil fuels and join the transition movement where communities work together to find a post-carbon way of living. Click here to read ‘Operation Noah’s’ practical guide lobby your local MP.
Bethan
