Lynne Featherstone

In recent times there's been an interesting - and welcome - shift asregards the terms of the environmental debate. Arguments against takingaction on our environment have shifted to a large degree from "itdoesn't matter" to "even if it does matter, you can't do anything aboutit".

So rather than denying global warming outright, sceptics more and moredeploy arguments along the lines of, "well changing your light bulbsisn't going to do any good given how many new power stations China isbuilding".

Although this argument is normally presented as a matter-of-fact, 100%watertight, no doubts entertained, copper-bottomed case, it is deeplyflawed. And those of us who want to secure more and quicker action totackling climate change need to engage it head on.

So here are my seven reasons why that argument is wrong:

1. Perhaps the biggest obstacle we face to getting more green policiesin place in developing countries is the tag of hypocrisy and greediness.We in the developed world did all sorts of environmental damage whengetting rich and industrialised - so why should we then turn round andstop others doing the same? That's why showing that we too are takingaction is important. Imagine if George W Bush came over to the UK andlectured us on reducing fuel consumption - would his lectures sound morepersuasive if he was telling Americans to do the same or if he wastelling American they don't need to do anything?

2. Small actions add up. Just as the old joke goes - you eat a bigelephant in small mouthfuls. Changing one light bulb at home today won'tdo much to save the world, but changing more light bulbs at home overtime and having more and more people change their light bulbs too - thatdoes add up. And it's not just in area you can take small actions butacross a whole range of areas. Done the light bulb? Now how about makingsure your tyres are at optimum pressure? And maybe next month startrecycling your glass jars? And perhaps something else a few months afterthat? All those little steps add up as little step follows little step.

3. As regards air travel - the basic argument rolled out against taking action on the environmental damage caused by flights is that they make up only around one in twenty parts of the UK's CO2 emissions. True - but this will grow to one in four by 2050 at current rates. So small actions now with only small immediate effects can have a massive long-term impact if they help head off huge growth.

4. It's good for our economy to take action now. The more that we do andthe sooner that we do it, the greater the boost to the British economyand British firms who produce environmentally friendly goods andservices. Greater support for tidal power is a good example - it won'tjust help the environment but it will also help ensure that UK jobs aregained by getting a bigger share of the international market for suchtechnology. There is an example for us to follow in Denmark, whichisnow a world leader in wind turbine technology and reaping the jobs andprofits that go with that. The UK could easily have been - we have justas much wind as they do - but chose instead to stand on the sidelineswhilst others developed that industry.

5. It's also often good for our own wallets right here and now. Changinglight bulbs or using more fuel-efficient vehicles saves you money. Eventhough the low energy bulb costs more, you're quickly into profit fromthe lower fuel bills and longer bulb life. Keeping your tyres at theright pressure, driving in a fuel efficient way and when you next changecars switching to a more economical one all saves you money in petrolbills. So you don't have to like the planet - you can just hate petroltaxes! It's a win for you even if you don't worry about pollution.

6. It's right in principle. All my previous points are about pragmaticdecisions. But sometimes it's right to do the right thing just becauseit is the right thing, regardless of what impact it may or may not have.Living our own lives in as considerate and caring way as possible is theright thing to do - even if there are others who aren't doing that.

7. And finally - as you might expect a politician to say! - politicsmatters. Governments set thousands of law, tens of thousands ofregulations and spend billions of pounds. That all adds up to a massiveamount of influence and power, and it is under the control ofpoliticians. But even this is amenable to the collective voice of manypeople all taking small actions themselves - both in the ballot box(putting a cross on a piece of paper once every few years is a prettyminimal degree of effort for having a say in how billions of pounds arespent!) and in their own lives. Because the more individuals are seen astaking action in their own lives, however small, the more politicianswill be convinced that people do care about the issue and will react andchange.

So next time you are sat there staring at your light bulb - don't worryabout the Chinese power station that is out of your control, butremember all the power that lies with you.

This article first appeared on the New Statesman blog.

(c) Lynne Featherstone, 2007