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In recent times there's been an interesting - and welcome - shift as
regards the terms of the environmental debate. Arguments against taking
action on our environment have shifted to a large degree from "it
doesn't matter" to "even if it does matter, you can't do anything about
it".
So rather than denying global warming outright, sceptics more and more
deploy arguments along the lines of, "well changing your light bulbs
isn't going to do any good given how many new power stations China is
building".
Although this argument is normally presented as a matter-of-fact, 100%
watertight, no doubts entertained, copper-bottomed case, it is deeply
flawed. And those of us who want to secure more and quicker action to
tackling 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 policies
in place in developing countries is the tag of hypocrisy and greediness.
We in the developed world did all sorts of environmental damage when
getting rich and industrialised - so why should we then turn round and
stop others doing the same? That's why showing that we too are taking
action is important. Imagine if George W Bush came over to the UK and
lectured us on reducing fuel consumption - would his lectures sound more
persuasive if he was telling Americans to do the same or if he was
telling American they don't need to do anything?
2. Small actions add up. Just as the old joke goes - you eat a big
elephant in small mouthfuls. Changing one light bulb at home today won't
do much to save the world, but changing more light bulbs at home over
time and having more and more people change their light bulbs too - that
does add up. And it's not just in area you can take small actions but
across a whole range of areas. Done the light bulb? Now how about making
sure your tyres are at optimum pressure? And maybe next month start
recycling your glass jars? And perhaps something else a few months after
that? 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 and
the sooner that we do it, the greater the boost to the British economy
and British firms who produce environmentally friendly goods and
services. Greater support for tidal power is a good example - it won't
just help the environment but it will also help ensure that UK jobs are
gained by getting a bigger share of the international market for such
technology. There is an example for us to follow in Denmark, which is
now a world leader in wind turbine technology and reaping the jobs and
profits that go with that. The UK could easily have been - we have just
as much wind as they do - but chose instead to stand on the sidelines
whilst others developed that industry.
5. It's also often good for our own wallets right here and now. Changing
light bulbs or using more fuel-efficient vehicles saves you money. Even
though the low energy bulb costs more, you're quickly into profit from
the lower fuel bills and longer bulb life. Keeping your tyres at the
right pressure, driving in a fuel efficient way and when you next change
cars switching to a more economical one all saves you money in petrol
bills. So you don't have to like the planet - you can just hate petrol
taxes! 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 pragmatic
decisions. But sometimes it's right to do the right thing just because
it 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 the
right thing to do - even if there are others who aren't doing that.
7. And finally - as you might expect a politician to say! - politics
matters. Governments set thousands of law, tens of thousands of
regulations and spend billions of pounds. That all adds up to a massive
amount of influence and power, and it is under the control of
politicians. But even this is amenable to the collective voice of many
people all taking small actions themselves - both in the ballot box
(putting a cross on a piece of paper once every few years is a pretty
minimal degree of effort for having a say in how billions of pounds are
spent!) and in their own lives. Because the more individuals are seen as
taking action in their own lives, however small, the more politicians
will be convinced that people do care about the issue and will react and
change.
So next time you are sat there staring at your light bulb - don't worry
about the Chinese power station that is out of your control, but
remember all the power that lies with you.
This article first appeared on the New Statesman blog.
(c) Lynne Featherstone, 2007
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So next time you are sat there staring at your light bulb - don't worry about the Chinese power station that is out of your control, but remember all the power that lies with you.
