by Amanda
on Mar 5th, 2007
on Mar 5th, 2007
What’s half of ‘not enough’?
By George Monbiot. Published in the Guardian 5th March 2007.
“Our audit reveals that the government’s assessment of its own policies is wildly optimistic. Instead of a 29-31% cut by 2020, it is currently on course to deliver a reduction of between 12% and 17%. At this rate the UK won’t meet its 2020 milestone until 2050. This result suggests that the government’s claim to be “leading the world on tackling climate change” is simply another product of the Downing Street spin machine. Its carbon-cutting policies are a sham.”
Political parties of all colours are ‘dying’ to be green, and in their efforts to address the voting public’s concerns on environmental issues, they ’spin’ stories that are little more than words.
If parties are really, truly, concerned, why are not taxing the hell out of air-travel, setting higher standards of building insulation (and actually policing/enforcing those standards), standing up to the bullying of the car industry (and many other polluting industries) and so on and so on.
The reasons why they are not doing enough are complex, although the answers are remarkably simple. Dare I suggest that they don’t want to upset multi-nationals for fear of loosing investment etc in the UK. It will take a political party/leader with a great deal of courage to really face up to the challenges upon us - unfortunately for the world, I don’t think we have such a person in the right position.
If only George Monbiot would stand for parliament….