Climate Change: Opinion Change

Written by Sandra Gidley and published in The Daily Echo on Tue 7th Nov 2006

In the past those who take an interest in the environment have been rather typecast as muesli eating, sandal wearing, bearded left wingers. As the issue of climate change rapidly rises up the political agenda that image no longer holds true. I asked someone from Honda why their hybrid Honda Civic as a saloon style rather than the new rather sexier model and the answer I received was that the profile of people making a decision to buy a car with a hybrid engine was older (50 plus mentioned) and this was a styling they liked.

It is no longer easy to spot who the new environmentalists are. The chap in a smart business suit may have consciously spent money "going green" and done more on an individual level to reduce carbon emissions than others might think.

All parties are now agreed on the need for stronger action to tackle climate change and the Liberal Democrats have put forward substantial proposals to reduce carbon emissions. This week the publication of the Stern report has thrown the matter of climate change into even sharper focus and many are watching eagerly to see if a Climate Change Bill is mentioned in the Queen's Speech. There has been a huge amount of lobbying on this issue.

Nicholas Stern's report made stark reading and he made it clear what the effects of not acting are likely to be. Rising sea levels will change our landscape beyond recognition and 200 million people are likely to be displaced. In some countries crop yields will decrease and the global economy could shrink by twenty per cent.

We are already seeing the early signs as storm damage, rising sea levels, drought and flooding are taking their toll. According to the World Health Organisation 150,000 people already die every year from climate change. In Britain 3,000 people died this summer as a result of respiratory problems caused by the summer smog pollution and the Thames Barrier had to be raised 55 times in the last five years compared with just 12 times in the previous 5.

The problem is here and now but I meet many people who are sceptical about making changes. A common response is that there is "no point" if newly industrialized countries are part of the problem and are not doing their bit. This is a global problem but I believe that rapidly emerging problems will soon concentrate minds. In the mean time that is no excuse for us all not trying to do our bit.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Southern Daily Echo.