My answers on climate change
These are my answers to questions posed by the editor of The Rough Guide to Climate Change (2006) . My answers were published in the Independent on November 15th 2006.
- How important a concern is climate change?
- What can Britain do to make a difference?
- What steps do you plan to take (or have you taken), in your constituency, and as an individual?
1. How important a concern is climate change?
The threat of irreversible climate change is the most important challenge there is to our economic and political system , and one which fundamentally affects the lives, homes and future of most people in the world today.
2. What can Britain do to make a difference?
Britain is only responsible currently for about 2% of global CO2 emissions, but even so is about the twelfth heaviest emitter of CO2. It has also been emitting large quantities of industrially-produced CO2 for longer than any other country in the world.
It is important, therefore that the UK leads in reducing emissions because if we do not, other countries that will now need to develop their own economies without recourse to heavy CO2 emissions are unlikely to agree to such a course of action.
Britain has taken such a lead at Kyoto, Buenos Aires, Montreal , and more recently Monterrey, and is able to do so, at least in part because of its existing record as being one of the few countries that will meet, (or in our case substantially exceed) its Kyoto commitment on greenhouse gas reduction.
It is essential that the UK continues to play a central role in developing protocols that being all countries, and most importantly the USA, China and India into future binding protocols. The UK must also play a central part in establishing durable carbon 'cap and trade' mechanisms in Europe.
The contribution of an overall 1.5% reduction in global CO2 emissions represented by the UK's target of a 60% reduction of CO2 emitted by 2050 is in itself not insignificant. It also means that the UK will be able, post 2050 to manage a stable low carbon economy effectively, with the 'early adopter' advantages that this brings in an emerging world low carbon economy.
The UK must therefore work towards its target of 60% CO2 reduction by 2050 by introducing the measures within the next ten to fifteen years that will guarantee a progressive scaling down of emissions decade by decade.
3. What steps do you plan to take (or have you taken), in your constituency, and as an individual?
Whilst Leader of the City council I was responsible for the development of the country's first geothermal energy plant, which now heats much of the city centre on a low carbon basis.
I have also helped to set up the city's environment Centre, now a substantial regional centre of advice and good practice guidance to businesses and industry in the south. I am currently a board member of Southampton sustainable Energy, which is in the process of developing a low carbon district heating scheme to heat some 3500 homes in the west of my constituency.
As an individual, I have signed up for the All Party Climate Change Group's 25/5 challenge to reduce my own carbon footprint by 25% over five years. I have tackled this by installing (two years ago) solar thermal water heating on my roof, and this month a 'windsave' turbine.
I am looking at the feasibility of introducing a 'mini-hydro' engine in the stream at the bottom of my garden. I have also moved wholly to low energy light bulbs in my house, and eighteen months ago also installed full cavity wall insulation. I am attempting to limit the flights I make to one long haul and two short haul flights per year, and currently contribute to a carbon offset programme for the flights I do make.