Jun 08 2007
Planet saved by more hot air
The G8 celebrations are a little premature. The debates themselves were vacuous and some of the coverage particularly stupid, drawing as it did on the spin of a major fight between the virtuous Europeans(in favour of targets) and the wicked Americans (in favour of cleaner technology).
Why did no-one point out that several EU countries will fail to hit their Kyoto targets? Is it better to set a target and ignore it, or refuse to set one in the first place through an appreciation of how difficult it is for government to control all the carbon emissions in a free society?
Why should we believe this group of politicians that they and their successors over the next 43 years will take the 2050 targets seriously enough to make it likely they are hit? What is going to change today that it makes it any more likely they will halve CO2 output over that time period. Why did EU emissions rise last year? What will they do differently this year to change that?
How did people fall for the spin that India and China are part of Kyoto, with just the US refusing to join - when neither India nor China have a Kyoto target to hit?
The truth is that carbon emissions will only be cut if new technology is adopted. There is absolutely no likelihood that people of the first world will renounce their good lifestyle to make a dramatic reduction in their CO2 output, and no likelihood that the Indians and Chinese will forgo the benefits of economic growth to control theirs. So it is down to changing the way we do things, to developing the new technology, if the EU and the rest are to even make a start on cutting the world’s soaring CO2 outputs.
John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College...
John, you have said it all. Your thoughts spell out the simple truth. Their is so much “spin” in today’s politics that there’s no wonder that we voters have become cynical about everything any government says, or even opposition parties! Unfortunately no one wants to report plain honest comments as they are simply not hyped-up enough.
It is exactly why the reports on climate change have to be more and more exaggerated. No one in the media wants plain simple facts.
[Reply]
I’m very disappointed with the G8s watered-down support for AIDS. I’m concerned that climate change will dominate the world’s agenda (though I am very supportive). I don’t want to see research, treatment, medicine and cures for AIDS be restricted when it is having a devasting impact on life in Afria, even affecting the democratic process there because political leaders are dying from AIDS quicker than they can be replaced.
I am studying for a PR postgraduate diploma and have chosen to write a research paper on MPs blogging. I would be very grateful if you would complete a survey I will be issuing shortly, would that be ok?
[Reply]
Many thanks John, I will be in touch.
[Reply]