Memorandum submitted by Ms Anne Dismorr
(CRED 23)
I am a member of CRed and have considerably
reduced my carbon footprint primarily by localising my own personal
economy.
Until governments accept the obvious and do
everything they can to support localisation of economies then
there is very little hope of averting or even modifying the imminent
environmental catastrophe. I appreciate that the UK economy is
fairly small beer in global terms but what is needed is governments
that are prepared to set an example and provide leadership for
the world community. The secondary benefit of localisation of
the UK economy is that the UK will then be much better placed
to deal with a post peak-oil world. The "Sustainable Communities
Bill" is now before Parliament, why will the government not
take the obviously sensible step of supporting the Bill?
I buy wherever possible locally grown food (we
also have an allotment). I consider very carefully air miles whenever
I buy products which have not come from the UK.
I use local services.
I will never travel by plane again because the
damage the emissions do is so much greater than those produced
at ground level. I think carefully about travelling even if it
is within the UK. I have to be convinced that what I am travelling
for merits the carbon I will expend.
I have done all the recommended things such
as insulating the loft and installing an energy efficient boiler
and low energy light bulbs.
I think the government is failing to inform
the public about how serious the consequences of global warming
are. The government is sending out mixed messages primarily be
retaining the policy of expanding aviation. I keep reading that
our economy depends on expanding the aviation industry. If this
is the case then we must adapt our economy so that it does not
depend so much on the aviation industry. The situation we are
facing is more serious than any war. As George Monbiot has said
in times of war economies can be turned round on a sixpence. Our
economy is going to have to change given the facts of approaching
climate chaos and peak-oil, it is only a question of whether we
are wise enough to adapt to the new circumstances and try to manage
the transition, or not. The government needs to adopt a "war
mentality" with the enemy being our own greed.
It is misleading of the government to allow
the public to think that we can basically continue with business
as usual with a bit of tinkering at the edges. We have to move
from a unsustainable, consumer economy to a sustainable, conservation
economy. The best way to achieve this would be by carbon rationing
so that people would live within the limitations of the planet.
Ms Anne Dismorr
January 2007
| 
