Who is causing the problem?
So many facts and many of them probably true! The one that has struck me most forcibly recently is that by 10 June, the average UK citizen will have been responsible for as much CO2 since the 1 January as the average citizen of the world produces in the entire year. In just one day we produce as much as the average citizen of Chad or Afghanistan does in a year. All this from the highly informative Climate Calendar produced by the World Development Movement.
But we are not the worst offenders – nor you might be surprised to learn are the Americans. The world average per citizen is 4.24 tonnes; UK’s contribution is more than double that at 9.62; USA comes in at 20.18 tonnes but citizens of the United Arab Emirates make the greatest contribution at a staggering 55.92 tonnes per person.
Of course the population of each nation determines its total contribution. Which is why China (already 3.62 tonnes per person) and India (1.04) are such important players. The recent news from China that while climate change is seen as an important issue, economic growth remains the priority, is, to say the least, disheartening.
That the effects of climate change are already felt much more in the developing world is well known: drought in many places; flooding in others; increase in malaria as temperatures rise in hitherto unaffected areas . . . . . . . just for starters.
The Stern Report told us that doing nothing would cost much more than taking action now. Even George Bush has at last admitted that climate change is an important issue.
We all know what we can do locally (while thinking globally): drive more slowly (if at all!); install low energy light bulbs (the price has come down a lot recently); lower the thermostat a degree or two (and put on a jumper if necessary!) and so on. And encourage our local councils to follow the example of Woking which, between 1991 and 2001, reduced its energy consumption by 43%, and its CO2 emissions by 71% and saved a lot of money as well (www.woking.gov.uk).
Not only must we reduce our carbon footprints but we need to look at all the ways in which we can help communities in the poorest countries cope with the problems, develop appropriate technologies and adapt to change. That is the least we should be doing – supporting organisations like SolarAid, www.solar-aid.org, a registered charity which seeks to train people in rural communities in Africa in DIY solar: starting businesses to assemble and sell photovoltaic units to power radios, lamps, and so on. And it is said that the next generation of photovoltaic cells will come from China – bound to be less expensive than at present.