How Serious Are The UK Government About Cutting Our CO2 Emissions...?

Question

...when they want to build a new runway at Stansted? And this on top of the new third runway at Heathrow? Are we all just wasting our time recycling and trying to cut our personal emissions when the Government is constantly moving the goalposts?

Answer 1

they are also building another big coal power station

Answer 2

Cutting emissions is a slow long-term process.  We all need to go to work tomorrow (for most people that involves driving) and our worlds economy is dependent on an extensive transportation system.  If global warming were the only concern in the world, then maybe shutting down airports (or stopping their growth) would make sense.  But governments have to balance a lot of factors and a lot of needs.

Individuals cutting down their carbon footprint, is still helpful.  But the real solutions will require new clean energy sources and that won't happen overnight.  In the mean time, little steps are better than none.

Answer 3

There's a lot of things the Uk government doesn't do.

That aside, our best bet at the moment is increased investment into alternate energy sources.

When you take something away, you must give something as an alternative. The concept perfectly fits to that of fuel and energy consumption.

Answer 4

Aviation is a small contributor to global warming (about 3% I believe according to the IPCC) but a big contributor to the UK economy in terms of business and tourism.  Planes are also becoming more efficient.  Interesting article at http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/20/n... I don't think this negates our personal responsibility to do what we can ourselves and for strong action by the government in other areas.