“The world is a dangerous place,

 not because of those who do evil,
 but because of those who

look on and do nothing.”  -   Albert Einstein

OK, the climate is changing, even though some may still refuse to believe it. It is after all fashionable to polarise everything, however well proven! If you think about it, apart from all the mounting evidence of ice melting etc, Earth must be heating up for one reason alone: there are millions of cities, towns and villages all round the world, each lit up by electricity and each warmed up by heating, whether central or other. 

You only have to place your hand over a modest light bulb to have some imagination as to the heat that all those human conurbations must give out. From the air you can see the delicate golden spiders’ webs reaching out into the darkness and trace the motorways connecting them. An awesome sight! Add to that the mighty private and industrial CO2 emissions which trap the heat round the planet so that it can’t escape naturally – and also the felling of forests which normally absorb and transform the CO2.

Poor old planet Earth, she must be feeling hot under the collar – not surprising her ice is melting! But let us face the facts rather than bemoan them and have a look at what we each can do, every one of every million of us. Let us grasp the nettle ourselves – especially as our so-called leaders are disinclined to lead in this respect. After all, we each have a so-called ‘eco-footprint’ on the planet – the amount of pollution we personally create. 

How can we lessen it and benefit ourselves at the same time? Here are eight win/win ideas, both simple and complex:

1.   Buy only ‘A’ or ‘B’ energy-efficiency rated appliances and boilers.  
 Benefits:  Cheaper

2.   Let petrol consumption play a large part in choice of next vehicle.
Benefit:  Cheaper.

3.   Fly less unless essential.  Use public transport whenever possible. What about travelling by train for a holiday in Europe? Benefits: Safer, less stress, could be quicker.

4.   Stop whinging about sky lines being ruined where wind farms are suggested. They are more elegant than electric pylons and are driven by natural air currents rather than by Earth’s diminishing resources of oil and coal. Benefits: Endless resource, no pollution.

5.   Invest personally/governmentally in renewable resources such as wind, sun and tidal energy (surrounded as we are by tides twice a day). With more investment, these would become far more economical. Benefit: Endless resources, far less polluting.

6.   Buy from local greengrocer – preferably organic. Benefits: Healthier and more dependable in times of crisis. Gives local employment.  Less heavy Lorries on the roads.

7.   Save energy by turning off unnecessary lights - also, TVs and computers when not in use.  Replace all light bulbs as they go with energy-saving ones. Switch to a green electricity tariff. Benefit: Savings & safer, greener.

8.   Install solar panels and/or micro wind turbine to roof. Why shouldn’t we each be partly responsible for our own power where possible? Find out. All new houses could be built in this way - flats also. (Government, please note!) Fit insulation in cavity walls & loft spaces. Benefits:  Independent power when there’s a general failure and cheaper to run.

You will be pleased to know that much of this is already happening. Last year’s spending on installing solar panels leapt 314%. Overall, two-thirds of us do now consider the environmental impact of what we buy. We spent £3.4 billion on goods/services with low impact on global warming – an increase of 21%.
(Figures from The Independent 28.11.05) All we need to do is to keep up the momentum! Your ideas/comments are welcome.

Futerra is a Green communications agency highlights opportunities as well as risks of global warming.

Stop Climate Chaos is new coalition of environment groups www.stopclimatechaos.org.  

ann@tony-neate.fsnet.co.uk