This is another in my series about possible reasons why people say that the environment is important but don’t show much sign of it in how they live, writes Henry Haslam.
A possible explanation lies in the belief that looking after the environment is a matter for governments, not us.
There is, indeed, a great deal that governments can do.
Over many years, for example, governments have changed the way we produce electricity, from coal to gas and then towards renewables.
Governments can also try to change our behaviour by means of taxes and subsidies – but this can misfire.
When governments subsidise the installation of better home insulation, for example, the purpose is to reduce heating bills and, therefore, carbon emissions.
What happens, however, is that many people use the same amount of energy as before – and enjoy higher temperatures or heat more rooms.
More important, there is a great deal that governments cannot do.
It’s we who must change.
Read more
Green Focus: Why I sometimes criticise climate change campaigners
Green Focus: Why individual action matters for climate change
Green Focus: How have the local elections affected climate action?
A couple of years ago, a report from the Environment and Climate Change Committee of the House of Lords emphasised that people power is critical to meeting government targets: “We have identified that 32 per cent of emissions reductions up to 2035 require decisions by individuals and households to adopt low-carbon technologies and choose low-carbon products and services, as well as reduce carbon-intensive consumption.”
Most government activities cost money, paid for by raising prices or taxes.
In contrast, many of the things that we, as individuals and families, can do to help the environment actually save us money.
We can travel less, we can use less energy in the home, we can reduce the amount of meat and dairy in the diet, we can spend less on clothes and other stuff that we are going to throw away.
We can also tell the government that they have our support.
Rightly or wrongly, politicians think that people don’t like higher taxes and prices, however good the cause.
Which leads me to a suggestion.
If you are one of those who think, as I do, that the government should do more, why don’t you write to your MP, as I am about to do, encouraging them to give priority to environmental concerns in all their campaigning, speaking and voting?
You could add, as I will, that you realise that government action often means higher prices and taxes, and you support this.
