Most Brits suspect Government
More than seven in ten voters are not willing to pay higher taxes to fight climate change.
The online survey also reveals that most Britons believe “green” taxes on 4×4s, plastic bags and other consumer goods have been imposed to raise cash rather than change our behaviour.
Two-thirds of Britons think the entire green agenda has been hijacked as a ploy to increase taxes.
Only a few days ago, we reported The Labour Government’s addiction to “spin” has created the most profound disillusionment. This has resulted in the “disgust and alienation of voters who now tell opinion pollsters that they scarcely believe a word that any government spokesman utters.”
The UK is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. This target will be impossible to reach without popular support.
eco-fatigue
We seem to moving from charity fatigue to eco-fatigue.
For most of us, the planet’s environmental problems seem too vast to comprehend, let alone act on meaningfully.
The lifestyle that most people experience is often called the grind, and the rat-race. It dominates our life, creating a little bubble of relaxation at the weekend.
So during the week, people don’t want to hear about global environmental problems.
And at the weekend, people don’t want to hear about global environmental problems.
Eco-burnout
Polls like this are a great disappointment to green campaigners.
Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Sustainable Development Commission and others have been attempting to educate the public and urge Government to take action. But it can be tempting to ‘just give up’ and let everyone suffer the consequences.
Speaking on 1/5/08, Prince Charles said to some of the country’s leading chief executives: “What more can I do but urge you to take the essential action now to make your businesses more sustainable. I’m exhausted with repeating that there really is no time to lose.”
Government has to take action. It has to demonstrate a ‘do as we do’ leadership. This won’t come free of charge: taxes will have to fund it.
But neither will tax-rises come easily, without credible examples of Government action. The 2007 Sustainable Development in Government Report assesses the performance of central government operations against the targets of the Framework for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate. Produced by the Sustainable Development Commission (the government’s independent advisor and watchdog for sustainable development), it aims to inform and inspire continuous improvements across government. Just out, it shows some good news:
- 28.3% of electricity obtained from renewable sources - far higher than the target of 10% by 2008
- Without MOD, total waste arising were reduced by 5.3% against 2004/05 levels - in excess of the target of 5% reduction by 2010
- 38.5% of waste arising from the government estate was recycled in 2006/07 - almost meeting the 2010 target of 40%
- 82% of government-owned Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) were in target condition - on track to meet 95% by 2010
opinion:
Great news, but sadly there is still an enormous amount yet to be achieved.
And even more importantly, there is still an enormous amount of work to do to regain the confidence of the public that what the Government says is true.
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