Taxing behaviour Sir, Politicians’ reaction to the latest concerns about global warming is to propose yet more taxes on the individual (reports and leading article, Oct 31). It is not clear how this policy will help the environment, since it is unlikely to affect any but those who can least afford it; the remainder will pay up and carry on as before. Neither are we told how this extra revenue will be spent; surely it can be justified only if it is to be devoted to projects that will help the environment, such as extending the rail network.
The Government should be considering more radical steps, such as prevailing upon manufacturers to limit production of gas-guzzling vehicles, imposing restrictions on their import and requiring justification for purchasing them. In addition, if air travel is to be reduced, do we really need Heathrow Terminal 5?
DAVID FILL
Ashby de la Zouch, Leics
Sir, A fair way of encouraging reduced consumption of motor fuel would be to introduce a rationing system. This could be operated by the DVLC issuing a chip-and-pin ration card to car owners allowing them to purchase a limited amount of fuel at normal prices. Fuel purchased beyond this ration would be subject to an extra green tax.
This might be combined with the adoption of much more rigorous application of speed limits, with very stiff penalties for breaches. Effective speed restrictions would significantly reduce fuel consumption.
There could also be rationing for air travel. The Passport Office could issue a chip-and-pin card with a ration of air miles. Air travel in excess of this would be subject to an additional green tax.
J. J. WATSON
Darlington
Local supply
Sir, More primary schools are under threat of closure: two in Rutland and one in Cornwall. Is this yet another example of a lack of joined-up government? If these schools close the parents will have no alternative but to transport their children to school elsewhere.
Public transport outside our major conurbations is at best patchy and at worst non-existent, so even more children will have to be driven to and from school, generating even more greenhouse gases.
If Messrs Brown and Cameron are serious about reducing emissions they should be doing more than threatening to penalise us into changing the way we live; they should be showing that they can lead the way through reversing centralisation of schools, hospitals or other public services in the name of economies of scale.
DAVID R. SMITH
Market Harborough, Leics
Sir, The promotion of the benefits of local demand and supply would do much to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.
For children to go to their local school, students to the local university, employers to employ local people, construction to use local materials and shops to stock local products would all reduce the need for journeys.
RICHARD BAKER
Winchester
Beyond politics
Sir, Surely saving the planet should fall outside party politics? The costs of intervention in the form of green taxes are felt immediately, whereas the benefits are generated over decades and well beyond the politicians’ electoral time horizon. Decisive action by the government of the day will therefore always be unpopular.
There is a compelling case for a cross-party approach to climate change as a prelude to international negotiations.
RICHARD DALE
Emeritus Professor
Southampton University
Business action plan
Sir, Businesses are not doing enough. At night you often see office lights and lights outside buildings for no reason other than to draw attention.
All businesses should have to draw up a three-year environmental protection scheme setting out what they are undertaking, to include an action plan with specific goals and timescales. Environmental impact assessments should be undertaken on all developments.
RICHARD BRYANT-JEFFERIES
Great Bookham, Surrey
Time management
Sir, During the Second World War we had “double summer time”, specifically to save energy. If this were to be reintroduced now, it would save one hour of lighting in every home in the country for many months of the year.
If, at the same time, we remained on what is now BST throughout the winter, the shorter evenings would result in a saving of one hour of heating in most homes.
JEREMY GURNEY
Salcombe, Devon
National efforts
Sir, Without the co-operation of the US, China, Russia, Japan and other polluting nations, anything the UK does in the way of cuts in pollution will be puny.
ALASTAIR NUGENT
Petersfield, Hants
Sir, I thought we had done our fair share towards the global improvement of the environment some 13 years ago when the Clean Air Act came into force.
Walk through any city now and see the rooftop chimneys that once belted out carbon dioxide-laden smoke, but which are now just quaint reminders of that filthy past.
For the first 50 years of my life Westminster Abbey was caked with soot; today I again admired its white elegance, the way it has remained since its façade was cleaned a decade or more ago.
During that half-century I would often have to struggle home in winter through thick, choking fogs when it was impossible to see your hand held in front of your face. That ugliness has gone and we can all breathe clean air, even in the centre of London.
Take a look at pictures of the industrial centres of the countries now trying to catch up with our industrial revolution. That’s where the CO2 is.
FRANK MILES
Beckenham, Kent
Population growth
Sir, The world’s population doubled from three billion to six billion in the 40 years between 1959 and 1999 and is expected to reach nine billion by 2042. Man may be ingenious enough to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that each of us produces but if the number of people on earth grows at this pace, the chance of cutting total emissions will be much reduced.
RICHARD TWEED
Croydon
Our time on Earth
Sir, What is so special about the species Homo sapiens that we assume it is entitled to exist forever? As we work towards our own extinction through war, starvation, pollution or global warming, will future life on Earth ever notice we existed? If a typical species survives a few million years, our species will find it hard to survive a fraction of that. Will future life on Earth see our development of intelligence as a beneficial trait, or just another evolutionary dead end?
RICHARD TANNER
Ware, Herts
