Is personal action on climate change just the tip of a rapidly melting iceberg
Simon Fanshawe is a broadcaster, writer and social activist.
"There's a kind of Eeyore approach to climate change around at the moment. Oh dear, woe and unhappiness. There's just no point.
You might as well put your head in a paper bag and do nothing, because China and India's carbon emissions dwarf anything you and your family do in number 13 Acacia Avenue. Even if you recycle your old Guardians into furniture and make shoes out of orange peel (I made those up) you're spitting in the wind compared with the fact that in India the cheapest car on earth is about to be marketed at 100,000 rupees (£1.290) and car ownership will soar to unimaginable heights in the sub continent.
The so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are in a breakneck rush for industrialisation. China and India insist they will be allowed to continue to exploit their massive coal reserves, belching out CO2 to produce energy. Not only is China commissioning a new coal fired station every week - yes every week -but the US is planning over 150 new ones over the next ten years.
Meanwhile, M&S intends to charge us 5p per plastic bag and you put your tins out for recycling. That'll save the polar ice cap from melting won't it? Is there any point in buying local food and cycling everywhere if by the end of every weekend the Chinese have let out yet another mammoth burp of CO2 from a brand spanking new power station?
Well maybe there is. Because the personal carbon footprint in China and India is still less than ours. Here in the next Olympic destination, we produce 9.1 tonnes of CO2 per person, while current Olympic hosts, China, produce only 3.2 tonnes per person and India only 1 tonne.
In the UK personal action creates pressure. What we do know, is that the amount of household waste being recycled has risen from 3kg per person in 1984, to 135kg in 2005, and that the UK's greenhouse gases are 16.4% lower than they were in 1990.
Something is happening. This is good. But we still have to focus on what really makes a difference.
When the Liberal Democrats try and ban outside pub patio heaters (Fiona Hall the LD MEP for the North East has proposed it), you do wonder . It may be a bit mad to heat the fresh air - why not just put on a sweater? But with the smoking ban, which is overwhelmingly popular, it's a way for pubs and restaurants to keep customers. A ban could cost the pub trade £250m. Do you work in one? Does anyone in your family? There has to be a balance. And in the case of patio heaters, they only produce 0.002% of all UK emissions and 0.0045% of the emissions produced by tellies. I guess if you're in the pub, you're not watching TV. But I bet it's on stand by.
Let's get some perspective. Together road transport and energy account for more than 60% of the UK’s emissions.
So, save energy and reduce driving. Shift to renewable power - despite the complexities of the energy market (where at the moment demand for renewable energy is far outstripping supply) it's a better option. Insulate your loft. Don't drive to local shops.
And what about the smaller things – recycling, switching off stand-by and the like? Well, do something rather than nothing, as Anita Roddick used to say. But remember that until you stop driving and reduce your energy, you can buy all the organic local lamb you like, suffer the sartorial embarrassment of wearing recycled clothing and you’ll still fall short of making the kind of impact we all need to if things are going to change.
Green consumerism is about creating a wave. It's largely symbolic and, while symbols matter, they don't win the war. Also beware the Greenwash. There is a lot of conning going on out there about environmentally sound products. Beware, companies look good going green.
But what individuals do DOES matter. Just think about taking the big steps as well as the baby ones."