A Green Role Reversal

Posted on March 12, 2007
Filed Under Policy |

Liberal society is good at informing and educating people about the environment, but it struggles to create environmental consciousness. When people are asked about the environment, they show an understanding on the problem and a need to do something about it, yet are usually unwilling to give up their cars, turn off the lights to save energy or pay more taxes.

The task of winning the election creating an environmental conciousness is what faces our leaders. So what do they do?

Cameron calls for more tax and more Government targets. Brown, speaking at the Green Alliance today, calls for more investment in education and incentives. Both of them are also highly eurosceptic, yet agree the EU should lead on environmental issues.

Not only the reverse of what you might have expected at one time, but neither policy will really make the difference needed. They will not convince people to change their attitudes or begin to tackle Climate Change.

At least there’s one good thing about this, Brown didnt follow Miliband’s advice. Miliband wants to introduce personal carbon credits: a regressive, unjust and centrally planned idea, which would effectively establish quotas on what people can do. Carbon credits for businesses hasn’t worked yet, why would they work for individuals?! This is a certain vote loser if there ever was one.

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