Climate Change IS Happening
Pat Crawford is Press Officer for Hadlow College, Kent, and writes a regular topical column for village magazines on 'green' issues that affect all of us.
The original intention of the recent UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen was to create a legally binding international treaty on tackling climate change issues. Months ago it was very clear that the chances of getting such a treaty off the ground would be well nigh impossible. And if it was ratified, how on earth could it be monitored? And what punishments would be meted out for failure to comply? Not surprisingly, there was no requirement to address these points because the focus of the summit was refocused - watered down to an attempt to strike a deal that would prevent temperatures rising by more than 2 degrees centigrade by the end of this century.
What we now know is that, despite involvement of the world's most prominent leaders, no really substantial consensus resulted at the Summit. In one sense, perhaps the most positive outcome is the fact that it focused attention on the seriousness of the challenges we face, consequently more and more people around the world are demonstrating and calling for action.
Consensus and unity are difficult to achieve at international level - and any country willing to take even relatively low-level unilateral action risks seriously disadvantaging the economy. The complexities of achieving any general consensus are demonstrated in numerous relatively insignificant ways. Many people felt that it was ridiculous that a ban on Christmas lights wasn't instituted in view of associated carbon emissions. Others pointed out that thousands of people, most of them in developing countries, would have been put out of work if lights had been banned. One of the main reasons for the increase in demand for local food relates to desire to contribute towards a reduction in the carbon emissions resulting from 'food miles'.We are currently a very long way from being self-supporting in relation to food - but we have the ability to produce more - after all, our farmers and growers are among the best in the world. Buying British would be good for our farmers, and it would help to preserve the appearance of our countryside (which is largely a managed environment - managed, that is, by our farmers) and it would benefit the rural economy. At the same time, how will this affect the economies of Third World countries, some of which export fresh produce in huge quantities?
The combination of global warming and burgeoning world population is arguably the biggest challenge mankind has ever faced. Despite the enormity, even relatively minor changes are difficult to effect.
Pat Crawford is Press Officer for Hadlow (01732 850551), one of the UK's leading land-based colleges.
Eds'Note: Yes. For example, this year, we could all do with remembering what an excellent organic food shop we have at Snake Hall Farm. It may not always have what you want, but a trip there before the super-market run is well worth it.. It's cheaper, for a start....