If climate change is the most important problem facing the human race, why isn't more being done to incentive the reduction of our carbon footprint, asks environmentalist Tom Burke. Putting climate change on the world agenda...
If climate change is the most important problem facing the human race, why isn't more being done to incentive the reduction of our carbon footprint, asks environmentalist Tom Burke.
Since Tom Burke started his career as an environmentalist 30 years ago, climate change has become the dominant issue on the environmental agenda. Over the years the science behind climate change has become clearer, and so has our understanding of its implications. Burke is certainly not alone in seeing climate change as the most important problem facing the human race.
As a founding director of E3G, he is helping to steer the debate around how to deliver the investment that is required to preserve a stable climate, as well as encouraging new coalitions and approaches to achieve this outcome.
The work is continually intellectually challenging, requiring up-to-date knowledge of areas including science, politics, economics and history.
Burke has found that his work brings considerable emotional demands too: whatever progress has already been made, it requires a strong commitment to stay motivated when the size of the task that still lies ahead is all too apparent. He describes it as an area that "can test your appetite as well as your ability".
Alongside these pressures, there are also rewards. It is absorbing, all-consuming work that offers a clear sense of purpose. And the efforts of the many people working in the field of climate change have delivered results. Over the last few years there has been an enormous shift in both public and political opinion - what was a marginal issue now tops personal and political agendas.
On an international level, Burke's experience is that there are fewer differences between the attitudes of individual countries to climate change than you might think. Public opinion in information-rich countries - where there is a good level of knowledge about the effects of climate change - is generally consistent with that in the UK. We are also beginning to see shifts in the US public mood.
Burke explains that although tackling climate change can seem an insurmountable task, it's important to recognise how far we have already come. "If we couldn't point to the results we've achieved so far, then we'd be in no position to even hope that we can successfully tackle the problem."
In the UK there is a high level of public awareness about the need to respond to climate change, but this doesn't necessarily mean that people are taking action on an individual level. "Everyone needs to think about the energy they use in their daily lives and how they can reduce it - for example by installing renewable energy technologies or changing the way they travel.
"Government, business and civil society need to coordinate the information they're producing about what individuals can do. If people are given a strong enough lead and see others around them taking action, then it is likely that they will follow."
But Burke's view is that taking a 'moralising' approach, by telling people to recycle more or use energy-efficient products, is not going to solve the problem on its own. Government and business need to invest in technology that will enable society to operate in a less carbon-intensive way - and these investments need to be made quickly.
"We're not short of technology or capital for investment", says Burke. "But to move from talk to action we need a restructuring of government policy, and we need to leverage private investment by making significant public investments."
Burke sees innovation as being key to how we tackle climate change. He argues that the innovative technology is ready and waiting, but we need to be more innovative in the policies we develop and the approach we take to deploying technology.
"The UK is one of the leaders in talking about climate change, but isn't quite as advanced in taking action. We're lagging behind in deploying innovative technologies and the only way to transform the situation is to introduce a tough regulatory framework with the right incentives. So far, the government hasn't shown that it's serious."
Comments on this article
Posted by Ayup Chege on 17 March 2008
Flooding in the NE and Midland England, flooding in China and Japan, heat waves in Eastern Europe and the US, desertification advancing an average 3 miles southwards in SSA ... climate change will affect all. Unless practical actions are taken, soon, there will not be a single 'haven of peace'- economic or demographic. Scientists have to do more than provide facts. They have to lead in research for alternatives.
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