The environment minister has issued a stark warning that everyone - from businesses to families - must make big changes to help fight global warming. Major shifts in lifestyles will be necessary if the world is to meet targets on pollution emissions agreed at the Kyoto summit, Michael Meacher has said. Ultimately, cutting pollution and using renewable sources of energy will be the only way to protect the human race.
"We all suffer from pollution", says Meacher,"This is one of the most profound changes in our world economic system and our society that we've ever attempted," he told MPs. "There will be no question of turning back or bolting."
Mr Meacher was giving evidence to the Environment Select Committee on the government's consultation document on achieving the 20% target which Britain has set itself in cutting carbon dioxide emissions. Questioned repeatedly about how to change popular opinion on the importance of saving the environment, the minister said that local authorities, businesses and individuals would all have a part to play.
Change begins at home
Families would have to change their car useage, change their waste output to become sustainable, use energy-efficient fuels and buy only energy-efficient appliances, he said. We must make changes, says Michael Meacher. "We do have to change our lifestyle. We have to make massive change out of fossil fuels towards renewables. I believe after centuries of coal and oil, the next century will be dominated by solar power which has almost infinite potential and is environmentally perfectly clean." Turning round public opinion was like turning round the Queen Mary but it would gather pace and was important to do so, said Mr Meacher. A total of 38 countries agreed at last year's environment summit in Kyoto to cut pollution emissions by 5.2%.
Good news for business
Mr Meacher gave a stark warning of the consequences of global warming, including desertification of large areas, widespread flooding and populations being made homeless. We must make massive changes, warns Michael Meacher. Far frombeing a great burden, tackling ecological issues could generate real business opportunities in three ways, he said: in transport changes, in a switch from fossil fuels to renewable sources and in energy efficiency.
"There is enormous waste of energy in this country, as in virtually all developed countries, and the market opportunities in investment and changes in working practice not only will cut fuel bills for business but give them substantial market opportunities to expand. "We shouldn't see these targets as a ball and chain, but as more gain than pain."
Norman Baker (LibDem, Lewes) asked whether the document was intended to explore whether the 20% target was realistic or whether it was looking at ways of achieving it. The government was firmly committed to the 20% target and the paper was aimed at finding how to meet it, said Mr Meacher.
A burning issue
Dr Brian Iddon (Lab, Bolton South East) was worried that the task of persuading people to make changes would be undermined by huge forest fires abroad. Mr Meacher admitted the fire now raging in South East Asia had created more CO2 than Europe does in one year. But that was all the more reason to control pollution, he argued.
"We can't say: We can't be bothered. We need to tackle the causes of these fires more vigorously and need an enormous network service for dealing with disasters," he said. He also told MPs lengthy talks had begun with EU car manufacturers to cut amounts of carbon dioxide produced from 185 grammes per km to 120 grammes per km. The car makers had offered 140 grammes with conditions - and Mr Meacher hoped a deal could be agreed in October.
The government was also pressing for the exemption of tax on aviation fuel to be scrapped. On the ratification of the Kyoto deal, he said the US was the key player. The EU had already signed, and he believed America would not walk away from a legally binding commitment.
