Gordon Brown's first speech on the environment yesterday was rather overshadowed by the failures of the government's internal mail system. (Incidentally, run by TNT. Is it any wonder Royal Mail's in trouble when even the government chooses to privatise their post?)
Anyway, back to Gordon. The message seems to be getting across that 60% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are not going to be enough, with even our dour PM accepting that 80% cuts 'may' be necessary.
Superficially heartening, and at least good to know that all the efforts of campaigners and the IPCC haven't been totally in vain. But what continues to beggar belief is the unwillingness to acknowledge what targets of 80% will actually mean.
According to Brown: 'I know this means facing up to hard choices and taking tough decisions. That it means governing not gimmickry. That is what we will do.'
But, as ever, this administration seems to think that governing involves handing out a few energy saving light bulbs. The really hard choices - like how such targets are compatible with continued airport and road expansion - are swept under the carpet.
Even a no-brainer like banning or levy-ing plastic bags - already successfully carried out elsewhere, and likely to enjoy far more public support than, say, road charging - is too tough a decision. Instead, Brown proposes to 'hold discussions' with supermarkets to see if we can all play nicely and phase them out on a voluntary basis.
If he can't stand up to business on a non-issue like plastic bags, then even a target of 8% looks too ambitious. So much for the vision thing.
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I agree. The plastic bag thing is welcome, but too little too late. The “I’m Not A Plastic Bag” craze has been going for months already.
But even if it works, I can’t see it being so successful on more important environmental challenges. Will a voluntary agreement to emblazon “I’m Not A Bacon Sandwich” on locally-grown vegetables solve the carbon emissions caused by food miles? Will “I’m Not A Powered Vehicle” stickers be enough to persuade people switches to cycles, horse-drawn carts and hang gliders? Will “I’m Not An Unfair Tax” badges gently negotiate enough car drivers round to road charging? No they won’t – Gordon Brown’s shilly-shallying is as pointless as everything else he does. Maybe all his ideas were on that CD that’s gone missing.
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