ARMED WITH NOTHING BUT PEER REVIEWED SCIENCE

There is no doubt that a healthy democracy requires that it’s citizens are given the ability to both raise awareness for a point of view and organise public protests as a means of disseminating their message. However, within the United Kingdom, knowledge of climate issues are reasonably widespread; the news media regularly reports on scientific studies, politicians are routinely asked for and express their views and policies on ‘green’ issues, there are many television and radio programmes which make the issues known and websites are available to provide the public with a means of carbon-offsetting (paying towards ‘green’ programmes’). It seems unlikely that extreme and radical action is required to get the message out and force the population to become more aware. A most likely result arising from environmental groups causing havoc would be the marginalisation of climate issues being consigned to a ‘lunatic’ category and the unwillingness of scientists to lend their voices to a public event. Debate on the issues and planning towards sustainable societies could be in danger of becoming loaded with emotion instead of reason – certainly an unwelcome and undesirable possible consequence.

Yet, when issues arise within the realm of expanding economies and increased industrialisation there remain deep concerns about what may be required in order to restrict human damage to the environment. One of the speakers scheduled at the Camp for Climate Action was Dr. Simon Lewis, a Royal Society Research Fellow who’s work focuses on tropical forests and climate change. On his page within the Royal Society website, (Climate Change, in my view) Dr. Lewis states his belief that human created carbon emissions continuing on in their current quantity results in likely future scenarios of abrupt climactic and environmental changes. Continuing on, Dr. Lewis makes a very good point about what the driving force is behind the continued carbon emissions – unrestrained free enterprise where consumers demand more and market forces provide the products.

No doubt there will be future environmental protests on many issues and hopefully, each group will make their point responsibly. Yet while it’s clear that the right to protest is unquestionable, what remains in doubt is the effectiveness and focus of the point being communicated. It’s obvious airports don’t decide to build themselves nor do planners in government and industry undertake mega projects without a belief that there are either public needs or supporting business models. And so, a harsh and most likely unpopular reality is dawning over the possible solutions for climate change and global sustainability - that the essential battle to be won will be fought not headlong against the parapets of factories and other sources of pollutants and carbon, but within the conscience of every individual who has the opportunity to ask the question and make the choice of ‘how much is enough’.

For more information

Dr. Simon Lewis - Royal Society Research Fellow - 'Climate Change, in my view'
www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?id=4689&tip=1

Climate Camp
www.climatecamp.org.uk/

Carbon Trust
www.carbontrust.co.uk/carbon