Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
Not sure how you read that I’ve got ideological reasons why the state can’t do anything when I’ve said that we should do as much as possible ?! I’d hope we can and will lead the way on the global scene but I am also realistic to know that unless there is significant changes elsewhere in the world it will unfortunately make minimal difference (Brexit is irrelevant, we still have soft power influence and can lead by example but nicely shoehorned in )
I’ve also said the individual needs to do as much as possible (what they can afford to do). Our ‘ideologies’ probably aren’t that different, I just probably lean a bit more towards people and businesses taking more personal responsibility than rely on the government to tell me/us what to do. I barely drive now, I pay a premium to offset all my energy usage and I eat a fraction of the meat I use to, however, I also appreciate many aren’t in the same personal or financial position to do some or all of these
Ps I agree on and offshore wind farms should 100% be encouraged. There has been plenty of heating and insulation initiatives over the years though.
I see your point, but you do say "do as much as possible". The problem is that there is a massive disparity in what people consider is 'as much as possible'. Unfortunately there are plenty of those in power who think that's far less than others do. Sometimes not even because they can't do it but they don't see at their responsibility to do it. In other cases they've actively obstructed doing as much as possible to appease those big businesses/countries heavily invested in things like gas. We've had years of "solar/wind is inefficient" when it's far more efficient that the early days of coal and gas. It gets more efficient with research. That means investment, Instead we've shoved money into fossil fuels because they're more efficient despite any sensible long-term plan would tell you it's a false economy.
An individual can't choose to power their house/car with renewable resources if the industry doesn't generate power using those methods. If things like insulation or solar panels are expensive an individual maybe can't afford them without some form of grant even if they want to have them. Long term that will save money.
But instead we've had years of objections to wind power because they're eyesores, Industries like that and solar have had funding removed whereas things like gas/fracking have been invested in. As has been mentioned grants for insulation and soar panels have been removed.
We're not alone (or nowhere near the worst compared to places like the US/Russia/China)
We're not doing all we can because we make decisions based on the politics, not what needs to be done.