Act fast on climate

The opinion piece by Mike Bennetts, chief executive at fossil fuel company Z Energy, was great to see (November 29). He supports the general call for a comprehensive plan to combat climate change. A plan is essential, so we can all play our part in reducing our share of world fossil carbon use.

Neither National nor Labour have acted in the 24 years since reducing fossil fuel use was first proposed. They are both climate change deniers, dragging their feet at the back of the queue.

Our fossil carbon reduction targets should be much higher, and yet still be readily achievable.

A comprehensive plan, reviewable regularly, is essential Failing to plan is planning to fail, something that John Key’s National Government has done for the whole eight years since they were elected.

The sooner we start, the greater the benefit in reduced emissions. A new electric battery vehicle starts saving fossil carbon immediately. It also displaces a replacement fossil carbon vehicle, which could use fossil fuel for the next 40 years. This is why speed is important. HUGH BARR Wellington Central

I’m old enough to remember being told to stand in the corner of my convent school classroom and face the wall. The fact that I am able to recall that experience shows it must have been reasonably effective as a deterrent to bad behaviour.

I also recall getting my pyjamaclad backside caned in later years at college. And I don’t feel traumatised by either of these disincentives to my exuberant disruptiveness.

How can we expect teachers to maintain discipline when we ban any effective kind of punishment?

Children need to be taught that their bad behaviour brings its own penalty.

Punishment is meant to hurt to some degree. BILL LAMBERT Paraparaumu