Are we really ready to change our ways?
THE eye-watering changes needed to rewire our economy in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change are starting to become clearer.
Fossil fuels, which have raised living standards but caused temperatures to rise, are embedded in so many products, from the cement needed for new homes to the gas boilers to heat them, the plastic in our cars to the petrol to power them. The UK has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions, although this is partly the result of more and more goods we buy being manufactured overseas.
In the background the power sector has made big strides in decarbonising, but this barely registers on the average person’s radar – we switch our kettle on every morning and the water boils.
However, the switch to costly electric cars and alternatives to gas central heating, for example, are becoming talking points.
The buying up of Welsh farmland by outside investors to plant trees to offset emissions from companies far away is deeply resented.
As this month’s Cop26 conference on climate change in Glasgow again showed, it is all a huge challenge for politicians, who operate on short electoral cycles.
We may yearn for as yet undefined technological fix – the equivalent of a climate vaccine to enable our consumer-led society to lurch onwards – but until then politicians and business leaders may have to make some unpopular decisions to match their words with action.
We asked people on the streets of Carmarthen if they had followed the Cop26 summit – most hadn’t – and other questions related to climate change.
Do you think the UK is doing enough to tackle climate change?
“No, not really.” - Pat and Frank Perry, 72 and 75, of Llanelli.
“Too much, compared to the rest of the world.” – Matt Price, 46, of Llandeilo.
“I think they are pressing for changes, but I honestly don’t know.” – Tom Brinkworth, 21, a student living in Carmarthen.
“I’ve noticed more people driving electric cars and things like that, and individuals are definitely more aware of trying to live a greener life, but the big companies and corporations need to be held to account.” – Megan Finch, 22, of Ammanford.
“I’m not sure, to be honest.” – Becky Rose, 34, of Aberystwyth.
“I think too much, for the size of country we are. I think we are making a rod for our own backs.” – Chris Dzioba, 67, of Carmarthen.
Would you put climate change in your top three list of issues to tackle?
“Yes, definitely.” – Pat and Frank Perry.
“No.” – Matt Price.
“I would say so, yes.” – Tom Brinkworth.
“Yeah, definitely.” Megan Finch.
“I wouldn’t, no, there’s too much else going on.” – Becky Rose.
“I would put it in the top three. Something has got to be sorted out, especially if I was living by the coast.” – Chris Dzioba.
Would you vote for politicians who introduced climate change measures which made things more expensive?
“They are trying to do that anyway by forcing people to buy electric cars. It’s all right for people who can afford it.” – Pat and Frank Perry.
“It’s not a straightforward yes or no answer. I don’t think people have an issue with things being more expensive. There are just too many humans on this planet.” – Matt Price.
“Yes, if they can deliver wellstructured plans and are not mucking people about.” – Tom Brinkworth.
“I would, yeah.” – Megan Finch. “No, we are single parents, it’s hard enough as it is.” – Becky Rose.
“I don’t think I would vote for them just on that basis.” – Chris Dzioba.
Have you or would you consider flying less, driving less, and eating less meat to try to make a difference?
“We do all of those.” – Pat and Frank Perry.
“Eating less meat doesn’t come into it. We live in a northern hemisphere country. We grow grass, we get rain. What converts that grass into protein effectively? Livestock. Flying? Yes, I don’t fly any more.” – Matt Price.
“Flying – maybe yes. Drivingwise, that’s going to be a problem. People need to do it. Meat? I think that can be met in the middle.” – Tom Brinkworth.
“I try to be plant-based whenever I can, and I know a lot of veggies. I hardly fly. I’ve only just passed my driving test. I know my mum is considering an electric car.” – Megan Finch.
“I’ve never flown in an aircraft, I don’t drive, and I’m quite fussy what I eat.” – Becky Rose.
“I don’t fly a lot. I don’t eat much meat, and I don’t travel a lot like I used to with work.” – Chris Dzioba.
How does change make you feel?
climate
“A little bit too late. It’s very sad to see the suffering it causes, especially for island nations.” – Pat and Frank Perry.
“We need to change. We are causing too many problems for the environment. But it’s frustrating, no-one is clamping down on places like Brazil, which is clearing land for food. We need huge investment in alternative sources of power, and we need to go back down the nuclear route. Green energy will only go so far.” – Matt Price.
“It does make me feel depressed. India and China are the least willing to change their ways, and they are the worst for emissions.” – Megan Finch.
“It makes me a bit depressed when you see pictures of houses being flooded and people losing their homes.” – Chris Dzioba.