Cutting pollution and renewable energy

Earth’s climate has existed for millions years but in no two days will it have ever been the same – climate change is not new.

History tells us of ancient floods and geology shows forests grew in the Arctic

Circle. Coal, oil and gas are finite sources of energy and they do pollute so we must develop wind, solar and other natural (renewable) energies.

In the UK we should add tidal energy which depends on the moon, not the weather. Nevertheless for many years coal will remain the major fuel for producing metals, glass, bricks, cement, ceramics, etc.

Sweden recently produced steel using hydrogen but bulk hydrogen today is derived from oil or gas.

Oil will continue to be the major fuel for land, air, marine and heavy transport and for agriculture and construction.

Natural gas will heat our buildings for decades (yellow plastic gas mains are being installed across Maidenhead despite politicians claiming gas is to be phased out).

Natural gas is also the main source of vast global fertiliser production, essential to feeding a vast and expanding global population.

This is a huge issue, for alongside developing renewable energies we should also be cutting population levels, globally, in the UK and in Maidenhead.

Buildings have a huge carbon footprint, during construction, occupation and then demolition.

Every new resident has one too.

The conflict is that economics (and greed) demand growth in population, goods, services, etc but population sustainability and climate change demand population levels and consumptions to be cut.

Democracy should mean that the views of long-term residents of Maidenhead are sought on ever more town centre flats, houses on golf courses etc.

One further comment is that Insulate Britain’s squatting on motorways has probably resulted in a far higher carbon footprint than would be saved by adding more insulation to existing housing.

Insulation best reduces heat loss when the outside temperature is much lower than the required house temperature – our last harsh winter was 1963.

JOHN ALLISON Clarefield Drive

Maidenhead