Tax hikes will save planet

I SAW in the M.E.N. on January 16, that the City Council is coming under fire from the environmental group ‘Climate Emergency Manchester’ for having achieved ‘virtually nothing’ since it declared a climate emergency last year.

My own impression of the situation is that Manchester remains in the vice-like grip of cars and planes as much today as ever.

However, blaming local leaders for this state of affairs, rather than the Government, seems unfair to say the least. Only Parliament has the power to deal with such an enormous problem.

An increase in taxation on fuel for all transportation would cut out the carbon dioxide emissions.

But will people accept these increases? Right now, I don’t think they would.

And so, the climate emergency deepens and intensifies. Only when British people have become truly fearful of our changing climate will they accept significant increases in fuel duty.

That moment will surely come.

We then must hope that these increased financial restrictions on travel and transport have come in time to save the planet.