30 September 2007
If the problems of climate change are to be solved the solutions to them must involve politicians. It is only through sweeping and far-reaching change in the laws that regulate business, agriculture, transportation, and urban planning that the potential for reversing climate change can be realised. But politicians tend to respond to their voters when they are crafting legislation so we certainly can't sit back and rely on them to handle this crisis. The groundswell of public concern and the democratic tools at our disposal offer a window of opportunity. A public outcry on this issue has the potential to trump the influence of campaign contributions and corporate power.
While many politicians have already engendered confidence through theirpledges to address climate change, the public must do its part by keeping the pressure on. Call or email to tell them they should vote for legislation that provides incentives for non-polluting lifestyles and businesses, and pass tough new laws to limit greenhouse emissions.
I have been encouraged by the efforts of the mayor's office in New York City, where I live. Working with contributors as varied as retirement advocates, poverty organisations, and environmental NGOs, they have come up with a comprehensive plan to do what is within their power to make New York sustainable by the year 2030. The plan entails instating transportation pricing, planting 1m new trees, offering incentives for installing green roofs, and making restrictions that will bring cleaner energy production.
Public policy and public pressure are crucial for any success in this instance, and in general.
Ariel Levy is a contributing editor to New York magazine.
Not the politicians we have now because they are bound by big business's need to make profit and everything else is subordinate to that. Bush is the classic example - he is in charge of the most powerful nation in the world, and it is continuing to consume resources at a rate that will destroy the planet. They might make minor changes, but I don't think they'll be able to change the nature of the interests they serve.
Ken Loach is a film and TV director.
In theory, politicians could, in cooperation with businesses and consumers, beat climate chaos. But in reality, politicians are usually tied to vested - mostly moneyed, not green - interests.
They are also up against the profit-driven, free market economy, which tends to put money-making first and environmental protection second. Legally enforceable carbon quotas and carbon trading may be a way to use the market to reduce the emissions that contribute to global warming. But they are fiendishly complicated, bureaucratic and expensive to administer.
Among politicians who do take climate change seriously, there is often a nasty authoritarian streak, based on restrictions, compulsion and taxation. Instead of green penalties, we need a lot more incentives to go green, such as cheaper, safer, cleaner and more regular and reliable public transport - especially ultra high-speed inter-city rail links - so that people will want to leave their cars at home.
Peter Tatchell is a human rights campaigner, and a member of the queer rights group OutRage!Riz Ahmed:
I'm not sure we can solve it, just try to limit its effects and stop making a disastrous situation cataclysmic. Personally I feel we have to change our individual habits first and foremost. More people are getting more energy-conscious due to high profile campaigns, which is a good thing. Acting on that and changing how we live in small ways seems to be the key, and in a way that's quite empowering for us as individuals.
Having said that, we need politicians to enact the laws - the carrots and sticks, for industries and corporations to go green, and to encourage innovation. We can't expect politicians to take the lead on something that stretches past the next few elections, so again, it has to come from public pressure, from us punishing polluters at the checkout, and forcing the issue.
Rizwan Ahmed is an actor and musician.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/vox_pop/2007/09/can_politicians_solve_climate_change_.html
