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Electioneering While CO2 Emmissions Rise

Posted: 05/05/2005

During an election campaign where the environment has been conspicuous by its absence from the political agenda, carbon dioxide emissions will have risen by about 340,000 tonnes. This is equivalent to putting an extra 394,000 cars on the road in the 30 day election period alone. Political leaders of the three main political parties have given only one major press conference about the environment in the general election campaign (Charles Kennedy, 15 April). Despite telling the electorate that they will make significant progress on the key issues of the day, the politicians ignored the potential impacts of climate change on a number of issues such as:

Health: The heatwave in 2003 was responsible for over 25,000 deaths across Europe. The Department of Health predicts that by 2050, the number of people entering hospital as a result of heat-related illnesses due to climate change will triple.

The economy: Damage costs due to flooding are predicted to be as much as £25billion by 2080s under a worst case scenario for climate change. If just one flood broke through the Thames Barrier it would cost around £30bn in damage to London, roughly 2 per cent of GDP.

Taxation: The Conservatives have claimed that they will be able to save £12 billion through running the economy more efficiently. Research shows, however, that if energy efficiency savings were introduced, they could reduce energy demand in the economy as a whole by 30 per cent - saving UK consumers the same amount - £12 billion.

Immigration: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that there are currently just over 17 million refugees - displaced by political turmoil or persecution - worldwide. There is no international body put in place to monitor or manage the movement of "environmental" refugees - forced from their homes as a result of factors like extreme weather, flooding, drought or desertification. But it has been estimated that, if we do not take action to tackle climate change fast, as many as 150 million people will be made homeless by the middle of this century.

Matthew Davis, director of WWF's climate change campaign, said: "Given the scale of the challenge we are facing, the amount of space given to climate change during the general election debate has been pitiful. We desperately need the next government to prioritise this issue, and make sure that they achieve year-on-year reductions in greenhouse gas emissions during the next parliamentary term.

"Tony Blair has made much of the value of leadership since the Iraq war - the duty placed upon politicians to take brave decisions to lead their sometimes reluctant flock from the front. Now is the time for strong and courageous decisions to help combat climate change - waiting for the flood waters to rise and the next heat wave to hit is not an option."

World Wildlife Fund  
 

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