Collectively, who is more effective?
Different ways of tackling climate change are seen as better than others.
Parliamentary bodies, environmental campaigners and organisations address climate change in different ways. As climate change has an impact on different sectors, these institutions use different methods to mitigate the effects.
European Parliament has instituted a couple of policies to set an example that ensures its own emissions are reduced.
Jean Lambert, Green Party member of the European Parliament, commissioned an initiative which evaluates the European Parliaments habits to efficiently address climate change.
Ms. Lambert said: “We have commissioned a report which looked at the implications of the
European Parliaments own behaviour in regards to climate change. We realised we could save 20,000 tonnes carbon a year if we just worked from Brussels instead of moving back and forth from Strasbourg. This has pushed the Parliament itself to change its own habits.”
Environmental campaigns are making individuals and the entire nation aware of their message about climate change.
Teaching ordinary citizens to address climate change in small ways has become a priority stressed by the London Rising Tide. As a local group, part of a national campaign, they feel only real changes come from individuals themselves.
Dennis Clive, of the London Rising Tide, stresses the importance of doing something about climate change, individually, instead of getting caught up in the politics of the issue.
He says: “Our view is real; change only comes from individual grassroots movements such as individuals on their own. Party politics in particular haven’t got any power to change things.”
East Dorset Friends of the Earth differ in their ideology to tackle climate change. Angela Pooley, East Dorset co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth feels if everyone worked in a collective effort a significant impact can be made on the climate.
She added, “If we all used public transportation, drove less, and turned off electronics and appliances, the cumulative effect within the country would make a difference by saving tonnes of energy.”
Others within the business sector feel some environmental campaigners demonize the philosophy certain businesses have to tackle climate change.
Geraint Day, of the Institute of Directors, thinks environmentalists need to be more realistic with some of their campaigns. Mr. Day says “Some environmental campaigns think we shouldn’t fly or drive cars but it’s unrealistic. Climate change is a big issue for some businesses so we try to use a pragmatic approach towards climate change.”
He added “A better approach to tackle climate change would be to impose better
restrictions on building homes and offices. This area seems to have almost the same amount of emissions but people tend to big on airplanes because they’re big and make lots of noise.”
The UK government admitted at the end of last year, it would not meet its commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2010.