Contents:
Should we not be noble enough to be willing to make sacrifices in order to generate enough good to do these? When we are in the mode of maximising our own enjoyment, pleasures, conveniences and comforts, then we tend to expend more than our income, and end up with debt. When we are in the mode of self-giving and reasonable sacrifices, we tend to accumulate surpluses that can provide for the impoverished and can build an inheritance.
These and other issues are dealt with below.
I happen to believe that all aspects of reality (even including the economic aspect) are gifted to us by God, so temporal reality can function well, and humanity can be a source of blessing to the rest of creation. This thinking is worked out in A New View in Theology and Practice. I find one suite of such aspects particularly useful, those by the Dutch philosopher, Herman Dooyeweerd.
|
| ||||||
|
| ||||||
|
| ||||||
| Section (click) | The principle it espouses |
|---|---|
| ToR.1 The eventual 60% Target | The necessity of achieving the 60% reduction and how that should be reflected in all policy. The key principle. |
| ToR.2 Aspirations of Less Developed Nations | People in 'less developed nations' aspire to our way of living. To 'make poverty history' might be self-defeating unless we urgently set the example of CCE reduction now. |
| Q2.1 Problems with Relying on Technological Advance | Technology seldom delivers all its early promise nor what the early adopters expect. So it is unwise to rely on technology to achieve a 60% reduction. |
| Q5.1 On Signals and Example-setting | We in the U.K. must set an example, and give clear signals that we mean business. |
| Q6.1 A comment on ETS | Some reasons why Emissions Trading Schemes are likely to be counter-productive. |
| Q7.1 How to calculate targets | Targets tend to get missed (e.g. the U.K.'s target of 20% will be 30% out). So take this tendency into account and set more stringent targets. |
| Q7.2 Targets should be plan-led, not demand-led | If we predict demand and provide for it, our climate change emissions will rocket. |
| Q8.1 Lifestyle: Ways of Living and Working | Our lifestyle -assumptions, habits, expectations and aspirations - is the real problem. We must change them. This Programme ignores this important issue. |
| Q9.1 Ensure Measures do not Mislead | We in the UK seem to be meeting our Kyoto targets - but only by shifting emissions to other parts of the world. Our measures should be for global, not UK, reductions. |
| Q9.2 An Integrated Approach | Climate change is not the only environmental problem we face. |
| Q9.3 Attitude and Responsibility | We should show a attitude of responsibility, not of competition or defensiveness. |
| S6.1 Additional Preliminary Comment on Energy | This section should focus on energy use, not energy supply. Reduce use, and then supply will reduce too. |
| S7.1 Additional Comment: Indirect Impacts and Pull-Through | It's all very well making business processes more efficient. But if more products or services are sought, then the total emissions will still rise. We must recognise indirect pull-through effects. |
| S8.1 Additional Comment: Questioning Mobility and Demand for Travel | The government assumes we need mobility for a prosperous economy. We do not. We must cut mobility. |
| Q28.1 Transport: A Deceitful, Misleading Section | The only figure in this section has a large 'lie factor'. And the important issues are studiously avoided. Why? |
| Q29.1 Fuel Duty Escalator | The fuel duty escalator was making a significant contribution to reducing road use. It sent an important signal. But it was scrapped for political reasons. |
| Q33.1 Aviation | Air transport is even worse than the car. Yet flights are being encouraged. Why? |
| S12.1 Measurements and Structural Mechanisms r.t. Actions | We need action, not merely measurement. |
| S12.2 Global Adaptation | 200 million refugees are likely when climate change really gets going; what are we going to do with them? |
| Q51.1 Stakeholder-led Adaptation, Enforcement and Leadership | The government should lead. |
| OC.1 Religion and Theology of Climate Change | Religion is important to most parts of the world outside Europe; we need a theology of climate change. |
Copyright (c) Andrew Basden at all the dates below.
Created: 17 April 2005. Last updated: 6 January 2006 uktptstrategy link. 7 September 2008 wind. 26 September 2008 modernity rant. 19 October 2009 corrected link. 7 December 2009 frodsham. 16 May 2011 broken link to andrew, shotwick repaired. 15 September 2014 Major revamp of page, with Intro and also grouping items into category boxes., to make it easier to visually navigate; Original index is still available.