Climate Change
In 1690 John Locke, said, a man is entitled to the fruits of his labour as long as “as much and as good” are left for the next person. For example in my constituency, there are beautiful walks in the bluebell woods along the banks of the river Tees. The bluebell is of course one of our native species most threatened by climate change. Our grandchildren and great grandchildren should be able to enjoy the bluebell woods as we have done. Not to curb our own behaviour and thereby to deprive future generations of this pleasure would be an act of greed and economic vandalism.
Moreover, as hurricane Katrina in New Orleans demonstrates if disaster strikes, it is the poor and the dispossessed who suffer most.
Margaret Beckett, our Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, has described climate change as the biggest challenge humanity faces. I believe it is the most urgent and that we should intensify our efforts now. We need proper taxes on aviation fuel. Aviation now accounts for 5% of our climate change gas emission and, if the current trends are not altered, they will account for 30%. It is plainly absurd that the cost of a rail ticket to London is twice that of an air ticket to Rome.
I am also extremely irritated when I see that while we are paying over 90 pence per litre for petrol the Americans are still paying 40 pence per litre. We all resent free-riders. This is why I think there is an important place for regulation and why the government has been right to take a multilateral approach.
The Common Good, Issue 192, Winter 2005
