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Green Incentives - Sound Good?
September 24 2007
Green Incentives - sound good?
David Cameron commissioned a report from Zac Goldsmith (environmentalist) and John Gummer (former Tory environment secretary) and it is full of ideas for reducing carbon emissions and helping the environment.
Most of us want to be greener, but many are suspicious of Gordon brown’s seemingly recent conversion to the environmental cause, and many of us are also doubtful that the monies raised in the name of green are just another method of getting more money into the coffers to use on general, rather than environmental, issues.
I was pleased to read that Goldsmith-Gummer want to give us green incentives rather than punish us for not achieving high green status. The suggestions on offer include energy efficiency in buildings - promising exemption from stamp duty and reductions in council tax for least polluting homes.
Painless environmentalism is the way forward - charging us for too much waste or cutting bin collections is something we object to, giving us an extra bin for recycling is not.
Another part of the report suggests that we should use an HPI rather than a GDP as a measure of success for the country. I agree in principle with their idea of HPI (Happy Planet Index) which is a measure of wellbeing, but many of us feel better when we have a bit more cash to take the strain and worry out of life a little, so I think they should be careful when saying that “there is more to life than money.” It could be misunderstood and should be expanded upon. We will be better off, both in terms of wellbeing and also financially, with their green incentives, which will create an increase in HPI, because of a reduction in carbon emissions, which will also give us a reduction in council tax. Surely a win-win situation?
We should ensure that the green agenda also covers growth in manufacturing and business in general. We should be encouraging green alternatives that give us the edge. We need to travel - we just need it to be greener. We have some of the most amazing scientists in this country. Isn’t is about time that we stopped paying them a pittance and gave them a salary they deserve - we are asking them to save the planet. I know they don’t play football or wear size zero clothes, both of which seem to attract much interest and financial gain, but the government should be their biggest fans. We may see a whole new group of celebrities
Goodbye ‘New Scientist’, hello ’Hello’?
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