Government and business must take radical action to help people tackle climate change and environmental problems, and get damaging products out of the shops.
According to the Sustainable Consumption Roundtable, consumers need to be able to buy green products and services as second nature. It's time to start a new British love affair with sustainable fish and chips, to offer air travellers automatic carbon offset from their flights, and to make schools and hospitals carbon neutral. To see real improvements, the deadlock must be broken.
Government and business are currently waiting on consumers to choose more 'green' products and services. Consumers are ready & willing to act on climate change and the environment, but can't see the point, because they feel their efforts would be isolated and in vain.
"The Government has got to stop relying on information leaflets and hoping for the best - and start working with businesses and NGOs to get practical measures into people's lives." - Alan Knight, co-chair of the Roundtable According to the Sustainable Consumption Roundtable
Britain already boasts a select range of sustainability success stories, which are down to a positive lead from business and government. These include: sustainable wood products, fair trade coffee, dolphin-friendly tuna, energy-efficient fridge freezers, washing machines and dishwashers. To make these work across the economy, Government and business must get radical solutions into consumers' lives. Instead of waiting on consumers to make decisions on complicated environmental problems, Government and business must do it for them.
The report specifies that Government should:
* Unite with business to get the most damaging products out of the shops, and replace them with environmental products, e.g. - TV and set-top boxes which use massively less power when on standby - Affordable hybrid cars - Alternative fish species to Britain's much-loved, but hugely over-fished, cod
* Give consumers up-to-date energy information, so they can manage their energy use, by getting smart meters into every home by 2012
* Take the lead and make all schools and hospitals carbon-neutral by 2015
* Automatically give travellers the option to carbon offset their flights, to demonstrate the environmental impact of flying
* Develop a working economic model to track the links between national income, consumption growth and resources, by 2008
Subscribe
Subscribe to IEMA's newsletters to receive timely articles, expert opinions, event announcements, and much more, directly in your inbox.
Posted on 2nd May 2006
Latest Posts
-
IEMA focus on skills, adaptation and nature-based solutions in CCC report
- 18th July 2024 -
Labour's plan for economic growth must mean green growth – but there is a green skills gap looming
- 5th July 2024 -
As Labour plans to “slash red tape” for economic growth, YouGov poll finds 3 in 5 people want to increase public involvement in planning system
- 28th June 2024 -
Medtronic agrees partnership with IEMA to accelerate skills and standards in sustainability
- 21st June 2024 -
Landmark climate impact ruling for fossil fuel projects, cites IEMA guidance
- 20th June 2024 -
IEMA sets out 18 policy asks for the next Government
- 3rd June 2024