Liberal Democrats in Britain are backing a series of proposals aimed at tackling climatic changes by reducing the dependence on carbon based fuels. One of these proposals includes a ban on petrol powered cars by 2040.
In the wake of the recent devastating floods, British Environment spokesman Chris Huhne said that tackling global warming would need an “enormous economic change“. Sounding almost like a prophet of doom, Huhne warned of “far more wild weather“. He warned that there was little time left for people to change the way they live.
As part of the Zero Carbon Britain plan of Liberal Democrats, the following are some key proposals:
• Green mortgages to encourage people to build more environmentally friendly homes
• Doubling rail investments by charging lorries that use UK roads
• Increasing spending of flood defenses
• Boosting the National Grid by providing an incentive to producers who export energy to the National Grid
• Charging domestic carriers with a climate change levy of £10
Although these policies seem to aim at reducing the strain on the environment, in the long run they will benefit the British economy that will not remain dependent on fossil fuels. If more countries follow suit, a change in the economic order would happen. Countries that for decades have become rich by selling fossil fuels would suddenly loose their edge. However, this would also help developing countries like India that spend a lot on buying fuel to support their development needs.
If countries no longer depend on carbon based fuels they would be free to explore the renewable fuels available to them. This would bring down the cost of development and allow countries to focus on other developmental needs. An equal opportunity world would not be far away.
However, even though looking after the climatic needs might be a more sensible way of developing in the future, there is sure to be a backlash from those who become rich because of their stake in the non-renewable fuel power chain. Let’s hope that better sense prevails and what the British are proposing becomes a reality soon.
