Letter published by Dr Andrew Boswell in Eastern Daily Press on 21 December on the importance of cutting UK carbon emissions.
This was a response to a letter published on 12 December in the EDP (see below)
Text of Dr Boswell's letter as follows:
Dear Editor
Chris Mitchell’s letter, (December 12th) requests definitive answers which I have placed as a fully referenced version of this letter at tinyurl.com/EDPxA47. Over 2.5 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide have been pumped into the atmosphere since 1850: the UK emitted over 5% with only the US, China and Russia emitting more. Most is still in the atmosphere causing climate breakdown.
Our emissions are still high at around 600 million tonnes annually. This includes shipping, aviation, imported goods and services. This equates to more than 1% as John Thompson pointed out (Letters, December 15th).
As the UK has legally committed to reduce these very high emissions to zero by sustained action, the Government would be breaking its own laws if it followed Mr Mitchell’s implication to not do so. This would also go against two thirds of the public who support the Net Zero policy.
However, Mr Mitchell’s proposition is ironically close to what politicians habitually do in approving large road schemes. They claim the additional emissions are too small to count.
Local politicians in Norfolk and government ministers have persistently avoided the real pertinent question which is “do the additional emissions from new roads risk UK failing on climate policy?”.
The costs of failing to tackle climate change are much greater than those of tackling it, at least $280 billion per year by 2050. In Norfolk, we are seeing that in real-time with our people suffering increased flood damage and coastal erosion. Climate breakdown is happening, and whatever actions we take now will be inadequate to stop it getting worse. We are called upon to take every damage limitation step possible to minimise devastating impacts down the line as the stakes are now very high.
This means properly accounting carbon pollution in all decisions which may impact the climate. My case seeks clear legal direction on that from the Courts, and the cost is worth it to get this right, and we owe it to our children to do so.
Yours faithfully
Dr Andrew Boswell
Promoted by Jan Davis on behalf of Broadland Green Party, a constituent party of the Green Party of England & Wales PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ