Getting rid of Gas Guzzling SUVs

Islington has many intelligent, affluent and informed residents. Many of them read about climate change and tipping points everyday in the broadsheet papers. If we were to ask them whether the government should do more about climate change, they would answer with a resounding 'YES'. Yet they still go out and buy these dreadful vehicles. More Londoners choose to buy SUVs than the rest of the country.

We often hear from the Mum that does the school run and takes 5 kids and all their clobber to school each morning. Yes it's very convenient but it's simply not sustainable. Before the vehicles move off the forecourt, an enormous amount of energy has been used to produce the vehicle. The vast majority of the 4x4s that I see on the road only have one person in them.

We have approached local Labour and LibDem parties in Islington and asked them to strongly discourage residents from purchasing of new 4x4s by imposing a punitive annual parking charge on them. Of course, this would not be necessary if the government set the road tax at some reasonable level which they failed to do in the 2006 budget; Drivers to pay [slightly more] for Gas Guzzlers. The kind of person that pays £50,000 for a Landrover isn't going to be deterred by anything less than £1000.

We may be leaning against an open door. Some Labour and LibDem councillors are very sympathetic. A Labour councillor commented that ' not only are they CO2 prolific, they are too big for our little roads and grossly antisocial'.

The IT system used by the council to manage parking permits is already able to administer different charges for different sized vehicles.

There is more to come on this.

Alliance against Urban 4x4s
Livingston wants £25 charge for Chelsea tractors

Carbon Rationing in Islington

I am very keen to start a Carbon Rationing group in Islington or in North London. After doing a quick poll after the cycling group meeting last night, it looks like there might be other takers.

Carbon Rationing and Personal Carbon Allowances is very much in the news at the moment. David Miliband has written a blog entry and Poly Toynbee wrote about it yesterday[1][2]

But it will take several years and a willing electorate for a national scheme to get started. A lot of people think this is a completely nutty idea. I don't. If the government were to adopt this scheme, it would allow them to accurately set CO2 levels at the start of each year simply
by issuing the appropriate number of credits. This would, no doubt be debated very intensely before a general election. Many people say carbon credits are just another tax but taxes do not provide the precise control.

In the meantime, I think we should try it for ourselves. Here is a good
introductory article.

There are lots of ways that a local Carbon Rationing group can work. Each group sets its own rules and does it's own thing. It's not about making or saving money by selling/buying credits to/from someone else. Usually the credits are made very cheap. It is about sharing and
learning. One of the things I am wondering is whether I can or should try to improve the insulation in my flat, either externally or internally or give up and move out. I'd also love to get a PV panel on the roof but I don't own my own roof.

Of course Britain is a small fish on the global scene but I think Britain that should step forward and lead the world on carbon reduction. The Chinese and Indian populations have other pressing
problems right now and we need to try these things out before asking them to embrace them.

This post was written by Andy Ross in the West Midlands who set up the first scheme.

Anyone interested? If I get a few positive email responses, I was thinking of setting up a yahoo group. Then we would get something in the local papers and having an initial meeting. If we kick something off, I am guessing that we'd meet occasionally and compare emissions, experiences and discuss condensing boilers and the like. Gosh, cannot wait! We might want to get some politicians and the odd journo involved as well. You never know, a councillor might sponsor us and let us get free meeting space at the town hall.

Welcome to Islington Friends of the Earth

We are the local group of Friends of the Earth, the largest international network of environmental groups, represented in over 70 countries and one of the leading environmental pressure groups in the UK.

Friends of the Earth inspires solutions to environmental problems which make life better for people. For more information about Friends of the Earth and the work they carry out internationally, please visit www.foe.co.uk

We have been active for over 15 years and have been involved in high profile activities like protests against road building, saving precious trees, and campaigning for more recycling.
By getting involved with us you can play a key role in transforming the environment in our part of London and you can also campaign on important global issues such as climate change and corporate responsibility.

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