A step in the right direction

The front page of today's Independent (see here) reveals how behind the hype of the planning and nuclear rows going on, the government are finally taking steps to improve energy efficiency in the home. 27 per cent of our carbon footprint comes from the home, so it's good to see decentralising energy through smaller, local power stations (Woking has reduced its carbon footprint by nearly 80 per cent in 12 years) and micro-generation in the home are given a step up. I'll give a bit of credit where it's due, but it's still too little, too late, and other measures like allowing airports to grow unchecked will almost certainly wipe out whatever savings are made in the home.

In the 1940s, the US proved how political will could achieve just about anything - we need governments to stand up now and be counted, not hide away in the pocket of big business until whatever punitive measures are required really are too late.