Politicians happy to sacrifice strategies on climate change

Yes watching the left cheer on the banks and show a disregard for those struggling is an interesting turn around.
And India, millions of people raised out of poverty, a miracle happening in front of our eyes but let's talk about how terrible they are.

MayBee70

So, how are we going to combat climate change if no one is prepared to do anything that impacts negatively on their lives?

As rafichagran says, tell that to the people who cannot afford to change their cars because they are paid minimum wage.
I see so many inconsistencies on here. Retired people, many whom are very comfortable judging by the things they say about the brands they buy, the houses they live in, the leafy villages they live in (much talk about ‘in my village’) and always supporting the lower paid and the poor, but as soon as ULEZ is mentioned, they are firmly in the camp of I’m alright Jack, and it matters not a jot about the poor who cannot afford the ULEZ costs, nor can they afford to buy a different car. Sitting in a leafy village, unaffected by ULEZ, how easy it is to criticise others.

Grammaretto

Some areas are well served by public transport. I'm on a Borders Bus, which goes into Edinburgh city centre every half hour My concessionary pass means it costs me nothing.
It's a double decker and carries bikes, wheelchairs, buggies and dogs.and more than 50 passengers.
Some of the.newer buses carry 100.

Here is my view

I live quite near you and while I can get a bus or train into the city quite easily, if I want to visit my FiL in his care home in the next town, it takes me 10 minutes to drive there, as opposed to an hour or more each way by bus (I'd have to get at least two buses). We no longer have a direct bus to the main hospital either - again, it would involve getting at least two buses.

The damage of lockdown was incalculable. I am not sure what use it is to make comparisons with what happened during that time.

Whitewavemark2

We don’t need much imagination to understand what the air should be like as opposed to what it is like at the moment.

Go back 3 years to the beginning of lockdown - that is how our air should be - and that is only after a couple of weeks imagine how it would be after a year of no pollution!

The earth started to heal itself when the world shut down for a short amount of time, didn’t it. This isn’t just about us: we’re the custodians of this planet and we’re trashing it for every other living creature that we share it with. I know it was mainly about cancer research but did you listen to the TRIP’s Leading interview with Paul Nurse, the Nobel prize winning scientist? It touched on just about everything ( but mainly about us not being included in Horizon due to Brexit…).

DS an environmental/climate scientist is so very very angry all the time as he sees what will be out future.

We don’t need much imagination to understand what the air should be like as opposed to what it is like at the moment.

Go back 3 years to the beginning of lockdown - that is how our air should be - and that is only after a couple of weeks imagine how it would be after a year of no pollution!

GrannyGravy13

We live approximately 15 minutes drive outside of the new proposed ULEZ.

DH received a letter from Sadiq Kahn informing him that his car (which he loves more than me 🤣) is not compliant and if he drives into the area will be fined.

How many letters and at what cost has he sent out?

A lot I hope.

Your DH does not have to drive his 4x4 - he wants to which is a whole different thing, as that is to suggest that individual desire should top community health.

And then of course we have the idiot Sunak issuing god knows how many licences to drill for oil and gas.

Freya5

Wish we could give a thumbs up, or down on this very divisive subject. A gas guzzling car, many don't have a choice, public transport decimated in rural areas, because hey ho, cars became king. What should we do, 20 minute walk to bus stop, poor mobility. Kids can't get into nearest school, so have to be taken by car. What should we do. How many of you pontificating on here, have a gas guzzling car, to run your busi ess, carry your tools and equipment. I wonder. Kahn is like a mad man finding power at his elbow, he won't be out of work, because he can't afford to pay ulez charge will he. Too much without much thought.

You can’t have it both ways, Freya5. Either you need a “gas guzzling car” - other kinds of car are available - because you live in a rural area with poor public transport, or you live in a city which does have bus, underground, and even tram services which rural dwellers would envy. Cities can be dangerous places to live in from the point of view of air pollution, and LEZs are a way to counter that.

Glasgow also has a new LEZ and as a fairly frequent visitor I have found walking along some main streets in the zone much easier on the breathing since it was enforced.

Or register their discontent at the ballot box.

rafichagran

MayBee70

So, how are we going to combat climate change if no one is prepared to do anything that impacts negatively on their lives?

Tell that to people who are doing minimum wage jobs who cannot afford to change their cars/vans, tell that to people these people care for the vunerable ect.
It's easy to talk if it does not affect your standard of living, or you are comfortably off.

Well, I’m divorced and on a miniscule pension and I’m trying to do all I can. I agree that people need help to adapt, especially, eg, people who work in those areas affected by ULEF, but, when the government decided to implement it why didn’t they factor in things like this? Why are they blaming everything on Labour who haven’t been in power for 13 years. Ok, I know the current Mayor is Labour but it was started by Johnson when he was Mayor. But, hey, he was a politician who promised everything and delivered nothing. Climate change has been completely politicised and the Conservatives have realised that a bury our head in the sand and ignore it is a vote winner that’s going to be the way we’re heading. It doesn’t actually affect me: by the time things get really bad I’ll be dead but let’s think about our kids and grandchildren.

I think emission zones will expand, apart from London, Bristol and Birmingham already have them, maybe others too. Currently it affects petrol cars over 17 yrs old and diesel over 8 yrs old, small traders with diesel vans are worst affected. They will have to either get the vehicle modified or replace it and charge the extra cost on to their customers.

We live approximately 15 minutes drive outside of the new proposed ULEZ.

DH received a letter from Sadiq Kahn informing him that his car (which he loves more than me 🤣) is not compliant and if he drives into the area will be fined.

How many letters and at what cost has he sent out?

Hope they don’t bring anything like that in here, we’d be in trouble. No public transport in most areas except the central cities and vast distances to cover. Most households have at least 2 cars, you have to if people go to work.

rafichagran

MayBee70

So, how are we going to combat climate change if no one is prepared to do anything that impacts negatively on their lives?

Tell that to people who are doing minimum wage jobs who cannot afford to change their cars/vans, tell that to people these people care for the vunerable ect.
It's easy to talk if it does not affect your standard of living, or you are comfortably off.

This makes me lose the will to live!

The ULE zones are a public health initiative. We should be talking about pressing for funding to mitigate the problems for those who cannot afford either the charges or changing their vehicles to compliant ones. And about improving public transport. A responsible government would have done that as a matter of course.

Government failure to consider any mitigation and instead using opposition to their own original policy as an election ploy is despicable. They are loving the resistance...

Some areas are well served by public transport. I'm on a Borders Bus, which goes into Edinburgh city centre every half hour My concessionary pass means it costs me nothing.
It's a double decker and carries bikes, wheelchairs, buggies and dogs.and more than 50 passengers.
Some of the.newer buses carry 100.

Here is my view

Yes I am agog at people slagging off India for its emissions whilst sitting in their very comfortable homes, probably owning a car and all the latest tech.

MayBee70

So, how are we going to combat climate change if no one is prepared to do anything that impacts negatively on their lives?

Tell that to people who are doing minimum wage jobs who cannot afford to change their cars/vans, tell that to people these people care for the vunerable ect.
It's easy to talk if it does not affect your standard of living, or you are comfortably off.

This is why it is so hard to get the green agenda through legislatures - and why groups are taking drastic steps disrupting national events. Green policies require sacrifices, and no government wishes to impose these for fear of losing votes.

Democracy is a fine thing on the surface, but throws up these problems.

So, how are we going to combat climate change if no one is prepared to do anything that impacts negatively on their lives?

It's interesting watching at the moment, it is really not a good idea for the left to ignore the concerns of those who will be impacted the most, those on social media etc may be the loudest they are however quite a small section of society.
I think labour have begun to understand that.

I live in a ULEZ area, and there is alot of opposition to it.
The people who are affected are people who cannot afford to change their vans that they rely on for work, carers, and other low paid jobs.
It's all very well people agreeing with ULEZ, people who can afford to change their cars, or people who do not rely on it for work, their principles do not help other people put food on the table. some businesses will also be affected as well.
I drive an older car, which is compliant, but if it was not, it would cause my daughter childcare difficulties, as I drive over to hers to collect my Grandson from school the days she is not working from home, it us not on a direct bus or train route.

The Tories made it a vote loser by their propaganda.

They could have chosen grown up politics recognising and explaining the crises and why we absolutely must mitigate against global warming. How this will work, who will be affected etc.

But no, they chose to tell half truths and spread worry.

We now have a PM who says he is “car friendly” whatever that means, and apparently intent on ensuring cars can go faster and enter previously barred areas.

I live in one of the outlying boroughs and there has been huge opposition to ULEZ extension.

A lot of the problem is that many workmen/delivery drivers etc have older vans - if their costs rise, the consumer pays more.

Many carers, working in care homes or providing care at home, with older cars, will have to pay to go to work.

I understood in Central London, but my borough is pretty clean anyway.

The Tories understand what a vote loser it is.

That might not be the case if it hits them in the pocket or just personally. You should see the opposition to solar farms in my rural area.