This morning a triumphant and well meaning President of Methodist Conference David Gamble hails the findings of new poll evidence that over half of people in Britain have taken steps to reduce the amount of energy they use at home in the last year.
David celebrates with the slightly ambiguous claim that "These results show that people are already doing things that cut their carbon footprint, whether they know it or not. Helping to save the planet can often also be a way to save money. People might feel powerless in the face of climate change, but there are things we can all do.”
Actually the reason I and thousand of others, are taking a keen interest in our energy consumption is that over the last three years our gas and electricy bills have risen by nearly a third. In 2006 we paid £900, this year it will edge towards £1200 without any evidence that we are actually using any more electricty or gas than previously.
I have absolutely no idea what that means in terms of the family carbon footprint, but I resent rewarding Russian energy oligrarchs and the privatised utilities with even more of my hard earned cash..
Sometimes I think Methodism's new found obsession with climate change gets in the way of common sense.
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6 comments:
This winter I have had to stop using my lounge because the gas heater is too costly to run.
To be fair MP, there isn't really anything ambiguousabout David Gamble's statement: people are reducing their energy use and, by doing so, reducing their carbon footprint. The one is a consequence of the other.
Whilst I think that's a Good Thing, the issue of fuel poverty is big concern and it is going to need to be addressed by government. Reducing carbon by leaving the old and poor shivering in corners is not acceptable.
Sorry to hear about that Olive. We are making similar decisions at church and will be meeting in our foyer during the worse winter months. We have had a fairly horrendous time with our fuel supplier only resolved when then found that Methodists are not a soft touch.
Richard - one of the great changes that has taken place since I first worked for social services in the 1970s is that we are no longer routinely finding elderly people dead with hypothermia. I ran several awareness campaigns about the issue and knew that "fuel poverty" was a seasonal killer.
This was due to a number of factors (one of which may be the recent spate of warm winters) including the reduction of VAT on domestic fuels supplies and the introduction of the tax free winter fuel allowance (£400 for the over 80s Olive!)
I can foresee a future budget when, picking up the sort of cue that our President provided yesterday, VAT for domestic users - and incidentally churches - will soar back up to 17.5% and the winter fuel allowance will be substantially tampered with.
Of course as these changes are announced it will be wrapped up with weasal words about "saving the planet".
I've got several copies of 'Christmas in Your Pocket'(to give away) but I haven't yet got that £400 in my pocket (or bank.)
Olive the payments are staggered over several weeks and perhaps the Hs have come before the Ms. The Pension service aims to make all payments by Christmas. If you haven't heard within the next fortnight - or want to encourage them now - phone the Pension Service on 0845 9151515.
Thanks, David. The postman has just brought me official confirmation that I will receive it within the next 3 weeks. It will certainly help but won't be enough to cope if we continue to have such frosty weather.
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