That's OK. Premier League clubs will be able to revert to travelling by train or electric coach from Manchester to Birmingham for away games instead of by plane.

I haven’t been following this thread as it seems obvious that these protestors do far more harm than good and reading others saying so a little pointless.

It seems to have expanded. I am not as cynical or pessimistic as you. There is now a much greater acceptance of the need to reduce our reliance on carbon based fuels in the developed world and significant steps being taken alongside promising research. We must show the way. The developing world will follow, but they cannot be expected to lead. It’s unrealistic to expect people to immediately change their lifestyles. People just wouldn’t cooperate. Yes, flying to conferences sends out bad messaging but the overall cost is minimal compared to the need to achieve global cooperation.

However, I think we are overlooking, and as a consequence are unprepared for, one of the biggest impacts of climate change. One that is probably a bigger threat to our future than the changes themselves.

Whilst we can mitigate the changes, and in time even start to reverse them, they are going to happen, even if the extreme weather we have witnessed in recent years is not already evidence of them. Rising sea levels, changes to rainfall patterns and the consequential availability of fertile land and spaces to live are going to cause population movements of a kind we have never witnessed. Add in the predicted population growth and the migration issues we are experiencing now will seem minor. We may not take the brunt ourselves but the knock on effects could be catastrophic.

So I believe we must start to prepare for this now. Build barriers where possible. Plan where large numbers can safely go and develop the economic resources there so they will. Research on drought resistant crops is being done but needs to be prioritised.

Explaining we need to spend money on this is not going to be easy.

I haven’t been following this thread as it seems obvious that these protestors do far more harm than good and reading others saying so a little pointless.

It seems to have expanded. I am not as cynical or pessimistic as you. There is now a much greater acceptance of the need to reduce our reliance on carbon based fuels in the developed world and significant steps being taken alongside promising research. We must show the way. The developing world will follow, but they cannot be expected to lead. It’s unrealistic to expect people to immediately change their lifestyles. People just wouldn’t cooperate. Yes, flying to conferences sends out bad messaging but the overall cost is minimal compared to the need to achieve global cooperation.

However, I think we are overlooking, and as a consequence are unprepared for, one of the biggest impacts of climate change. One that is probably a bigger threat to our future than the changes themselves.

Whilst we can mitigate the changes, and in time even start to reverse them, they are going to happen, even if the extreme weather we have witnessed in recent years is not already evidence of them. Rising sea levels, changes to rainfall patterns and the consequential availability of fertile land and spaces to live are going to cause population movements of a kind we have never witnessed. Add in the predicted population growth and the migration issues we are experiencing now will seem minor. We may not take the brunt ourselves but the knock on effects could be catastrophic.

So I believe we must start to prepare for this now. Build barriers where possible. Plan where large numbers can safely go and develop the economic resources there so they will. Research on drought resistant crops is being done but needs to be prioritised.

Explaining we need to spend money on this is not going to be easy.

It's difficult to prove that air pollution is the specific cause of death rather than a contributing factor. The death of the young black girl which is what I suspect this refers to is controversial as some people believe the coroner went to far in his verdict.

I think we'd all agree that air pollution is bad especially for people with underlying health issues.

The issue for me is that Khan has come up with a bad solution initially proposed by Boris and will brook no discussion on the matter. He has hurled all sorts of insults at anyone who disagrees with ULEZ including calling them far right extremists.

This is childless and pathetic way of trying to engage the public on a serious topic.

My own preference is rather than have a single solution the Mayor should be looking at specific local solutions.

Identify where pollution is bad and then see what can be done. For example if it is caused by cars idling due to traffic jams solve that problem and then see if the pollution reduces.

I wonder how much - or if possible - it is to retrofit stop/start technology. Perhaps that could be a start. But why solve a problem when you can tax it…

Edited by Badger11 (26 Aug 2023 9.10am)

"I wonder how much - or if possible - it is to retrofit stop/start technology. Perhaps that could be a start. But why solve a problem when you can tax it…"

I thought that's what the new buses do? If you are at the lights the diesel engine cuts out and it runs on a battery?

Most people can see this is more about tax than health.

My neighbour has a car which if it was a year older would not be compliant. She has made the comment will he change the rules in future years. Quite possibly if the ULEZ revenue starts to fall Kahn will move the goal post.

Edited by Badger11 (26 Aug 2023 9.40am)