camelot-forum.co.uk

Never mind the planet’s fate when the jet set feel the urge to seek out some winter sun - Self-denial will save the Earth, we’re told. But big emitters seemingly haven’t had the memo
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the Climate Change Committee (CCC)the UK’s official climate authority...
Its latest report to government is of particular interest to the public, in arguing that a third of the emissions cuts required to achieve net zero by 2050 will have to come from consumers themselves.

Unless we – individual households – accept heat pumps and electric cars and deterrents to flying and less meat (skipping two kebabs per week), the CCC explains, the target cannot be met. And assuming the introduction of a selective news blackout that reduces public awareness of UK plutocrats, celebrities and influencers with colossal carbon footprints, such a behavioural transformation may not be impossible.

In the more likely event of continued media indulgence for the UK’s highest-status emitters, [ensuring] sustained general cooperation may be more optimistic.

For as long as, say, Carrie Johnson sees no reason not to disseminate images of her family’s strenuous holidaymaking in distant places – last month Saudi Arabia – the much less frequent flyers being urged by the CCC to adapt to net zero will be exposed to powerfully contradictory, even compliance-crushing, messages. Including, in this case, that a “dream” stay in Saudi’s St Regis Red Sea resort – accessible only by seaplane or speedboat – is compatible with a reputation as an environmentalist. Just a few years ago, Mrs Johnson was extremely exercised by single-use straws. Saudi Arabia’s actions to combat climate change, to which it is exceptionally exposed, were recently rated as “critically insufficient”.

To be fair, as Mrs Johnson pointed out, her husband was already in Saudi Arabia for what the couple call “work”. As in, he was telling an audience that Saudi Arabia is “a global leader in women’s empowerment and innovation”
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a different panel, the UK-based Cambridge Sustainability Commission on Scaling Behaviour Change, convened a few years ago, Prof Peter Newell of Sussex University said: “We have got to cut overconsumption and the best place to start is overconsumption among the polluting elites who contribute by far more than their share of carbon emissions.”

The CCC records the panel’s interest in subsidies to help poorer consumers survive the transition to heat pumps, but there is no sign that the 26 people considered ways of making the wealthiest emitters pay, let alone of making them, too, adapt. Aside from noting the panel’s support for a frequent flyer levy (as an alternative to generally increased fares), the resulting CCC advice seems to perpetuate the latitude long extended to the drivers of SUVs and the owners of multiple homes, in suggesting that the behaviour of a polluting elite is situated somewhere beyond targeted penalties.

Even so, as public understanding develops, more flamboyant polluters in this group may want to think harder about showing off their car collections, yachts, multiple homes, commutes to Dubai. As generous as it is of the Beckhams, for instance, to share photos of their family’s scattered houses, travels and £16m yacht, success in educating the public (on which the CCC proposals depend) on carbon emissions could raise the chances of this gifted family being perceived, above all, as creators of carbon emissions.

Oliver90owner wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 9:40 pm No different to the required change to EVs, really.

ChristineFlo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 8:45 am Unfortunately some of us live in rural areas/small villages and smaller towns without the facility to do as London has done. Doctors/dentist/library/bank/hairdresser/clothes/half decent supermarket aren't in walking distance and rural transport is "interesting" . Don't blame it all on the jet set becuase some of us live outside major conurbations or work in farming and other necessary rural pursuits. And don't drive/cycle/ride a horse but attempt to live with public transport.