While opinion polls suggest that most people in Britain are worried about climate change, there is little sign of action on their part.  Why?

By Julia Stephenson 

One of the main reasons for this is that people feel it won't make a difference to the bigger, global picture.  With China, for example, overtaking the USA as the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, what’s the point of one person using energy-efficient light bulbs or half-filling their kettle?

But more optimistic Greens insist these seemingly small individual steps are a vital tool in averting climate chaos.  And as the philosopher Edmund Burke wrote; 'No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.'  Thus until recently my focus was on taking personal action on the domestic front so when Robert Kennedy Jr lambasted the audience at Live Earth it got me thinking.

'Now you've heard today,' Kennedy yelled above the crowd, 'a lot of people say that there are many little things that you all can do to avert climate change on your own. But I will tell you this - more important than buying compact fluorescent light bulbs or buying a fuel efficient automobile, the most important thing you can do is to get involved in the political process and get rid of all of these rotten politicians that we have in Washington DC.'

While I think it is vital individuals change their light bulbs and reduce their personal carbon emissions, not enough of us are making any changes.  Emissions continue to escalate due to public apathy and our politicians insist something must be done...but do nothing.

As Kennedy says, for change to happen we do need to be politically engaged and vote for politicians who have the guts and courage to avert the worst of global warming with tough, possibly unpopular measures.  Currently we are cursed with politicians in the UK who, while not being as obviously corrupt as those he mentions in Washington, are still enthralled with big business and who measure success in economic growth, airport expansion, road building and the limitless acquiring of new stuff – the very things that are contributing to global meltdown.

Thank goodness for the growth of NVDA (non-violent direct action), and groups like Plane Stupid (www.planestupid.com and Camp for Climate Action  www.climatecamp.org.uk) who use wit and ingenuity to raise awareness of issues politicians won't engage with.  Instead of watching in despair as environmental issues are sidelined and airports and roads expand, joining groups like these give us a voice that our so-called 'democracy' does not.

If enough people show with their lives and behaviour they are ready to change, politicians will think there are votes in this, and legislate accordingly.  The Daily Mail's populist campaign to ban plastic bags made the lily-livered Gordon Brown finally decide to put a charge on them, he didn't have the courage to do this until he saw voters were really behind such measure.

Twenty years ago, who'd have thought we'd put up with an interventionist nanny government, which had banned hunting, smoking in public places, and which uses its authority to further shrink our freedoms by attempting to ban anything; from bouncy castles, bunting, St George's Day Parades, conker fights - even a single 4-inch candle on a birthday cake! (A Mr Leventhal wished to surprise his girlfriend on her birthday at the Champagne Bar at St Pancras station - a full risk assessment of children's candle would have to be made before it could be allowed on the premises).  Meanwhile London fire crews have been forbidden from making home visits to offer safety advice to people who smoke, unless the residents stub out all cigarettes at least one hour beforehand, all in the name of 'health and safety'. 

Yet ironically, when it comes to rational and much needed legislation to guarantee the future of our species the government opts out entirely.

Therefore, it is important that those of us who wish to avert global crisis join forces to act collectively as well as individually.  For, keen to ensure their own survival, if not the planet's, once politicians realise people want action they may start to take it. 

It is vital, as Kennedy says, to elect politicians who have the courage to do the right thing by all of us. How disappointing then, after the recent London elections, that so many passionately Green minded potential voters 'didn't get round' to using their vote for what they believed in.  The day after the election I was chatting to the young man who runs our local organic vegetable stall at the farmer's market who told me he 'couldn't be bothered to vote'; I met a reflexologist who 'forgot' to register and a bright graduate who works in the local health shop who 'just didn't get round to it in time'.  All three of them said they would have voted for the Green Party. 

What a waste!  One of Boris Johnson's first actions when becoming Mayor was to scrap the proposed congestion charge on heavily polluting gas-guzzling SUVs coming into London. Just one of the newly elected Tory's policies that made these putative Greens tear their hair in frustration.

While we cross fingers and hope our politicians WILL lead from the front, let's continue to take small Green actions ourselves every day.  From using less energy in the home and buying local food, as Ghandi said:

'Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it.'