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What have these targets to do with my country?
If you do not live in the UK, you might be forgiven for suspecting that this article has nothing to do with you. You would, however, be mistaken. Although the actual targets might be inappropriate for your country - eg. if you lived in Switzerland for instance, asking your politicians to commit to a 20% recycling level by 2010 would be a backward step - the themes are universal. Let me explain:
- All countries will need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions if change is not to become a disaster. To decide how much, you will need to do a little research. Firstly, is your country meeting its Kyoto Protocol commitments? If not, then encourage them to do so. If they are, and you live in a wealthy first world country, try to encourage them to do more. 20% is not an unreasonable rate of recycling, but check that your country is not already achieving this.
- How much of your country's electricity is produced from renewable sources? If none at all, then 10% could be a very reasonable target. Most first world countries should be aiming for 20% by 2010 unless they have already achieved this.
- If you country has no legislation in place to make biotech companies accountable for any harm then follow the guidelines in this article. If your country has already made biotech companies accountable, then check that this accountability also extends to their overseas work. Some big companies try to get away with lower standards in foreign countries. This is not acceptable practice.
- How good is your public transport system? In some countries this will be practically non-existent and the best thing to do is push for better public transport. Where public transport is in place but run down, try to find out how much more investment is needed to bring it up to reasonable standards. First world countries should commit to this level of investment immediately, taking the needed funds from road building programmes. Third world countries should plan for this over a number of years.
- Does your country use traffic calming measures? Does it enforce a 20mph speed limit in residential streets? If not, then the standards quoted here are equally applicable where you are.
- All businesses should be required by law to report on their social and environmental impacts. First try to find out how many of the top firms in your country do so. Look and see if they have an environmental policy; separate and independent social and environmental reporting and sensible environmental targets. If not, use the standards set out here. If they do, try to encourage such reporting in their international operations as well.
