The Future

Climate change is one of the gravest threats the world faces. Manmade emissions are the primary cause of global warming and the EU can play a major part in bringing these emissions under control. To its credit, the EU has already established an economic mechanism, known as the European Trading System, which binds member states to decrease carbon emissions. By using a cap and trade system any country wanting to exceed its cap must purchase extra carbon credits from countries with spare credits. In this way the price mechanism incentivises a reduction in emmissions.

This agenda should shape the future role of the EU and I am involved with a charity which is planning to tackle one of the key drivers of global emissions, deforestation.

'Cool Earth' will rent land at a fair price, representing its environmental and social value. By paying for forest conservation in this way, supporters would not only be preventing carbon emissions through deforestation, they would also be directly funding local forest management, which would provide a stable income for the local population, as well as investment in health and education. Our aim is to help make illegal logging uneconomic. As land clearance in the Amazon increases at a pace, pushed on by rising soybean and beef prices, the project could not be more urgent.

If you are interested please go to Cool Earth