Letters: We are in an existential planetary emergency!

A Big Issue reader argues that it’s too late for our individual actions to make a difference to the climate emergency and calls for those in power to act now.

Emergency on planet Earth

But did it work? No. Did any of that hope of not flying reduce global flights? No. Did us investing only in environmentally friendly banks change the global economic system? No. Have worldwide carbon emissions gone down, has the temperature increase stabilised? No. Is the weather more stable yet? No.

Twenty years ago I would have agreed with your Friends of the Earth writer saying that we all can and should make individual changes in our lives in the face of the climate and environmental crisis.

Twenty years ago, here in Totnes, I was also involved in the founding of the Transition Towns movement, an incredible momentum for change that spread across the world, of people looking at how they could address these global problems at a local level. And indeed many of the projects founded here then are still going strong now.

Twenty years ago, it still seemed like there was time to turn it all around bit by bit. Now it doesn’t. We are in an existential planetary emergency, and the only thing that will change that is a massive citizens outcry, to governments, to international institutions, to high-carbon businesses. A massive howl of rage from us all. Planting window boxes may be comforting, but it’s really more like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

Sylvia Rose

See both sides

I fully agree with all that John Bird says in his excellent comment on social media. I would add that my biggest concern is that social media is making it easier for people to become trapped in echo chambers and bubbles of ignorance. And this will only get worse as ever improving AI will increasingly ensure we only see the things that we want to see and block the things we don’t want to. It’s vital that we all see both sides of any argument as much as it may upset us.

Liam O’Keeffe, Abinger Hammer, Surrey

End the plastic age

I enjoy your mini cartoons, and especially the one of the frogs [Issue 1648, 06-12 January], where the little frog sitting on the lily leaf told the frog on the plastic bottle that he now has cut out his reliance on plastic. I was given my first plastic shopping bag in 1957 when I booked a package holiday in Austria, aged 24. Before then we managed without plastic – and we can again. If only they would stop making the stuff.

Binah Butler, Taunton

• The climate emergency is here: We must make our housing policy greener too
• The 1.5C global warming target is a ‘delusion’, warns climate scientist who fled Los Angeles
• In the face of this emergency, revolutionary thinking is required
• ‘I’m scared – but I’m ready to go’: Why GPs are willing to go to prison to protest the climate crisis

Hot property

Your reporter Greg Barradale rightly addresses the big issue of private property rental and the consequences of the government’s squeeze on private landlords, which will cause them to sell up and invest their money elsewhere, thus removing from the market further opportunities for people to rent.

One “solution”, it is suggested, is for local authorities to acquire and administer the properties. This, on the face of it, would, to some, appear to be the answer. But it is an answer that fails to understand, not only that money is not available to buy the properties, but also the problems that landlords are faced with and which would need to be dealt with by someone in the local authority with little or no experience.

It is an “answer” that ignores the fact that many tenants are not poor, deprived, honest people who if allocated a place to rent, would care for it and would pay the rent. The reality is that many don’t and won’t.

Landlords, in the light of this latest and previous legislation to protect tenants, will understandably say enough is enough. Some tenants will take the opportunity to take advantage of the legislation. It will be even more difficult to deal with rogue tenants. Landlords will be faced with more problems and decide that the return on their investments are not worth the hassle. 

People who live in the real world understand this. The government, I believe, is devoid of MPs with business experience, has little sympathy with private entrepreneurs, and all of us will pay the price for this.

Derrick Arnott, Hebden Bridge

Feel the benefit?

Imagine how much the government could save in housing benefit if a not-for-profit rental to relatives existed? Currently in the south, housing benefit in Brighton for a two-bed is over £1,000 a month. A mortgage on average would be £750 a month. If a family member offered to purchase for elderly relative why would pointless legislation prevent this? It costs more by not doing it.

Jacqui M

Unknown known

I watched A Complete Unknown y/day. Superb – such a great story which I found v emotional in parts. Reminded me how timeless and relevant his songs are. Dylan read the script, talked with Mangold and gave the green light. Great article by @adey70.

@oharaviolin

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