The BBC data provide much grist for the mill. On the whole I find the results to be quite encouraging. A finding that screams for further exploration, however, is the discrepancy (at least in the UK and US) between people’s apparently high level of understanding regarding the behavior change potential of higher energy taxes and their relatively lower levels of support for such policy action. Increasing the costs of harmful behavior are indeed a proven way to decrease its prevalence, but currently many elected leaders are uninterested, unwilling, or unable to implement that “fix” for climate change. Louder, clearer public sentiment on this issue might, as we say in the US, help to “get ‘er done.”

A philosophy professor, Martin Bunzl, has an interesting op-ed in today’s New York Times (“Ulysses and the Hedge Trimmer”). He feels that price increases won’t get the job done. Rather, he advocates that less efficient options (such as Hummers) should not be permitted at all. Although I interpret the implications of behavioral economic research differently than he, his argument too provides much grist for the mill.

I’m afraid the say one thing, do the opposite attitude and behaviour are still far too prevalent. When I hear my local Lib Dem councillor spokesman on the environment say, “I’m not getting out of my car to help the planet!”, you begin to lose the will…

Carbon rationing, or personal carbon allowances is what’s needed. The sooner the better. To those who might argue that this would be a limitation of personal liberty, I would suggest they consider if being required to wear seat belts, to send their children to school, not drinking and driving, not smoking in an enclosed public space, not throwing litter, paying taxes etc etc are not also restrictions on personal liberty.

This is a very important issue, isn’t it. We have seen major shifts in public opinion in 2007. Far more people say that they themselves want to do something. But actions are lagging opinions.

On my other web site (www.lowcarbonlife.net) I have uploaded a presentation that I have given at public meetings in the last few months.

http://www.lowcarbonlife.net/default.asp?page=98

I look at the gap between people’s willingness to act, and what they say their views are. The UK probably lags other countries like Germany, Sweden and Denmark by several years, but there is some interesting evidence that people are beginning to recognise that climate change is at root a moral issue demanding personal action.

However at the present rate of progress it does feel like it’ll be another decade or more before we really see changed behaviour in the middle third of the population.