This is one of those stats that green activists tend to ignore, but last year the UK’s carbon emissions fell to levels last seen when Queen Victoria was on the throne. The main reason was the drastic fall in coal fired power, killed off by the silent assassin which is the carbon floor price, along with a steady rise in renewable energy. Yes, I agree it is not enough, but it illustrates a basic principle:

If we act decisively, good things happen.

Here are some other factoids: the Montreal Protocol has lead to ozone depletion falling off the top of the list of top global concerns, the UK’s plastic bag tax cutting single use bags by 86% and leading to a noticeable cut in beach plastic, and, again in the UK, badgers, stoats and otters staging an ‘incredible’ revival due to a clampdown on hunting and pollution. All of this with Sustainability being far from the top of the political agenda here in the UK. Imagine if we really went for it…

I’m an engineer. Engineers are taught a basic procedure: analyse the problem, develop a solution, test solution, implement solution, monitor results, repeat. We don’t pull our hair out, cry doom, or point the finger at others. We roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Let’s engineer a future fit for all!