Not the footballer, but the first global environmental conference held 20 years ago in 1992. At the time it seemed to be a watershed in global thinking, with politicians finally realising that the earth’s resources are finite, and we are going to have to use them more carefully in future. Now the politicians are flying down to Rio again for a Rio+20 conference, to take stock on progress and set the path for the next 20 years.
Of course, it’s been a mixed outcome. Initial optimism has been lost, especially with the disappointment at Copenhagen, when we missed a chance to stop trashing our climate. Globally we are emitting 40% more carbon dioxide – the main cause of manmade climate change – than we were in 1992. And we are still losing primary forests and biodiversity are a shocking rate. The UK’s done a little better than some, with falling CO2 emissions, although how much this is due to more and more goods being made in China is hard to tell. And it is much easier now for individuals to take action themselves – with more energy and environmental labelling, more fuel efficient cars and better cycling facilities, support schemes for home insulation and mandatory high efficiency boilers, and – of course – the Green Energy Supply Certification Scheme, which makes it possible to choose electricity fully matched by renewables with additional environmental benefits.
At Rio, politicians must act. At home, WE can act. So switch off unwanted equipment, use renewable energy, save water and don’t waste food. And if you haven’t already done so, sign up to the Green Energy Supply Certification Scheme today.
