Eco-friendly action is needed now

I don't see much in the Press about climate change and the impact it will have but we should be looking seriously at this issue and what can be done in the islands. What effect is a two degree centigrade increase going to have – or worse, a five degree increase – on the food chain, fish life, on agriculture and do we even care or are we more concerned about getting a tan? How does it impact on milk yields and the natural habitat in general?

According to official figures, Guernsey imported 24m. gallons of fossil fuel oil in 2014, (eight million gallons on transport fuel alone) of which 16.5m. was used for power generation and 8.5m. for transport, similar to the year before. Isn't that an awful lot of petroleum for a tiny island? Are we really making an effort to cut down on emissions or are we paying lip service?

The cable link to France is a great boost and all thanks to Guernsey Electricity and EDF, but maybe that's made the rest of us more complacent.

Like heroin junkies, we are addicted to oil, needing a fix to make us feel better in the short term regardless of our long-term health. We cannot see further than our next tanker of fuel delivered by a States-owned company. We are about as eco-friendly as Saudi Arabia.

Let's take a good look at our actions.

Heating: is it right to turn the heating up and wear a T-shirt indoors? I was in a States office beginning with E and I saw that for myself. What message does it send out to the public?

Double standards, that's what. What about turning the heating down a few degrees and putting on your Guernsey? It could make people healthier, save money on heating and on the ever-increasing health costs. If you're working in an office and there's a dress down Friday or even if there isn't, put on a Guernsey (or a Gansey). Support local. If using heating fuel to heat your home, try and convert to greener electric, gas or very efficient wood pellets or at least have a more efficient oil boiler which can work on cooking fat or biofuel. Not only is oil a fossil fuel, a lot of it comes from conflict zones like the Middle East. Make love not war, I say.

But anyway, back to electric. With the cable link now in place and assuming it doesn't break, our electricity should be much lower carbon-sourced, being either nuclear or renewable energy.

Flying regularly to the UK on a jet to London is very polluting because it's short haul, but it's also an essential hub. The jet has obviously put up emissions but they are merely replacing those of Flybe. A way to mitigate all this is to set up or buy into an offset scheme to counter the increase in emissions. Plant a tree scheme and renewable energy projects here or in the developing world. As for ferries, I have no idea if Condor are releasing more or less emissions than previous years but seeing as their new boat has broken down a lot and they have one less boat in service, they surely are releasing less emissions even when they are running up to speed.

Planning a ski-trip this winter? Is there a sport with a higher carbon footprint than downhill skiing? I can't think of one. Cross-country skiing is a better alternative. Oh well, it doesn't matter because we'll all end up crowding into a few high altitude resorts in the Alps or flying even further to the Himalayas for a snow holiday. In any event, with the scarcity of the white stuff and growing populations, the middle class will probably be priced out of the market whether they are still keen on the sport or not.

Alright, so we abandon skiing and decide to go on a tropical holiday to the Maldives. Forward wind 20 years – the trouble is, no airlines fly there any more as the international airport is now underwater and most of the resorts are too. The oceans have warmed up, the ice has melted, sea levels have risen. Diving has become more popular.

Finance companies are a major island employer but are they doing their bit to mitigate their pollution from all their air travel? One day we might have solar powered or hydrogen powered aircraft but until then, it's a dirty problem. Kerosene, avgas and all the rest of the toxic chemicals. It's not the emissions alone, it's the toxicity of the fuel itself. Trees again. Let's get planting again in the meantime.

Online purchases. Now, ordering an item from the other side of the world or even in the same continent by express delivery is a very high impact transaction. If it's a tracked delivery item, have a look at how many hubs the courier uses before it reaches you.

It's astonishing and another reason for buying locally, especially if made locally wherever possible.

Now, we come to motor transport.

It takes a good while for a combustion engine to warm up, fifteen minutes or so. Check your temperature gauge next time. Doing a lot of little short trips is bad for the engine over time. It also causes more air pollution as the engine is not running efficiently. Commercial trucks and vans pottering around at a quarter of their optimal speed... glug, glug, smoke, smoke.

Non-commercials have more options. When the sun shines it invariably affects the transport choice we make. What is it today? The car, moped, the bike, the trike or just the legs alone... Government talks the talk but should walk the walk.

Anything using diesel is very problematic, as the VW diesel cheater software scandal illustrates only too well. Heard of nitrous oxide? Well, look it up. It's nasty stuff. Not good for walkers and babies but also not for drivers either. Smaller hybrid and electric vehicles suit a small island very well. Vans and trucks should be more closely tested for air pollution.

We're in a fortunate place where we can harness tidal, solar and wind if we can get our act together. Then we can really say we're reducing our carbon footprint and supporting local.

Unless we take affirmative action, our islands will get smaller as temperatures rise, the ice melts and sea levels rise. We cannot control events around us but we can act responsibly, each and every one of us. We can pressurise politicians to act.

All incorporated businesses with 20 employees could do well to have a footprint assessment to mitigate their emissions involving using a low-carbon consultant. What about the absurdity of a footer at the bottom of an email stating a request for the reader not to print an email in order to save paper when the originator of the email supplies plastic components or is a fund manager with a stake in mining and minerals? Enough of the greenwash.

Then there is the property market.

UK type energy performance certificates with banding systems might help us realise how to improve energy efficiency. All that heat being lost through roof slates and door seals and you don't even know it. Where's the heat map? No, we haven't got one. The cost implications should have no negative implications of the market. There is no need to reinvent the wheel – localise it to island needs.

We cannot afford to keep on doing the same old things in the same old ways. It's not all negative, it's an opportunity to innovate and show Guernsey PLC in its best light. Think about it the next time you fill up, plan a trip, turn the heating on. Where's all the energy coming from? Can you get it locally? Can you buy it smarter? Can you do it better? Can you save yourself money, a win win? If we are to reduce fossil fuels by 35% by 2020, we are going have to be much smarter to work out how we use less than we did last year and keep doing the same each year.

In a recent conference Eric Rondalat, CEO of Philips Lighting, said: 'We need people and leaders to take definite measures to act faster on climate change while increasing the goals we have for energy savings.'

More quotes from some of the heavyweights;

'Some scientists believe climate change is the cause of unprecedented melting of the North Pole and that effects these very uncertain weather patterns. I think we should listen to those scientists and experts.'

Dalai Lama

'What would induce anyone at this stage to hang on to power only to be remembered for their inability to take action when it was urgent and necessary to do so?'

Pope Francis

'Global warming is not just the greatest environmental challenge facing our planet – it is one of our greatest challenges of any kind.'

Barack Obama

So ask your deputy what they are doing in their backyard for our planet, for the greater good of the island community. Don't listen to vested interests. It's not a distant problem, it's right here in front of us.

Action is needed now for future generations.

SIMON,

Address withheld.