Carbon - a debate without end

There are seven billion of us on the planet right now, five billion more than when I was born in 1931. Another two billion will be added over the next two decades, giving us a world population of nine billion, a third of whom live in poverty and filth. Don't let anyone insult our intelligence by saying that all of those billions are not polluting the planet. Let's work together at getting rid of all pollution, not just excess carbon.

We will find that an ETS will not solve the problem alone. We have to do other things such as having energy-saving, environmentally-friendly homes. Commerce and industry must do likewise, with more than a bit of encouragement from a carbon price.

I am pleased that the coal industry is taking forward steps towards producing a clean coal product. Other fossil fuels can do likewise. But, they have to take it far more seriously and urgently than they are doing right now, instead of pleading to governments to protect them from environmental critics who are growing rapidly in number The challenge of clean energy requires the investment of a lot more money, as well as the recruitment of top quality scientists who have the skills and commitment to transform the search for solutions into a great crusade that ends with the achievement of ground-breaking results.

They will do it if they have encouragement from politicians who should decide to refrain from trying to gain or retain power by making political capital out of the carbon challenge. They could win our respect as statesmen if they see the vision that a solution to climate change can be sensible, ethical and responsible.

And let both Al Gore and Lord Monkton go and play golf instead of making a lot of money out of frightening the human race while achieving absolutely nothing that is good.