Great piece, albeit an elaborated statement of the obvious. It's so dissonant that such a common sense position is one likely to provoke a multitude of attacks.
There's a huge disconnect between politicians who represent the will of their polity, and their consequently doing the right thing for the environment when in office: That won't win votes.
It's high time major economies set up Environmental Agencies bound by, say, the Paris accords, who act independent of Government, but with a writ to deliver environmental targets, just as Central Banks are disassociated with Government in order to best meet fiscal policy.
Both sets of goals are ratified by government. The pursuit of those cannot be limited by the whims and caprice of parliamentary terms of office.
Plainly, in what is correctly referred to here as 'The Summer from Hell,' the consequences of inaction are simply too dire. I fear this Summer from Hell is the first of many...
Just got back from visiting Boston where we did most of our sightseeing on foot. Lots of historic, walkable areas that are also desirable (and expensive) places to live. Maybe we need to focus on the carrot (would you like to love somewhere where there are lots of things to see and do, meaning you can access them daily?). I'm guessing there is a pretty huge market for affordable, walkable, safe communities.
I've observed an example of an attempt at this go up in my community recently, timing wise construction started pre Covid-19, on set delayed a number of components and may have been a factor on why pricing of units (commercial & residential) are too high for my consideration. I love the idea you present.
Last week I travelled between Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm. In Oslo, there are tunnels under the city, so that cars never really interfere with pedestrians. This makes it easy to walk around in the city and the air is very fresh. In Copenhagen, since 1968, the city has had an annual decrease of cars in the city by 4%. Today, it is a city for pedestrians and people socialise, have dinner and drinks outside, go swimming in the canals. Stockholm, however, is still stuck in the mindset of the 1960s, and is a city that favours cars over people. As a Swede, I was embarrassed that we were so far behind, and that we don't realise what Stockholm could be – a meeting place for the people who live here and for those who visit – rather than what it is today, a place for transport.
Great piece, albeit an elaborated statement of the obvious. It's so dissonant that such a common sense position is one likely to provoke a multitude of attacks.
There's a huge disconnect between politicians who represent the will of their polity, and their consequently doing the right thing for the environment when in office: That won't win votes.
It's high time major economies set up Environmental Agencies bound by, say, the Paris accords, who act independent of Government, but with a writ to deliver environmental targets, just as Central Banks are disassociated with Government in order to best meet fiscal policy.
Both sets of goals are ratified by government. The pursuit of those cannot be limited by the whims and caprice of parliamentary terms of office.
Plainly, in what is correctly referred to here as 'The Summer from Hell,' the consequences of inaction are simply too dire. I fear this Summer from Hell is the first of many...
Just got back from visiting Boston where we did most of our sightseeing on foot. Lots of historic, walkable areas that are also desirable (and expensive) places to live. Maybe we need to focus on the carrot (would you like to love somewhere where there are lots of things to see and do, meaning you can access them daily?). I'm guessing there is a pretty huge market for affordable, walkable, safe communities.
I've observed an example of an attempt at this go up in my community recently, timing wise construction started pre Covid-19, on set delayed a number of components and may have been a factor on why pricing of units (commercial & residential) are too high for my consideration. I love the idea you present.
Last week I travelled between Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm. In Oslo, there are tunnels under the city, so that cars never really interfere with pedestrians. This makes it easy to walk around in the city and the air is very fresh. In Copenhagen, since 1968, the city has had an annual decrease of cars in the city by 4%. Today, it is a city for pedestrians and people socialise, have dinner and drinks outside, go swimming in the canals. Stockholm, however, is still stuck in the mindset of the 1960s, and is a city that favours cars over people. As a Swede, I was embarrassed that we were so far behind, and that we don't realise what Stockholm could be – a meeting place for the people who live here and for those who visit – rather than what it is today, a place for transport.
Really nice piece, Taras.
Can we exchange recommendations with you?