The frightening announcement that average global temperatures could rise by as much as 11°C coincided with the publication of a report by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) on tackling climate change.

The IPPR is a think-tank close to Downing Street. Its report calls on the Group of Eight leading industrial nations and other large economies to take the lead in tackling the threat of global warming by taking a pledge to generate at least a quarter of their energy needs from renewable sources in the next 20 years (news, page 6).

This concept is not new, after all London’s mayor Ken Livingstone has set a target for developers of providing 10% of a new development’s energy needs from renewables (‘Capital idea’, page 44). Some London boroughs are already incorporating this target into their local planning policies – thus ensuring the policy’s impact.

Tony Blair has made climate change a priority for his presidency of the G8, and has made clear his desire that the US government commits resources to the battle against global warming.

However, given his government’s failure to meet its domestic targets in addressing carbon dioxide emissions (see News analysis BSj 01/05), and the challenge he faces in coaxing a self-interested US to face its global climate responsibilities, it is unlikely the prime minister would pursue anything as radical as the IPPR’s recommendations.

This is a shame. Firstly because radical solutions need to be taken now if global warming is to be addressed. And secondly, if such a far-reaching policy were adopted, it would be building services engineers that would be charged with the task of making it work efficiently and cost effectively – a challenge, I feel sure, many in the industry would relish.

The threat of the earth warming by 11°C is not going to disappear. The opportunity to make a difference before it is too late will very soon… . . . Over to you Tony

Andy Pearson, Editor

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ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainable Design