London’s antiquated sewer system may not be able to cope with the much heavier rainstorms predicted to occur with climate change.Verdict: An improving situation Mr Blair has merely inherited The London sewers look like trouble. 6/10Pollution* Britain is a very much less polluted place than it was 50 or even 25 years ago. According to the Environment Agency, Britain’s rivers have never been cleaner since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century.* Britain’s coastal bathing waters have steadily improved and nearly all now pass EU cleanliness tests.* Britain’s drinking water is among the purest in the world.* However, a cloudburst this August made London’s drains pour untreated sewage into the Thames, killing thousands of fish. After falling through the Nineties, they rose by 3 per cent between 2002 and 2003.* Some critics say the Blair government has simply not done enough to cut CO2 back, and has hitched a free ride on the effects of the Nineties collapse in the coal industry (when gas largely replaced coal in power stations).Verdict: Mr Blair certainly talks the talk on climate change. (To 12.5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010.)* The Prime Minister would like Britain and Europe to adopt an even more stringent target, of cutting emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2, the principal greenhouse gas) by 60 per cent by 2050.* However, the Blair government’s own private target, of cutting CO2 emissions by 20 per cent by 2010, seems unlikely to be met, because UK CO2 emissions are now rising.

If you want people to behave differently, you must make them understand why.. Climate change

Climate change
* Tony Blair has drawn repeated attention to the dangers of climate change, in a series of high-profile speeches since October 2000 – more than any other national leader has made on the subject of the environment.* Mr Blair has made considerable diplomatic efforts to shore up the Kyoto protocol, the climate treaty badly damaged by George Bush’s decision to withdraw America’s backing for it.* He was quick to ratify Kyoto on behalf of Britain, and his government is on course to meet the treaty’s target for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases. There are advantages in secure, affordable low-carbon supplies – clothes, food or whatever, yet the Government is wimpish. The Government must address domestic environmental policy … Transport is a shambles in terms of its environmental implications and Labour needs to pursue their targets for renewables, energy efficiency and combined heat and power.Sara Parkin, founding programme director, Forum for the FutureLabour’s policy is not commensurate with the overwhelming evidence of climate change and they haven’t twigged the economic opportunities associated with low-carbon goods and services There is an economic market gagging for investment …

Climate change is a worse risk than terrorism – 3,000 people died in 9/11 but 160,000 a year die because of disease caused by climate change ButBush has let down the whole world We have had no return for kowtowing to Bush over Iraq. The incremental measures Mr Blair is likely to propose aren’t sufficient.Sir Jonathon Porritt, chairman, Sustainable Develop-ment CommissionLabour is one of the few governments that are on course to meet their environmental targets in the coming years. The Prime Minister has taken a lead role in persuading other countries to move faster … It is time we had some pay-back.Caroline Lucas, Green MEPI’d like to see the same commitment, resources and energy that was used in Iraq used in the fight against climate change. Since Labour came to power in 1997, emissions from aircraft alone have risen by up to 23 per cent. Every time there’s a fuel crisis the Government backs down, instead of using their vast majority to passing necessary but contentious legislation. If Mr Blair says nuclear power is a viable alternative, it would show a complete ignorance of the issues.

Ever since 1997, he has prioritised a global agreement, and only he can influence Bush on this. But this is compromised by his government’s feeble efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions. Prescott’s Transport White Paper – a good package of policies which could have controlled carbon from road transport – was torn up almost as soon as it was published. Imminent airport expansion would undo all efforts to reduce our impact on the climate.Michael Meacher, former environment ministerEurope is leading the world in climate policies and Germany and Britain are the main reformers. Our target is a reduction in emissions by 12.5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2011 Today it is about 5 per cent.