A couple of days ago it was announced that new legislation is to be introduced to deal with the problem of littering in the UK. We all know that littering is a serious problem in our country and I’m sure we’re all tired of seeing drinks cans, fast food wrappers and plastic bottles blowing around our high streets and country lanes.

The response of the Government is to increase financial penalties for littering convictions and to encourage citizens to report transgressors to police officers. The first part is good since people tend to respond to attacks on the pocket but the second part maybe not so.

It is always a little disconcerting when the Government urges us to spy on our fellow citizens and report them to the authorities. It seems to indicate that there are insufficient numbers of law enforcement officers, namely police, to deal with the problem and, following the constant cuts in police forces up and down the country, this is indeed the case.

By all means encourage the reporting of waste-disposal in public areas (commonly known as fly-tipping) to the authorities but asking the public to report individuals for dropping litter on the high street is to ask for trouble. Firstly, is it not risky to attempt to apprehend or remonstrate with a stranger after he has, for example, thrown his cigarette pack or beer can on the pavement? Secondly, is this policy not likely to encourage busy-bodies to report minor infringements, for example the old lady who inadvertently lets slip a sweet paper or tissue from her handbag as she is walking down the street?

Yes, we do have a problem with littering and, yes, most of us are sick and tired of seeing rubbish blowing around our high streets. The problem has to be properly addressed but, whilst increasing the severity of the punishment is a good idea (how about enforced street litter collection by serious offenders? No good, breach of Human Rights and Health and Safety!) that alone will not solve the problem.

What is also required is education; education in the classroom so that kids can be taught what their parents should have taught them in the first place and education provided by a public awareness campaign on television and large billboard notices for those who still don’t get it. Add to that a return of police officers on the beat and we have a good chance of solving the problem.

Last week saw the end of the hugely important world conference on climate change. After weeks of speeches by environmentalists, and the usual hot air and back-slapping by politicians, sincere promises were made (for the cameras at least) that positive action will be taken.

We were told that the world’s big industrial powers will finally put in motion measures to reduce pollution, combat global warming and thus save the planet.

It sounded quite encouraging until some independent scientists and environmentalists announced that the proposed measures, costing billions of dollars, will actually achieve nothing! So who are we to believe?

I recently read an excellent book, “Iron, Steam and Money – The Making of the Industrial Revolution” written by British author Roger Osborne in 2013. The book tells of the history of modern industrialisation, which of course began in England in the 18^th century and spread throughout the world changing the way human beings lived, seemingly forever.

The book ends with this paragraph,

“Life before industrialisation was, for most people, a continual struggle to survive; without reliable sources of energy we cannot live secure and comfortable lives. Any answer to the twin problems of global resources and climate change must begin with that stark truth”.

The question is therefore, are we prepared to sacrifice the security and comfort provided by industrialisation (with all of its side effects) to save our planet?