Petrol and diesel cars to be banned by 2040

[Udayana]

Maybe this?

[Rhiannon]

Maybe this?

Soon only the rich will be able to afford IVF and sperm donation. That's probably going to penalise the poor too.

[ad_orientem]

Bring back the horse!

[Udayana]

Bring back the horse!

There again, horses were and are affordable only to the well off.

[Shaker]

There again, horses were and are affordable only to the well off.

Good for the garden, though.

[Sebastian Toe]

I run a low polluting small car, I am NOT privileged.

You do have a penchant for buying a brand new car , every year is it?
Some would suggest that someone in that position might be a wee bit privileged!?

[jeremyp]

The harm to the planet is much more important, especially as poorer people are likely to be driving older cars, which are the most polluting. If nothing is done now future generations might find there are very few place on earth, which are habitable when we are long gone.

I suppose the Government could come up with a compensation scheme for people on low incomes, who have to rely on their cars, so their old polluting vehicles can be scrapped.

Right, so replace all diesel and petrol powered cars with electric ones. What percentage of pollution do you think will go away as a result?

In your answer, take into account the fact that the electric cars all have to be made. That includes an enormous battery chock full of lithium. Think about the environmental damage caused by mining transporting and eventually disposing of all that lithium.

[SteveH]

Sell your car; buy a bike.

[Shaker]

Sell your car; buy a bike.

A good idea when possible; tricky for getting the kids to school though.

[Sebastian Toe]

A good idea when possible; tricky for getting the kids to school though.

Or maybe not?

https://tinyurl.com/ycwjbwj2

[Shaker]

There's always one.

[SweetPea]

A good idea when possible; tricky for getting the kids to school though.

Some children could cycle to school. More children could walk to school. My three used to walk over a mile to school.

[Rhiannon]

Good for them.

And if it's ten miles? Five miles to the nearest shop, five to the nearest doctor, twelve to the nearest train station?

(If you really want to make me laugh mention getting the bus).

[SweetPea]

Well, that's your choice.. to live out in the sticks..

[Rhiannon]

Well, that's your choice.. to live out in the sticks..

No, it's what I can afford. And there are plenty of people like me who are forced out of properties in or closer to the towns. The notion that rural living is for the privileged is false.

[SweetPea]

I've never thought rural living was for the privileged.

[Rhiannon]

I've never thought rural living was for the privileged.

Maybe you don't, but plenty do. Don't sssume it's a 'choice'. And accept that the choices you were able to make - walking, cycling - aren't options for many people. They sound trite.

[SweetPea]

Well, if it's not a choice, what is it?

[Rhiannon]

Well, if it's not a choice, what is it?

 

[Shaker]

Well, if it's not a choice, what is it?

Which bit of

No, it's what I can afford

are you struggling with, specifically?

[Rhiannon]

Don't forget, we all have free will, Shaker...

[Shaker]

Excellent. Have the freewill to imagine you have more money so that you can freely buy your imaginary house elsewhere 

[Rhiannon]

I've imagined I'm moving to the converted Irish church that they had on Grand Designs once. That'll do.

[Udayana]

Obviously, it will not be possible to stop people driving everywhere unless (clean) public transport is available.

We need more areas (eg most cities and town centres using park and ride schemes) where green public transport is provided and petrol/diesel cars banned. Tight regulations on diesel vans, trucks and buses need to be enforced - and forced over time to cleaner power.

[Robbie]

(In response to SweetPea's comment about choosing to live "in the sticks" following talk about walking to school and cyclign)

No, it's what I can afford. And there are plenty of people like me who are forced out of properties in or closer to the towns. The notion that rural living is for the privileged is false.

Too right. House prices in cities alone forces people to move out.

Walking to/from school is fine if the school is reasonably near. Cycling too but not all kids would feel confident cycling a long way in traffic never mind what happens if you get a puncture & are miles from home.

So for some a car is a necessity not a luxury.

Obviously, it will not be possible to stop people driving everywhere unless (clean) public transport is available.

We need more areas (eg most cities and town centres using park and ride schemes) where green public transport is provided and petrol/diesel cars banned. Tight regulations on diesel vans, trucks and buses need to be enforced - and forced over time to cleaner power.

Sounds right to me.