Cop28 was a good start, but our government must do more on climate change

It is heartening to see that commentators in the know seem to agree that Cop28 was a step forward in the fight against climate change. Though, to me, it seems more like wordsmithing to justify the status quo. However, the challenge of herding so many nations into turning the supertanker (a mixed metaphor chosen purposely) is understandably immense.

I am interested in doing my small bit for the cause. Here are three suggestions on how to make a difference:

1. Buy green domestic energy. But while I appreciate fossil fuel is still required for when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow, I question why there is still such a cost premium, given that green costs have dropped so far. Vested interests, I suspect. It would be helpful for the government to get involved.

2. Use an electric vehicle. Putting aside the higher initial investment and the high mileage, it is the practicalities that stop me from doing so. Our country does not have enough charging points and there is no visibility on recharging costs or speeds. The government needs to offer tax incentives and knock heads together to achieve expansion, compatibility, and visibility. It is surely in our interests and those of manufacturers and suppliers to get us all into EVs, although the loss of fuel tax needs to be openly addressed.

3. Press our government through my MP to do more. But as I have a Conservative MP and a divided, ineffective, and unsympathetic government more interested in kamikaze politics, this is currently a waste of time.

So I’m afraid I’ll have to wait for the inevitable change of government before I can feel more optimistic.

Tim Sidaway

Hertfordshire

Richard Hall is to be commended for illuminating the devastating and everlasting impacts of war on children in Gaza. Children have already endured a large number of deaths, injuries, trauma, and suffering in this war. The wholesale destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals as well as the lack of medicines, food, fuel and water are enormously affecting children and depriving them of their inviolable human rights.

Moreover, non-vaccination will expose children to diseases once eradicated such as tetanus, typhoid, diphtheria and polio. The world must act urgently to support children in practical and lasting ways.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob

London

Ukraine has received enormous financial support for its resistance against Russia. The United States alone has contributed $110bn. It’s something.

That said, we have to wonder if the Ukrainian army would not be in a better position if it had been given what it has been demanding since the start of the invasion, in February last year. I think that Russian president Vladimir Putin has succeeded in scaring the West with his threats of nuclear war, hence its reluctance to put troops on the ground.

But today, after almost two years of merciless war, the Ukrainians are exhausted. Allied countries must move up a gear and truly give the Ukrainian army the means to repel its rival. Russia must not win.

Sylvio Le Blanc

Montreal

Panto season appears to be in full swing at Holyrood. Minister Mairi McAllan inaugurated it with an admirably comic statement imparted with a deadpan delivery: “More often than not, world leaders are approaching the Scottish government asking for our advice on how we have managed to lead the way so successfully on a number of fronts.”

This has to be a joke.

On which subjects, at which this regime has allegedly excelled, has advice been sought from them? Would it be Scotland’s financial management? The bringing into service of ferries? The conduct of a census? Or perhaps it would be our success in school results, in maths, reading and science? Or the speedy treatment of patients at Scotland’s A&E departments? Or in the prevention of drug deaths?

Whatever, clearly someone with a highly developed sense of humour wrote McAllan’s script.

Jill Stephenson

Edinburgh