Your editorial is spot-on (The Guardian view on the green transition: politicians should speed it up – and households too, 4 May). Sadly many of the policies implemented by politicians are counterproductive, based on the fear of public backlash. Fossil fuel tax cuts encourage climate harm and will exacerbate the coming shortages.

Nuclear power is a way to spend billions today that will have no impact for at least a decade, while readily available competitive solutions go begging. Fuel rationing and efforts to hasten the transition nudge us in the right direction, though they still lack a clear financial signal for the wider economy and households.

As with most political solutions, there are rarely new ideas. During the 1970s fuel crisis, a British engineering professor at MIT, David Gordon Wilson, presented to the US Congress five times, proposing a predictable and rising carbon tax uniformly rebated to all citizens. Because poor people and those on middle incomes pollute so much less than the richest, this actually makes most people better off. Industry is similarly motivated and safe to pass on costs knowing consumers retain purchasing power.

Experts understand that carbon pricing is the most proven policy in fighting climate change. There have been many efforts at informing and persuading the public; a Scottish citizens’ assembly voted 77% for a carbon tax and dividend scheme.

Unfortunately, western countries showing such ambition have been undermined by fossil-fuel-aligned parties, among them Switzerland, Canada and Austria. The fact that the fossil fuel industry fights so hard to resist this policy should be all the justification we need to make the case and do it.
James Collis
Chair, Citizens’ Climate Europe

With new-build houses increasingly looking like nothing more than prefab kits, including glass fibre chimneys dotted about, a government demand that they are fitted with not just solar panels, but air source heat pumps and 10kW batteries too is long overdue. The reason why this has not already been legislated for must be a strong builders’ lobby and its concern for profit.

Legislation needs to be driven through as it would benefit our green industries and owners of new homes, and fundamentally reduce our energy consumption. The lead time demanded by the building and green industries could be adjusted to suit both, but at a government-driven pace. This government has a good majority, it should use it.
Phil Rowe
Wyre Piddle, Worcestershire

Your editorial rightly stresses the urgency of making a transition to renewable energy and the need for the public to understand the reasons and benefits. Readers interested in finding out more might want to attend a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing.

This film summarises the information that was given at the national emergency briefing by 10 eminent scientists in parliament last November. They explained how the climate and nature crisis is even more serious and urgent than has long been predicted, and how we can and must make rapid changes that will improve life for everyone.

There are hundreds of free screenings taking place, organised by volunteers. People can find their nearest screening at nebriefing.org. We need politicians to move farther and faster, and this film can empower ordinary people to give them the necessary push.
Chris Neill
Godalming, Surrey