Hi there, I've been living in London for the past year and I've been really amazed about the level of attention that the government is giving the issue of climate change here. I'd say there are probably fewer environmental groups, definitely less hardcore activists, yet the government seems to be listening.

The government is "listening" because they care about the long-term economy. While not recognizing the issue as a strictly economic one, the actions they take are based on solid economic findings. Since the Stern Review on climate change was published (asking for a 1% GDD investment in abatement to save between 3 and 25% decades later), government has been recognizing that climate change deserves as much attention as the ageing pension problem.

This is extraordinary because a political economy solution exists here in England. There is a rather sizeable portion of society that feels overburdened by the costs of fighting climate change yet the government presses on. The budget, announced yesterday, (the Budget means something in this country) imposes heave fines on gas guzzlers, flight fuel, levies on plastic bags, and provides all sorts of incentives for cost savings.

In the recessionary times, the need to save more and consume less fits very well with government's goals. The key is arming governments with the facts about the political and real benefits of acting now to stop climate change.

Check out the budget here:

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5h3moEPx3VmVt5WCZHOta18Uog8Kg