This morning I sat in the lecture theatre at the Royal Institute of British Architects listening to Lord Adair Turner explain why the 2nd progress report of the Climate Change Committee to Parliament is not as positive as it might have been. Note, this presentation was delivered to interested parties, (the WI acknowledged as one of them) including one or two MPs, I suspect, but still very few women to be found among the dark suited men.

Anyway, since the first progress report, at least, in essence, little progress has actually been made. Any cuts in CO2 emissions that have been made are in great part due to the recession rather than the implementation of policies from the committee. But, whatever this committee decides it needs to happen now; whatever policies government champion, the requirements now, and in the future, will be incentives for lifestyle changes across the population. Now isn't that just what the WI has been advocating and putting into practice for years? Of course it is! Incentives from government and local authorities and better, simpler information on 'green living' might help, of course.

In the meantime, how about NFWI federations putting on eco driving lessons? That is, learning how not to drive using the usual break and accelerate method when travelling from A - B; driving in a more sustainable fashion, using less fuel, resulting in fewer traffic jams!