Warm for the time of year

This week Frances Cairncross, Chairman of the British Association for the Advancement of Science warned that the climate is heating up and we badly need policies to help us cope. It's an issue which is finally getting real traction.

David Aaronovitch in The Times discusses the political positions on climate change and the natural scepticism some policies provoke.

The Al Gore bandwagon rolls on promoting his climate change film and book and website from Hay to Edinburgh to Sky News and around the world.

Meanwhile James Lovelock, founder of the Gaia theory, is apocalyptic in his new book, but believes nuclear power is at least part of the answer. A view shared by the government . Others fear the risks around nuclear power - not least Charles Clarke this week warning the government's energy review overlooked the risk of terrorism.

Someone told me that if the government gave low energy lightbulbs to every house in the country it would cost less per year than a nuclear power station and save more energy than one would produce. Somehow, that sounds apocryphal. Which has always been the problem with this subject. Not enough clear, firm facts on which to base choices and a lot of vested interests directing the debate.

But there seems to be unanimity now across the political spectrum that it's happening and the consequences will be truly difficult for future generations.

So I've made one choice. I'll seek to make my household carbon neutral by the end of the year. Watch for updates on progress.