Think before you enjoy it. The near-record temperatures expected today are a sign of things to come, and will become commoner and hotter in future years as man-made global warming takes hold, scientists predict.

Link: Independent Online Edition > Environment

The planet appears to be cooking as a result of human activity. If it’s hot here, imagine how hot it will be in sub-Saharan Africa in the next few decades. Elsewhere, rising sea levels will flood large areas of land, including coastal areas and the Fens of East Anglia. Millions of people will be displaced through drought and flooding.

What are you doing to save the planet?

Save energy at home with low energy light bulbs – you can buy them online for 99p each. Avoid all those cheap gas and electricity offers – they’ll probably put the prices up soon after you switch – and buy from the companies that do the least environmental damage. Good Energy’s electricity is the most environmentally-friendly – it comes from wind power. There’s no such thing as totally environmentally-friendly gas, but you can buy through the RSPB scheme that aims to put something back into the environment. To save the most money while saving the planet, turn your thermostat down and wear more jumpers indoors when the weather’s cold.

Save energy while shopping. Check the Good Shopping Guide for a company’s environmental credentials before you buy. Think about food miles – avoid out of season imported fruit and vegetables that have been produced using huge amounts of scarce water in their country of origin, then flown here. Some imported products (like tea, coffee, and chocolate) that can’t be produced in the UK, should only be bought from Fair Trade suppliers – all the supermarkets stock Fair Trade produce now.

Save energy while travelling. Use your car less, avoid flying (the proliferation of cheap flights is having a serious effect on air pollution), use public transport, walk and cycle more often.

The Kyoto Protocol has failed to make much difference, mainly thanks to the American Government’s refusal to co-operate, but it’s still important to keep up the pressure on politicians. But being a Humanist means being accountable for your behaviour – for the effect it has on other people and on the planet – so do what you can. It may not seem much, but if everyone did their bit, it could make a huge difference.

How far will you go to save the planet? Your answers in a forum discussion please.