Kyoto established the Clean Development Mechanism, a market for tradable credits that western companies can buy to meet their pollution requirements.
How successful is this scheme? It has been calculated that by 2012 (when the protocol expires with nothing to replace it as yet), the scheme will have reduced emissions of carbon dioxide by two billion tonnes; trouble is the world is emitting 20 billion tonnes a year.
Even as the polar regions begin to melt, countries are lining up to lay claim to ownership. Why? because there's oil there.
Perhaps Alan is pleased that Britain is, among others, trying to make our fuel more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, that decision has caused food riots around the world. Our environmentally friendly consciousness is directly contributing to the death of people, as fields that did grow food for their bellies are ending up in our vehicles as bio-fuel.
I doubt that we will get a "truly effective and groundbreaking law" on emissions. We will get carrots and sticks for recycling that involve taxes and buying a "greener" alternative, while the airports expand and Britain and the rest of world strive to become richer.
The only hope is that new technology will come to the rescue, because it is certain that the developed nations will fight, literally, to maintain trade and the channels of trade. Dressing up as Gordon Brown is not going to have an impact on the boats and planes of international trade.
Ray Brown,
Lynton Avenue, Northampton.

Moving tenants may cost us dear
I congratulate Sally Beardsworth on her very brave and courageous recent change of policy when asking council tenants to move who are subject to anti-social behaviour, criminal activity or living in substandard conditions (such as those at Robinson House).
At the cabinet meeting on April 7, Councillor Beardsworth stated that these were the main reasons that residents at Robinson House were being moved, and when I raised my concerns that this would set a precedent, she replied "I think it only right that if we ask tenants to move they should receive £4,000".
With something like 600 of the council's 12,500 tenants living in overcrowded or substandard accommodation that fails to even meet the decent homes standard, this could potentially cost the tax payer in excess of £2 million.
Councillor David Palethorpe,
Billing Ward (Conservative),
Northampton Borough Council.

Offer empty flats to waiting list
Open letter to Northampton Borough Council Housing Department:
I am on the council's waiting list for a property to rent in Northampton and, having read the article in Chronicle & Echo of April 26 about a block of flats on the St Crispin Development in Duston that have been unoccupied for nine months, due to being offered for shared ownership, it occurred to me that these properties could also be included in a scheme for renting through council nominations.
Could this be put forward to the housing association involved and other housing associations operating in the area, so that these properties can be offered out to people in a similar situation to myself?
I have lived in Northampton with parents for my whole life, working full time since leaving school.
I have now privately rented a one-bedroom property which has put constraints on me financially.
I work for Northamptonshire Police as a Police Community Support Officer and would be only too pleased to have the chance of renting such a property at an affordable cost.
I have looked into the option of a shared ownership property in St James, Northampton, and have found this option to be out of my financial reach, as once you have added up the cost of the share, rent, service charge and utility bills, this is beyond my reach as a single person.
If these or similar properties were to become available to rent at an affordable cost for single professionals such as myself, I would appreciate the opportunity.
Jennifer A Harrison,
Address supplied but
withheld by request.

Wasted dog fees
I am absolutely amazed to learn that £7,000 of taxpayers' money was wasted in kennel fees for a Staffordshire bull terrier dog, which was subsequently destroyed, after it had savaged two teenage lads.
This was obviously an inherently dangerous animal and proved so by its actions.
So could someone please explain rationally why it was necessary to delay putting down this dog?
It should have been destroyed immediately.
Brian Paling,
Chapel Lane, Flore.

Plan a reduction in fire cover
It has been reported locally that the county council has given a "pledge over fire cover". Tory cabinet member Liz Tavener is quoted as saying that they "will not reduce pumping appliance capacity in Northampton or Corby during the next three to five years".
What is not said is that the new proposed standards are in fact a reduction in the current standards of fire cover.
The new standards increase fire engine attendance times for incidents in Northampton and Corby.
These increased attendance times have been put in place to allow fire engines from surrounding areas to attend – more travelling time allowed means you can call on engines from further afield – which will mean the public will wait longer for fire engines than they currently do.
While there may be a reluctance to implement the reduced standard to the full at present, clearly this strategy will allow the council to "drip feed" cuts in fire appliances in the future.
Hence Councillor Tavener could only offer a "commitment" for three to five years and this at a time when both towns are expanding.
Labour councillors will be fighting to maintain standards for the safety of firefighters and for the safety of the public.
Councillor John McGhee,
Leader of the Opposition, Northamptonshire County Council.

A dream of no traffic cones"I had a dream" that traffic cones had been banned from Northampton, then unfortunately I woke up.
Can anyone explain to me why so many roadworks are taking place at the same time? Whether I am visiting my disabled son in Hunsbury, shopping at Weston Favell or the town centre (which I don't do unless I have to), the travel time is doubled due to road works.
The Harpole to Upton part of the A45 has had cones since September and very little has changed. Why wasn't the road through the fields completed before they dealt with the junction on the A45, or is that too sensible?
I went to town today and, after negotiating road works on the A45, at the station and St Peter's Way, I wasn't surprised to see the car park less than half full.
Mrs S Jameson,
Brookside, Weedon.