Community Exchange covers a wide range of topics and offers email and URL addresses for further information or debate. This is more than twice the increase, of 13 per cent, permitted in relation to the Kyoto Agreement. Unprecedented volumes of wastes of various kinds are already being produced. The amount of domestic and industrial waste has doubled since the mid-1980s, and the recent surge in consumer spending points towards further continuing growth in waste amounts.
Litter is a major continuing problem, particularly in cities and towns and on beaches.
Certain marine fish stocks are under threat and some vulnerable landscapes, coastal areas, habitats, flora, fauna and archaeological monuments are being damaged. Overgrazing due to the overstocking of sheep has caused considerable damage to areas such as the western uplands. For every two vehicles that were on the roads just 10 years ago there are now three. The resulting traffic congestion wastes time and damages air quality. It is not just something to be dealt with by environment departments in Government or public bodies and concerned voluntary bodies.