There was a sense last week that the wheel may be turning around climate change. To hear President Bush talking about the need to engage the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases may well represent the tipping point in the debate.

Three of the largest emitting nations, the US, China and India did not sign up to Kyoto. Without them the successor agreement from 2012 will not succeed. So signs of developing political consensus in the US, however tentative at this stage, are welcome.

Political consensus about the reality of climate change is starting to build in America. With an election next year, the eventual contenders to succeed President Bush are going to have to confront this no matter which party wins.

Back home we have a Climate Change Bill going through Parliament this summer. It is not as strong as many, including me, have called for. There are moves to beef it up. We shall see if Gordon Brown is prepared to put his green rhetoric into practice.

At a local level there is much we can do. There is increasing interest in renewable energy installations for the home judging by the number of stalls at Ludlow's green festival over Whitsun offering products and advice to cut energy bills using solar and other technologies. The straw house built outside Ludlow Castle for the summer is well worth a visit.

I had my own carbon footprint assessed last week by the Wasteless Society from Bishop's Castle. Not a pretty result, but it focussed my mind on where I can take practical steps to reduce CO2 emissions and reduce my cost of living.