I was very relieved to see Michelle Donelan’s recent column, on August 20 headed, ‘Vital to confront climate change dangers directly’.

Too few people seem to recognise the leading role played by climate change in causing the drought-fuelled emergency that has resulted in the flood of desperate refugees who now need our help.

But individuals cannot play an effective role in combating climate change until the energy market itself is fixed. Fossil fuels have never paid their true cost, and ‘green’ choices can’t compete.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby, an escalating movement in the US, calls for a steadily rising fee placed on all fossil fuels at source – at the coal pit, well-head, or port of entry – and for the money that’s collected to be divided up and returned, in equal shares, to all of us citizens.

This is the only way to truly support individuals in making those necessary green choices. Moreover, it’s the only way to provide secure, predictable and effective incentives for business to do all it can to help them.

To join CCL here in the UK, write to info@climatepledge.org.uk – a chapter has already begun here in Marlborough, and we would welcome you!

JUDY HINDLEY Kingsbury Street, Marlborough