Radical action needed to hit UK’s zero-carbon target | Letters

Michael Stone on the reality of Britain's consumption, Celia Forsyth on support for fossil fuel projects, Gemma Cantelo on making cities greener and Stephen Martin on the sustainable development goals

Theresa May is deceiving us, either deliberately or through ignorance, with regard to the goal of reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 (May puts 2050 zero emission target into law, 12 June). This is impossible for any economy based on mass consumption.

Over decades, most British manufacturing has shifted abroad, in particular to Asia where labour is cheap. These items are usually produced with high carbon outputs, with electricity supplied through coal. For an accurate figure of Britain's emissions, our consumption of goods produced overseas must be included. As Britain's consumption has increased enormously over the past 30 years, this carbon addition will be substantial.

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