The final part of the phase out of the production of incandescent light bulbs comes into effect September 2012 with a ban on the manufacture of 40W and 25W bulbs. Lighting consumes 19% of electricity world wide and therefore the ban will make a difference.
Will this stop global warming? The short answer is no. With the world population set to grow by 2 billion by 2050 and a further 2 billion of today’s population without electricity, then light bulb bans will at best just slow down in increase in global warming. Even if world population growth stopped, the 2 billion without electricity will eventually be hooked up to a grid and start consuming. The real answer perhaps is to decarbonise electricity production with a comination of nuclear, tidal, wind and solar.
As for incandescent light bulbs, I have been using CFTs in my home for the last 20 years and they seemingly last for ever. Some people claim CFTs are expensive but the last time I bought some they were 4 for £1.00 in Tesco in Enniskillen, so I fully support the ban.