22nd November 2007

A response to David Drew MPs challenge of Green party Parliamentary spokesperson, Martin Whiteside 

David Drew MP suggests Martin Whiteside 'inhabits an alternative universe' when he challenged the Government on their latest plans to tackle climate change (20th November 2007).

I believe that many of our elected representatives refuse to inhabit the real world. Unless we tackle our carbon emissions and face up to reducing oil reserves (peak oil) we will have no economy and precious little need for constitutional reform. Indeed Gordon Brown has also questioned the target in the Climate Change Bill.

However instead of action he is asking another committee to look at the figures. We do not require more commissions and reviews, more political delay. We need real, possibly un-popular measures to reduce our emissions and produce resilient communities. What we do not need is £5.1 billion spent on widening the M1 and a pitiful £100 million on expanding renewable energy use and efficiency in the home(i)!

Current policies supporting renewable energy are inadequate, confusing and piecemeal. Worse Brown's plan to push nuclear proposes to address one environmental crisis by producing another.

The potential in renewables should be recognised and funded. We need guaranteed prices for exported renewable energy: feed-in tariffs have been a runaway success in Germany and other countries, stimulating both large- and small-scale projects and kick- starting a profitable industry that supports many thousands of jobs.

Protecting the environment and preventing the worst impacts of climate change are the most urgent problems we face – and the latest measures won't make any real difference.

Cllr Sarah Lunnon, Leader of Green party group of Stroud District councillors.


Notes for Editors:

(i) It was revealed in May 2007 that the cost of widening the M1,Britain's biggest road-building project has now risen to £5.1bn.
Please see http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2073611,00.html