31st March 2008

Move will impact on Gloucestershire plans for renewables

Greens joined Stroud-based Ecotricity, WWF, Greenpeace and others in the furore over attempts by the Government to evade its environmental responsibilities, by proposing that any UK renewable venture abroad should count towards it's 2020 quota targets. See also Cllr Dave Cockcroft's letter to The Guardian and Euro Green candidate Ricky Knight's letter below.

South-west Green Party lead candidate for the European Elections, Cllr Knight said "It beggars belief, that with all the pervading green-wash over intended binding legislation to combat CO2 emissions, the Government should so calculatedly point to its real priority - one that Brown has clearly inherited from Blair. Namely that, when push comes to shove, it's going to be business as usual - CO2 emissions are of secondary importance to competitiveness. It's as if Stern had never written his report, reminding us that the opposite is true: the cost of inertia - and this is the equivalent of just that - far outweighs the necessary costs of doing everything possible to combat Climate Change. This ridiculous smokescreen ploy for failing to meet already inadequate targets, once again throws a spotlight on this government's double standards and woeful inability to grasp the nettle of leadership on this utterly crucial issue."

Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor and a spokesperson for Gloucestershire Green party said: "If the Government think they can offset renewables abroad then they must also include all the energy used by UK businesses and investments anywhere in the world. Why should other countries have rising CO2 emissions due to production of raw materials or goods for consumption here? In addition we must stop ignoring the emissions from sea and air freight, used to transport globally manufactured goods, when calculating whether we've achieved our CO2 reduction targets."

Philip Booth said: "This is a shameless move to try and avoid our responsibilities. It will also mean that moves to take our share of responsibilities towards climate change and build renewable energy security in Gloucestershire will be seriously damaged."

Dale Vince, chief executive of Ecotricity, Britain's biggest windfarm company, is quoted in The Guardian (i) saying: "This would kill renewable energy in Britain. It makes a mockery of any attempts to address climate change. The idea that we can build wind farms or other renewable energy projects [abroad] and then offset them against the UK target is outrageous. If it were possible to build projects anywhere in the world where planning is lax, nothing would be done in the UK."


Notes:

(i) The ideas were presented to an EU gathering by Business Minister Baroness Vadera earlier this month. The suggestion follows questions about how the UK will increase the proportion of its power that comes from renewable energy fivefold within 12 years. The current level is 3%. Ministers want British renewable energy developments overseas to count towards its quota in reducing harmful carbon emissions. They also want to include carbon emissions which have been saved by the use of so-called "clean coal", it said. See here.

Letter to local press in SW

Dear Sir / Madam,

The Government's attempt to evade its environmental responsibilities, by proposing that any UK renewable venture abroad should count towards it's 2020 quota targets has been widely condemned.

It beggars belief, that with all the pervading green-wash over intended binding legislation to combat CO2 emissions, the Government should so calculatedly point to its real priority. Namely that, when push comes to shove, it's going to be business as usual - CO2 emissions are of secondary importance to competitiveness. It's as if the Stern Report had never written his report.

The Government's move will also mean that hopes to take our share of responsibilities towards climate change and build renewable energy security in Gloucestershire and the rest of the South-west will be seriously damaged.

Furthermore if the Government think they can offset renewables abroad then they must no longer evade responsibilities for all the energy used by UK businesses and investments anywhere in the world. Why should other countries suffer rising carbon emissions to create goods that are consumed here? In addition we must stop ignoring the emissions from sea and air freight when calculating whether we've achieved our CO2 reduction targets.

The Government must withdraw this shameless suggestion. Britain has the opportunity to be a leader in renewable energy, particularly in over-shore wind and tidal turbines. That must be our urgent priority, not this smoke and mirrors attempt to rely on other countries to do the necessary work for us.

Cllr Ricky Knight
South West Green Party Lead Candidate for 2009 European Elections
1 Taw View  Terrace
Bishops Tawton
BARNSTAPLE
EX32 0AW