Not the 'greenest ever' government

A while back I wrote a letter to the press saying blue and yellow does not make green - see here - well the latest vote in the EU along with the launch of Energy National Policy statements by the Coalition only add fuel to that view. See my letter to press below but also take action re Energy Policy by sending an email to your MP here.

Dear Sir/Madam,

On Tuesday our Tory MEPs defied the government and voted against 30 per cent cut in emissions. 16 Conservatives voted against tougher action to cut carbon emissions only 2 supported it. The vote was lost by 9 votes. Every EU government, but Poland supported more ambitious climate action. Why have our MEPs let us down?

This is a significant failure to bring environmental and economic benefits to countries across Europe. Tackling climate change helps the economy and creates jobs. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research indicates that a 30 per cent target could increase economic output by 0.6 per cent and create six million European jobs by 2020. Indeed many companies last month called for the 30% target, as being good for investment and likely to reduce EU oil and gas imports by euro 45.5 billion by 2020. Christian Aid, Oxfam, Greenpeace, WWF and Green Alliance had also all written to the Prime Minister supporting the cuts.

The Coalition even made a statement to support higher EU greenhouse gas emissions targets, but when it came to the crunch the Conservatives were not willing to commit. Meanwhile the Government has just published it's National Policy Statements on Energy and, without changes, these will lock us into a high carbon future. This is certainly not the 'greenest ever' government that we were promised.

As Christian Aid said: "It’s disappointing news, but the campaign continues."

Cllr Philip Booth, Stroud District councillor for Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe ward (Green Party),