The UK government recently gave its 'low carbon transition plan' an airing. At the launch of the plan, the unelected Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who has been forced, twice, to resign from previous roles within the government for his...
B*llsh*t B*ll*cks Cr*p
Some journalists are supposed to be critical of government. It is their job. Some journalists are supposed to make arguments in favour of government policy. It is their job, even if the result is bland and inconsequential. Some journalists feign 'balance' by reporting...
Rhubarb-Rhubarb and Custard
First, the custard. Then, the rhubarb-rhubarb: Direct action historically has been a major way that we've got change. I mean, you can look at, historically, through the Suffragettes, through the miners' strikes, through all of the major changes. Yes, some of it is...
It's All About Ethanol
Poor old Gordon Brown: More than 80 Labour MPs have signed an amendment to the Climate Change Bill, which would force ministers to promise greater cuts in carbon emissions. The Climate Change Bill commits the government to make at least a 60% cut in CO2 emissions by...
Environmentalism According to Lucas
Over the last year, we have looked at some of the words and ideas coming from the environmental movement through the Green Party's MEP for SE England, Caroline Lucas. With her breathless, urgent catastrophism, Lucas epitomises Environmentalism and its hollow vision,...
Something old, something blue, something borrowed, something green
Bernard Ingham, former press secretary to Margaret Thatcher, asks in the Yorkshire Post (H/T Benny Peiser): In the election for London's Mayor, the Greens got just over three per cent of the vote. Leaving aside such misguided places as Norwich, where the Green Party...
Emissions Policy Policy Omission
Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary, son of Tony, successor to David Miliband, announced on Monday that the target of 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 set by his predecessor may not be enough. This comes in the wake of the Tories trumping the 60% figure, with...
Carbon Neutral Policy Surfeit
Apologies for being off-line recently. It’s been summer, we’ve been busy, and there’s been less news around. Now that the Summer is over (did it ever really begin?), we’ll be back with more regular postings.********The Liberal Democrats announced last week their plans...
Lib Lab Lip Service
Yesterday, the UK's third political party - The Liberal Democrats - launched their Climate Change Starts at Home campaign. Menzies Campbell unveiled bold proposals that demonstrated how upgrading Britain’s homes could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by millions of...
In Crisis Politics, the Only Way Is Up
UK Conservative Party leader David Cameron has announced his commitment to an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. This move 'beats' Labour's promise of a 60% reduction by the same date. Cameron's announcement follows statements by the Conservative Party's Quality...