Pick a Number – Any Number

Worldwatch, which aims to 'empower decision makers to build an ecologically sustainable society that meets human needs' have upped the stakes:  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - To avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, world carbon emissions will have to drop to...

80% and the Climate Change Aristocracy

The Independent newspaper announced yesterday that The UK should cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by mid-century, the Government's climate change committee recommended today. The committee said a more stringent target than the 60 per cent cut...

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,...

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...

Tories on Standby for Labour-Saving Policy Action

Today's Observer editorial carries the following analysis of the "Phoney War" of policy battles between Brown and Cameron, amidst rumours of an early election: The Conservative leader is not short of policy ideas. If anything, he has too many of them and they are not...

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...

Runaway Climate Runway Capers

The "Camp for Climate Action" has opened near Heathrow Airport. Announcing the event, and commenting on some of the legal problems the organisers have faced, the campaign website said:Unfortunately the police have stopped and searched some people coming to the camp,...

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...

Challenging Climate Orthodoxy…

April 2007. Since its release in February, the IPCC's AR4 (Working Group I) Summary for Policymakers has been uncritically reported in the mainstream media, and its findings often exaggerated. Because of a perception that the public mood demands action to mitigate...