Last night's speech on Britain's energy choices by former environment secretary Owen Paterson's caused widespread outrage long before it was delivered. But what exactly did he say on the night? Read on, and be surprised to discover that it makes excellent sense - in parts.
… for four years I supported Coalition energy policy. However I have become increasingly … to learn more about the consequences of this policy. And what I have unearthed is alarming. Our current policy will cost £1,300bn up to 2050. It fails …
The Government has refused to publish its report on the cost effectiveness of England's badger cull because it is 'still in draft form'. Campaigners say the real reason is that it reveals the cull to be cruel, ineffective and incredibly expensive.
… financial reappraisal of its badger cull policy because the document is "still in draft … form" . In 2011 the Government stated in a policy paper (see 4.17 / 4.18) that it would … before making any decision on rolling out the policy to new areas of the country. In its FOI …
High ranking academics have issued a stark warning to policy makers on the future of Britain's shale gas - your best bet is that we have none that can be recovered consistent with policy objectives.
… Policy makers warned on UK shale gas - assume … academics have issued a stark warning to policy makers on the future of Britain's shale … none that can be recovered consistent with policy objectives. Four senior energy …
Despite Cameron's promise to lead the 'greenest Government ever', the environment has taken a heavy bashing since the 2015 election, writes David Clubb - whether on oil, fracking, renewable energy or planning policy. But Wales is doing its best to follow a sustainable path, and demonstrating badly needed environmental leadership that the whole UK would do well to follow.
… oil, fracking, renewable energy or planning policy. But Wales is doing its best to follow … to nuclear energy and an ' open door ' policy to fracking; A complacent attitude to … the UK, has been made to feel the irrational policy vacillation of a Conservative …
The UK's nuclear power programme is driven by military demands, write Andy Stirling & Phil Johnstone - but not in the way you might think. The most essential need is not for plutonium or tritium, but for a nuclear industrial sector to design, build and maintain the reactors that power nuclear submarines. Without them, the Trident missile system would have no military credibility.
… year for two highly controversial areas of UK policy making. With potentially insurmountable … new nuclear power in the UK, British energy policy stands at a turning point. At the same … emerged from recent research at the Science Policy Research Unit ( SPRU ) as to whether …
The UK's insistence on opening up the UK to fracking is symptomatic of a deeper malaise, writes Paul Mobbs. Of course we need a change of government, but more than that, we need a deeper, enduring change of the nation's governance if we are ever to effect the transition to sustainable policies on energy and environment. It's time for the UK to become truly democratic.
… item in their own right. The holiday season policy dump Anyone who has been closely … - the most controversial development and policy proposals are announced. This Christmas … hidden for many months - over 400 separate policy announcements . And you can bet that by …
The Greens are now running at 12% in the polls - 2% more than the LibDems, and up 3% in as many days - in the run up to Thursday's elections, reports Elise Benjamin. And their policies are the most popular of all the UK's parties. The Greens are breaking through!
… the naïve, and the head of BBC's editoral policy, Ric Bailey ( responsible for party …
Government energy policy is caught between apparently conflicting objectives, writes Mark Hackett. But there is a solution that is already working in the UK and abroad - to encourage the active participation of local authorities in delivering low carbon energy to the communities they serve.
… chp-pipes-mike1024-cut.jpg Government energy policy is caught between apparently … energy to the communities they serve. Energy policy in the UK and Ireland is in a state of … moment. This is largely due to contradictory policy and a preference for 'market solutions' …
The green washing of Theresa May’s Conservative government appears to have reached its end following a week of environmentally regressive policy announcements and the collapse of UK renewable energy investment, writes JOSEPH DUTTON
… UK government greenwash fades as environmental policy goes backwards Joseph Dutton | 18th May … a week of environmentally regressive policy announcements and the collapse of UK … 56 percent in 2017. The EAC highlighted key policy decisions taken in 2015 which this …
Political earthquakes in Canada and Australia have seen climate-sceptic leaders replaced by new ones committed to effective climate action, write David Konisky & Matto Mildenberger. It may be going too far to say that's why they were elected - but these elections do show that green policies are no electoral drawback.
… , two of the most important climate policy obstructionists among world leaders no … in place Abbott's unambitious Direct Action policy. Under Direct Action , which replaced … Direct Action legislation to ratchet up the policy's ambition. In Canada, voters rejected …
Donald Trump has made some big policy flips since his election victory, writes Travis N. Rieder. But will the flippery extend to climate change? The danger is not just that America's emissions could soar under a Trump Presidency, but that other nations may follow suit. We must work to make sure he recognises his moral responsibility to humanity. The lives of millions depend on it!
… Mr. Trump: your climate policy will impact the lives of of billions - … Donald Trump has made some big policy flips since his election victory, … proposed climate policies will cause. Climate policy and consequences During the campaign, …
It's a fair question, writes Doug Parr, but one to which we are getting no answers - the government is keeping its sums and energy models secret. It looks as if the energy department, DECC, is making things up as it goes along to justify its pro-nuclear, anti-efficiency and anti-renewables policies. And when it all goes disastrously wrong, who will end up paying for the mess? We will.
… One is to demonstrate how the various policy changes and roll-backs recently … 1) The cheap stuff is gone First there's policy, especially low carbon policy, which will drive change in the energy …
With the EU referendum on the horizon, the Common Fisheries Policy is likely to figure in the debate as an exemplar of EU policy failure, writes Griffin Carpenter. But the much maligned and misunderstood CFP is doing a good job: stocks are recovering, bycatch-dumping is banned, and it may even force the UK to give more quota to small-scale fishers.
… on the horizon, the Common Fisheries Policy is likely to figure in the debate as an exemplar of EU policy failure, writes Griffin Carpenter. But … small-scale fishers. The EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), more commonly referred to as the …
Last week the Upper Tribunal of the Royal Courts of Justice ordered Defra to release key information about the badger cull based on a 'public interest' argument, writes Lesley Docksey. Could this judgment open a new era of transparent and accountable government?
… secrecy prevailed in the government policy of badger culling, supposedly designed … much input the NFU would have in forming that policy . In May 2012 the Badger Trust put in a … development of the government's badger cull policy. To quote the Trust : "Unknown to the …
As the governing conservative party lurches ever further to the right, writes Kyla Mandel, it feels like UKIP has already won the election - six months before it's even happened. Tory ministers are already executing UKIP policies, with their ignorant but implacable hatred of renewable energy in all its forms.
… Britain's 'energy policy' - carried out by Tories, made by UKIP? … farmers. Panic over the rise of UKIP and policy u-turns aimed at placating the most … be dismantled and spoke at the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF). In a Pickle - 17 of …
The success of the SNP and surveys carried out by DECC show that green energy is overwhelmingly popular, writes Keith Barnham. Labour's failure to support renewables and oppose nuclear power and fracking may have cost them the last election - but now, with the rise of Jeremy Corbyn there's a real chance for the party to put that right.
… , deliberately obscuring the support this policy implied for fracking. In practice, … than their support for fracking. Such a policy might even have won Labour some of the … with farmers than the coalition government's policy of bribing them to accept fracking on …
Climate policy should be the big issue for voters heading for the polls in May's Euro elections, writes Olaf Corry - the EU's emissions are plenty high enough do matter, and the European Parliament is at the heart of the action.
… Politics Transport UK smokestack.png Climate policy should be the big issue for voters … the Conservatives) bases his party's energy policy on the idea that "there are increasing … government " . The big issue: EU climate policy Given this, why is EU climate policy …
With its choice of Hinkley Point C - a £100 billion nuclear boondoggle - its enthusiastic support for expensive and environmentally harmful fracking, and its relentless attack on renewable energy, the UK government's energy policy is both morally and economically bankrupt, write Peter Strachan & Alex Russell. It must urgently reconsider this folly and embrace the renewable energy transition.
… economic and moral bankruptcy of UK energy policy Peter Strachan Alex Russell | 27th … renewable energy, the UK government's energy policy is both morally and economically … reflect on recent developments in UK energy policy. Both new nuclear build and UK onshore …
The solar industry is going great, with tens of gigawatts of new capacity planned for 2014 alone. But as Jonathon Porritt writes, the solar revolution could be going even faster - with smart, consistent policies for solar power in Europe and Japan.
… a story dogged by completely dysfunctional policy-making, and by the continuing … of the oil and gas industries over energy policy as a whole. Those two things are of … the USA is aiming at 6,000MW. Inconsistent policy making Growth in Germany and Japan will …
Environmental groups and local authorities are dismayed by Government plans to drop a key local policy to promote renewable energy, following pressure from developers.
… Government pulls plug on local renewables policy 24th August 2007 News Merton Rule … Energy Renewables Renewable Energy Government Policy UK Energy Politics And Economics News … by Government plans to drop a key local policy to promote renewable energy, following …
A consistent pattern is emerging in the UK government's plans and policies, writes Paul Mobbs: the stripping away of human rights and freedoms; the detachment of public institutions from democratic accountability; an increase of the powers of the state; and the empowerment of corporations at the expense of people. We must act to preserve our liberties, while we still can.
… ability of the public to question official policy, and to allow business interests to … to participate in and object to Government policy even further. The Queen's Speech … At what point does advocating non-violence policy change become 'extreme'? At what point …
The UK Government has ditched the requirement for new homes to be 'zero carbon' from April 2016, writes Gordon Walker. With builders already geared up to meet the challenge, this needless reversal will raise energy bills and carbon emissions for a century or more to come, and send out all the wrong signals for the Paris climate talks.
… Scrapping 'zero carbon' homes is policy vandalism Gordon Walker | 20th July … of the UK economy . It's an appalling act of policy vandalism. I heard the news on my way … to total copout The zero-carbon homes policy was properly ambitious (at least in its …
A new study on the spread of bovine TB shows that only with more frequent testing of cattle will the disease be defeated in England, writes Oliver Tickell. It has already worked in Scotland, and is on the way to doing in Wales - where some herds are tested every six months.
… Moustakas, said: "It is clear that the Welsh policy of frequent testing up to every six months and the Scottish policy of risk-based surveillance are … way of reducing Bovine TB. Farmers and policymakers should not ignore this evidence …
Campaigner Georgina Downs has scored a significant victory in her 12 year battle against the UK Government. But DEFRA Ministers have still failed to secure protection from pesticides for people in the countryside.
… Government finally agreed to changes to its policy for assessing the risks to people from … failings in the Government's existing policy and approvals system for protecting … a case to the Government regarding its policy failings, and campaigning for urgent …