Good News (for a change)

As this will appear in the Christmas edition of the magazine, it’s nice to be able to report some good news on the climate change front for a change.  Like late buses, they all seem to have appeared at the same time.

The best news for a long time must be the victory of Barack Obama in the recent American Presidential election.  There was always going to be good news whatever the result of the election as (a) neither candidate was George Bush and (b) both candidates were serious about climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  However for me Mr Obama is definitely the preferred choice as the Democrats have a better climate change record than the Republicans, and the new Vice-President is not the awful ‘drill baby drill’ Sarah Palin.

In late October the UK’s Climate Change Bill became law.  Its long term target is to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, rather than the previously proposed 60%.  Emissions from international flights and shipping will be included, and there will be annual targets along the way.  These are all things that people had been lobbying for.  The Bill legally commits the UK to meeting the targets and it is the first such law in the world.  Hopefully other countries will follow the UK’s example.  Attention will now switch to having tough targets for the next few years and for actions to meet the targets.  I expect I’ll return to that in 2009.

In my September article I discussed the future of coal fired power stations in the UK, and said that these should only go ahead if they are fitted with commercially proven carbon capture and storage (CCS).  Since then the UK Environment Agency has reached a similar conclusion.  They say that CCS-ready stations like that proposed for Kingsnorth (leaving room for CCS to be installed at a later date when the technology is proven) are ‘insufficient’ in light of the climate challenges faced.  Another tide that seems to be turning is whether to have a third runway at Heathrow.  There is a big group of Labour MPs against this project.  Personally I can’t see it ever being built as the implications for the climate sink in.

Finally, close to home, a group of members of Ashtead U3A is thinking of setting up a sustainable development group and I wish them well.  I hope you all have a good Christmas.

If you want to discuss any of the subjects raised, I am very happy to talk to groups of people.  My email address is derek.leatherhead@ntlworld.com.  I will also try and reply to emails from individuals, either directly or in a future article.

Derek Smith