National Issues
Climate change
Climate change is one of the very greatest challenges facing us today. We can only tackle it if we realise that we all have a responsibility to act: individuals, business and government.
The recent high profile report published by Sir Nicholas Stern sets out the economic cost of climate change. The Stern report highlighted the overwhelming scientific evidence that global warming could have disastrous economic and social consequences. Potentially, the global economy could shrink by one-fifth, costing up to £3.68 trillion in total while 200 million people run the risk of becoming refugees as their homes are hit by drought or flood. However, action taken now could cost just 1% of GDP.
This is a serious and important report which confirms that the cost of not tackling climate change will be considerably greater than the cost of acting now.
This is why the Conservatives called for a Climate Change Bill to be included in the Queen’s Speech and we are delighted that the Government listened to us. However, I am concerned that the Government is not considering introducing annual rolling targets in line with our policy and the policy of many other Green NGOs such as Friends of the Earth. What we must have is a solid bill with teeth, not a watered-down version.
Any serious Climate Change Bill must have three things: rolling annual emission targets; an independent body set up as well to monitor these targets; and an annual report from the Government on how they plan to make progress in this important area. Labour have been committed to a 20 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2010 in three separate manifestos, but dropped this target in March 2006. It is clear we need independent external scrutiny and greater accountability, which is why an annual and independent check on Government progress is crucial.
For these reasons, I have signed Early Day Motion (EDM) 58, which calls for, amongst other things, the establishment of an independent commission to monitor the scientific evidence of climate change and to set annual rolling targets towards cutting carbon emissions. The text of the EDM is as follows:
That this House believes that climate change is a serious environmental, economic and social challenge which requires urgent action; believes that the United Kingdom's ability to take a global lead on the issue is compromised by the fact that domestic emissions of carbon dioxide have been rising; therefore urges the Government to introduce a Climate Change Bill to establish an independent commission to monitor the scientific evidence and set annual rolling targets towards cutting carbon emissions by at least 60 per cent. by 2050; and further believes that the Bill should require the Government to report to both Houses of Parliament each year on progress seeking their approval for any additional measures needed to combat climate change.
There are a number of smaller, practical steps that can be taken to reduce greenhouse emissions. I have signed EDM 35 which calls for the Government to better recognise the potential of using farm and forestry waste as well as specific crops to produce energy for heating:
That this House notes that biomass heating could reduce household carbon emissions by around three million tonnes, equivalent to taking 3.25 million cars off the road; recognises the significant environmental and economic benefits of using farm and forestry waste as well as specific crops to produce energy and the opportunities that energy crops offer farmers, landowners and rural communities to diversify their activities and rebuild rural economies in a sustainable manner; regrets that biomass only accounts for one per cent. of total UK heat generation; and calls on the Government to rebalance the renewables obligation away from its bias towards land-based wind power to create the stimulus necessary for the development of a sustainable biomass industry.
I also welcome the Government’s long awaited announcement on the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation which aims to increase support for the use of biofuels and renewables for road transport. Now 5% of all fuels sold in the UK originate from bio fuels. However, this figure is a minimum step, and we need to go much further in the future. For this reason, I have also signed EDM 36 which calls for the Government to greater recognise the role biofuels can make in meeting our Kyoto commitments while encouraging greater energy self-sufficiency and providing farmers with a new market for crops. The full text of the EDM is as follows:
That this House recognises the important role biofuels can play in meeting the UK's Kyoto commitments while encouraging energy security and providing farmers with a valuable new market for crops; regrets that the UK lags behind the rest of the EU in biofuels consumption and has set unambitious targets for biofuels inclusion; believes that global authority on climate change will only come with domestic action; and calls on the Government to set clear and ambitious long-term targets to spur the investment necessary for a successful domestic biofuels industry.
While sources of renewable energy such as biomass and biofuels are part of the solution, the Government needs to look more broadly at ways to encourage an appropriate mix of renewable energy sources. The Conservatives have called for an overhaul of the current renewables policy, particularly the Renewables Obligation. This requires electricity suppliers to produce an annually targeted amount of electricity from renewable sources. However, this over emphasis on short-term targeting has encouraged investors to focus on the cheapest sources of renewable energy - onshore wind - at the expense of developing new and eventually more efficient industries, such as wave and tidal power. For this reason I have signed EDM 100 which states:
That this House supports the concept and development of renewable energy; is concerned that the Government is concentrating too much of its policy on developing onshore wind farms at the exclusion of other potential renewable energy sources; recognises that some wind turbines can be intrusive, visually unattractive and environmentally damaging in key conservation areas; believes that the views of people in the local community should be a vital consideration when planning applications are submitted; and urges the Government to develop a comprehensive renewable energy strategy which facilitates the development of less developed technologies such as offshore wind, tidal, wave and solar power in order to meet its renewable energy target.
Whilst I am not against onshore wind turbines in principle, planning concerns about a huge number of onshore wind farms are well founded. I am sensitive to the feelings of concern displayed by many conservationists in Suffolk, who fear that any big expansion of onshore wind farms would destroy the skyline and the natural habitat of Suffolk. However, new Conservative policies aim precisely to deal with concerns of this sort.
I believe the Government’s goal should be to create a level playing field, in order to give all green energy an equal chance. I believe that by improving the regulatory structure for renewable and decentralised energy, we can increase the sources of renewable energy.
I support the active role the Suffolk Councils are playing in addressing the causes of climate change across the whole of Suffolk through investment in both commercial property, (an excellent example is the planned use of renewable energy generation in the new public venue in the Bury St Edmunds Cattle Market development) and also in its domestic social housing to improve energy efficiency.
With regard to the housing sector, St. Edmundsbury Borough Council achieved a CO2 emissions reduction of 19.92% by 2005-06, well above the national average of 16.7% as measured against 1996 levels. This has been achieved through such measures as offering discounted cavity and wall loft insulation to Council residents with an additional incentive of £50 credit against Council Tax.
Finally, I remain deeply sceptical about Gordon Brown’s attempts to curb greenhouse emissions through ‘green taxation’. Friends of the Earth described Gordon Brown’s record on these taxes as “woefully inadequate” and I have to agree. In his December 2006 Pre-Budget Report, Gordon Brown had unparalleled public support to introduce measures to encourage environmentally friendly behaviour. Instead, he chose to introduce a range of taxes which will ultimately have little or no impact on people’s behaviour. More worryingly, Gordon Brown runs the risk of losing public support as the public perceive ‘green taxes’ as just being another way of raising money.
The Conservative Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne has stated our belief that the environment should not become an excuse for a back-door increase in taxation. We plan to off-set any increase in green taxes by reductions in other taxes. We believe in pay as your burn, not pay as your earn.
As an approach to tackling climate change, David Cameron has established the Quality of Life Policy group. It is, in effect, an open forum where ideas and evidence can be presented, so please feel free to visit the website and put forward your own ideas. More information can be found at www.qualityoflifechallenge.com.