Green Party MP urges government to follow German example and say no to nuclear

As Germany confirmed that it is to shut all nuclear reactors by 2022 (1), Caroline Lucas MP, leader of the Green Party called on the UK government to follow suit.

She said, “That both the German and Swiss governments have now responded to public pressure and chosen to phase out nuclear power altogether sends a strong message to politicians around the world that we simply do not need nuclear to power our future.

“However, it’s also vital that fossil fuel use is not increased in response.

“Nuclear is a dangerous distraction from the real solutions we need for a low carbon economy – renewable energies and a mass scale energy efficiency programme.

“The UK government must now follow this example and end its costly obsession with nuclear – which means no government approval and no public money for new nuclear.”

ENDS

Notes

1)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/30/germany-to-shut-nuclear-reactors

Caroline Lucas MP criticises Committee report for failing to back Shale Gas moratorium

Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas MP responded today to a report published by the Energy and Climate Change Committee on the development of Shale Gas in the UK (1).

Caroline said, “Given the serious concerns outlined in this report, it is astonishing that the Energy and Climate Change Committee fails to reach the logical conclusion of recommending a moratorium on Shale Gas.

“Dismissing concerns, for example, on the grounds that UK regulations are stronger than in the States, while taking a ‘wait and see’ approach here is highly irresponsible.

“The report itself admits that the benefits of Shale Gas are limited, stating that although it believes climate emissions from gas to be lower than from coal, they are still far higher than from many low-carbon technologies and can therefore contribute little towards our long term emissions reduction targets.

Carbon Emissions – The Bigger Picture

(Letter to the South Wales Evening Post)

Dave Haskell (Have Your Say, Friday 20 May) is correct in saying the UK produces less than 2% of the worlds carbon emissions.

2% may seem like a tiny amount, but it still places the UK in the top 10 emitters in the world (from a total of 215 countries for which records exist). And these top 10 generate over 67% of all emissions.

But this figure only records emissions generated within the UK and does not take account of carbon emissions related to all the goods and services that we import into the UK.

As one of the world’s major importing countries, the UK’s full Carbon Footprint is significantly higher than our local emissions.

Coalition battle finally delivers flawed climate deal

Responding to the Energy and Climate Change Secretary’s announcement that the Government has agreed a deal to set the fourth carbon budget, committing the UK to a 50 per cent cut in greenhouse gases – compared with 1990 levels – by 2025, Caroline Lucas, MP Leader of the Green Party, said, “After weeks of dramatic politicking and bitter Cabinet clashes, I welcome this deal on the fourth carbon budget, setting the UK’s long term climate targets in line with the recommendations of the independent Committee on Climate Change.

“But the fact that this budget, which ironically will cost the Government nothing during this Parliamentary term, was ever in danger hints at the ferocity of anti-green resistance within the Coalition – especially in the Treasury, making a mockery of George Osborne’s pre-General Election claim that it would, under his Chancellorship, be “a green ally, not a foe”.

“Furthermore, this deal is seriously flawed thanks to the Government’s failure to heed CCC advice on three crucial points.

Time to take the Party out of Politics

(Letter to the South Wales Evening Post)

Having lost his overall majority, Swansea Council Leader Chris Holley blithely informs us that, “This makes no difference to the running of the council ” and, “It is business as usual “.(Evening Post, Saturday 7 May, page 2)

Anyone who takes an interest in local politics will know that “business as usual” for Swansea Council means internecine strife, arguments, personal abuse, character assassination and constant blaming of other people – and that’s just during the public sessions of Council meetings. There are indications that things are much worse out of the public eye.

This is not limited to any particular group on the Council. They must all share the blame for allowing this situation to arise to the extent that it now risks undermining what little faith people still have in local politics.

With the Council now equally balanced Councillor Holley and his Lib Dem colleagues have a unique opportunity to bring all this to an end and usher in a new era of consensus politics.

Before they came to power the Lib Dems promised to end the Cabinet system and make the Council more open and accountable. They should now make good that promise.

Instead of discussing and agreeing policies in private and presenting the rest of the Council with a fait accompli, they could include other groups in the process from the outset. This would certainly help to remove a lot of the suspicion and mistrust that seems to pervade the Council.

Openness and inclusion might result in more trust, which might lead to greater co-operation between members of the Council – and that can only be a good thing.

It’s time to take the party out of politics, and for everyone to start working in the best interests of the people of Swansea.

Yours,

Keith M Ross
Swansea Green Party