Ed Davey and me
Jonathan Kent was a student environmental activist alongside the newly-appointed Energy Secretary, and argues his early green consciousness gives grounds for hope.
Ministerial Optimism sees Fracking Stumble Ahead onto Uncharted Paths
In a letter regarding the controversial drilling process Sarah Boyack MSP says regarding the Scottish Government’s position “I am sure that you share my hope that the Minister’s optimism is well-placed” [1]. I do share Sarah’s hope, but optimism is a frivolous commodity when dealing with the regulation of heavy industry. Gas extraction by hydraulic [...]
Greens who oppose HS2 are being short sighted
I must say I’m quite surprised by the enthusiasm for greens opposing HS2, announced to get ahead today. People say the business model doesn’t imply it will cut CO2 and merely increases demand for travel, and that the money would be better spent on improving local services that communities rely on. I can certainly think [...]
Durban could yet be a chapter in the story of how we stopped climate change
photo courtesy of UNFCCC If a successful campaign needs a story, then since 2009 the global climate movement has been in deep trouble. We certainly started off with a great story. I love to tell it to people all the time. Gather round kids, I say to fresh-faced activists and strangers in pubs, listen up [...]
Don’t be fooled – the UK isn’t trying to save the climate
Murray Worthy, policy officer at the World Development Movement writes from the UN climate talks in Durban Cross posted from the World Development Movement’s Durban Watch blog If you have been following the news recently you could be fooled into thinking the politics of the UN negotiations have been turned on their head. It might [...]
DUP Minister Under Pressure As Anti-Fracking Campaign Grows
The issue of hydraulic fracturing – fracking – has been catapulted into mainstream attention in Northern Ireland over the last few weeks. For those not yet in the know, fracking involves pumping high-pressure chemicals (many of them extremely dangerous) into the ground in order to extract natural gas. The 2010 film ‘Gasland’ documents the devastation [...]
The Coalition Axe on feed-in tariffs is a terrible mistake
In the two weeks since the Coalition announced it was going to slash feed-in tariffs (or FITs) in half there has been real consternation and anger. Feed-in tariffs exist to encourage the installation on new small-scale, low-carbon electricity technologies helping the UK move towards a new model of energy generation. Climate change minister Greg Barker [...]
UN climate deal on the brink ahead of Durban talks
The UN climate talks, COP17, begin at the end of November. This could be the last chance to save the current international climate deal. The first period of the Kyoto protocol ends in 2012 and rich industrialised countries are pushing to replace it with a system that is based on voluntary reductions in carbon emissions [...]
Machiavelli: power, transition and institutional change
In 1513 Machiavelli provided a seminal analysis of the flow of power in Europe. The ideas defined in “The Prince” have inspired political thinkers ever since. At the time his acute, perhaps cynical, understanding of power, made him notorious, and his works were added to the Vatican’s list of banned literature. Today his name has [...]
New Zealand’s best kept secret
New Zealand trades on its unspoiled, Middle Earth image, with tourism slogans ‘Clean & Green’ and ’100% Pure’. Ashley Erdman discovers the truth is very different.
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