As I sat half asleep in bed I turned on the radio to hear an article:
0719 It has emerged that the coalition cabinet is reportedly spit over the government’s policy on climate change. Environment correspondent Roger Harrabin reports. (addendum: link to listen again)
You’ll forgive me if I don’t have the facts correct, but as I remember it, the treasury are saying that we should not aim for the 2020 (30?) target whilst the energy and climate disaster minister is saying: “we must lead onward onward … to show that we are leaders not followers”
Does anyone remember that game of lemmings?
I’ve searched google and found nothing, nor is there a “listen now” of the item. So “that’s all folks”.
Yes, I heard that too. Though I think it was ‘split’ rather than ‘spit’ 🙂
And it wasn’t just split along party lines – Vince Cable was on the side saying we can’t make these targets.
Encouraging news.
It is on Radio 4 listen again;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010xzxh
Should point out the item is 1 hour 20mins 30 secs.
Paul, that was copy and pasted from Today!
The timing is also interesting coming so soon after the elections. What I wonder what were these politicians being told on the doorstep? I doubt it was: “we must sacrifice the economy to prevent the snowdrops coming any earlier” (in urban heated built up areas).
Global warming is clearly turning out to be nothing like the problem we or the politicians were told, and paying for global warming is now proving to be an ever increasing problem which will inevitably lead to huge dissatisfaction with the government.
A policy with no votes, no economic benefit, no measurable impact if it isn’t done and with a massive massive massive cost to government and our economy at a time of savage government cuts.
As they said in “Yes Minister” … they are being very brave (AKA heading for electoral suicide)
Interesting that William Hague (Conservative) is pushing for the targets to be met (risk to our “international reputation”) , whilst Vince Cable (LibDem) is arguing against the CCC’s recommendations. The outcome from next Monday’s cabinet meeting should prove fascinating, too.
Pielke jr now has a blog entry about this story,
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2011/05/uk-coalition-carbon-row.html
– including a link to a letter from Vince to Nick.
For a long time, saying anything against low carbon policies was a bit like doubting the wisdom of high immigration – politicians felt it was not PC to say anything!
My partner came from Eastern Europe in 1968, and she thinks UK politics has gradually come to resemble the politics of communist Czechoslovakia! Politicians don’t say what they really mean, and everyone’s job is at risk if they speak out, or reveal a secret. Why for heaven’s sake should an organisation like the CRU have any secrets!
If the gloves ever really come off regarding AGW, there are so many scandals waiting to hit the fan!