Blackout panic misses the facts (pt. 2)

Professor David MacKay – soon to take up post as a key adviser to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband – has poured fuel onto the media fire telling the Today programme that blackouts could be caused from a shortage in power stations around 2016. Looking at the numbers, it is difficult to see how he has come to that conclusion.

Cruddas reversal shows his green credentials

Some interesting new green noises were among the many issues addressed by Jon Cruddas in his keynote speech to Compass at the LSE yesterday evening. Cruddas, “We need to marry up the core values of the greens and the Labour movement and join the dots between democracy, equality and ecological sustainability.” He called for a reversal of the decision on the proposed third runway at Heathrow and the introduction of new emissions performance standards for power stations.

Spectator’s spectacular U-turn on climate change

One of Ian Plimer’s central claims – reported by Melanie Phillips for The Spectator – is that Arctic sea ice is in fact growing. This assertion is, of course, simply wrong. But this week’s magazine, in arguing for new fossil fuel extraction in Arctic wilderness areas, carries the reverse claim. Are we witnessing a new editorial line on climate change – or is the magazine simply unconcerned about contradicting itself in the starkest terms on the biggest issue of our time?

Farage: reducing CO2 emissions is foolish

As Nigel Farage steps down as leader of UKIP, it is worth noting that as well as their prejudice on immigration and view that Enoch Powell “spoke the truth,” less known are UKIP’s equally far out views on climate change.test

Blackout panic misses the facts

In the last couple of days the right-wing press has been alive with fear-mongering misinformation about blackouts from looming energy shortages. Left Foot Forward shows how his claims on energy, like those in the Telegraph article, are equally illiterate, and to bust some of these myths once and for all.

Japan’s election is a boost for Copenhagen

As argued last week on Left Foot Forward, developed country leaders are far from pledging what is necessary for a safe and strong global treaty in Copenhagen. The good news is that the election this week of a new Japanesetest

100 critical days to save the world

There are just 100 critical days until the start of the UN climate talks in Copenhagen. Leading thinkers are outlining the importance of the talks but with atmospheric carbon dioxide currently at 387 ppm, we’ve yet to hear of any proposals from any developed country leader for anything like what these scientists say we need.