Climate change

ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on Gordon Brown's speech on the environment, in which he outlined the governement agenda to tackle climate change.

Stakeholder response: The Woodland Trust

To send a comment to the Woodland Trust clickhere

Dr James Cooper, head of government affairs, said: "We welcome the prime minister's setting out of the scale of the challenge posed by climate change and his commitment to a low-carbon economy. It is vital that the UK demonstrates global leadership in this area and we believe that the Climate Change Bill demonstrates that kind of leadership.

The Bill must be strengthened however in order to make it truly fit for purpose. This means ensuring a cut of 80 per cent in emissions by 2050, including emissions from Britain's share of international aviation  and shipping.
 
"Delivering on the Stern Report also means taking action to adapt to the climate change which is already with us, and focusing on this is neither defeatist nor a distraction from the vital task of creating a low -carbon economy.

It is part of the same task of achieving a more sustainable society which respects environmental limits. We must take action to help the natural environment adapt to the biggest threat it faces, both because of our dependence on it for a whole range of ecosystem services and because we have a moral responsibilty for its good stewardship.
 
"The Woodland Trust warmly welcomes the moves which are being put in place to strengthen the adaptation side of the Climate Change Bill.

We look forward to working with government over the coming months to ensure that the Bill provides the best possible opportunities for nature to adapt to climate change.

Achieving this goal cannot be detached however from the need to rethink the current damaging proposals for reform of the planning system which could lead to greater loss of vital habitats, such as ancient woodland which are already fragmented and vulnerable". 

Stakeholder response: Campaign to Protect Rural England

To send a comment to the CPRE clickhere

Ben Stafford, head of campaigns, said: "We welcome Gordon Brown’s ambitious strategy to tackle climate change, and his recognition of the urgency of the issue. But of course, words must be matched by actions, and questions about the seriousness of the government's determination to tackle climate change will remain for as long as aviation continues to expand largely unchecked. 

We also welcome the prime minister's commitment to promote a broad range of renewable energy technologies, and to ensure that onshore wind farms are sited in the right places. 

But his characterisation of the planning system as an obstacle to development is a deeply worrying sign of what we might expect from the imminent Planning Reform Bill. 

Far from being a problem, democratic planning involving local communities is an essential means of ensuring that developments – including renewable energy – do go in the right places, and have legitimacy and public support."