Scotland
Nuclear power should be seriously considered as an option by the Scottish government to help it meet its target of cutting carbon emissions, according to the SNP’s Council of Economic Advisers. The recommendation will prove acutely embarrassing for Alex Salmond who has ruled out building new nuclear power stations in favour of a big expansion of renewable energy sources. The Times has learnt that the council, which was set up by the First Minister to advise him on growing Scotland’s economy, is divided over nuclear power. Several members believe that new nuclear plants should be considered to safeguard electricity supply and to cut emissions.
Times 14th Dec 2008 more >>
One of the Scottish government’s crucial plans for cutting the pollution that is causing climate chaos has been delayed for another year, sparking
outrage from environmentalists and opposition MSPs. The Sunday Herald can reveal that the launch of the much-vaunted energy efficiency action plan has been postponed until late in 2009. The Scottish Nationalist government had previously promised to publish it in 2008. But now the plan to boost home insulation, install smart meters and kick-start small-scale renewable and heat technologies has been kicked into touch. This is the fourth time since the plan was originally proposed four years ago that it has been delayed.
Sunday Herald, 14 December 2008 more >>
RonEdwards.com 14th Dec 2008 more >>
Peak Oil
Global oil production will peak much earlier than expected amid a collapse in petroleum investment due to the credit crunch, one of the world’s foremost experts has revealed. Fatih Birol, chief economist to the International Energy Agency, told the Guardian that conventional crude output could plateau in 2020, a development that was “not good news” for a world still heavily dependent on petroleum.
Guardian 15th Dec 2008 more >>
Climate
Caroline Lucas: A 20% emissions reduction target by 2020 is far too little too late and, scandalously, around two-thirds of the emissions reduction could be outsourced to developing countries. This is scientifically unsound and ethically wrong. It means the EU can cherry-pick the cheapest climate mitigation potential in developing countries in order to prolong our own unsustainable model. This neocolonial approach to climate policy completely undermines the EU’s credibility in international climate negotiations.
Guardian 15th Dec 2008 more >>
Green New Deal
Nick Clegg will lay out plans to divert the Government’s planned economic stimulus to environmentally friendly projects. He will argue that Britain must invest in environmentally friendly projects to ensure the country pulls out of the looming recession on the road towards a low-carbon economy.
Independent 15th Dec 2008 more >>
Renewables
A ten-mile dam across the Severn, which could generate enough green electricity to supply 4 per cent of Britain’s power needs, could be harnessed as a social project to wipe out fuel poverty, one of the country’s leading green entrepreneurs claims today. In a letter to Gordon Brown, Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity, one of the UK’s biggest providers of green electricity, sets out a blueprint for a scheme that he claims could permanently erase fuel poverty.
Times 15th Dec 2008 more >>
