Scotland
MINISTERS HAVE COME UNDER attack for dumping a commitment to buy all the government’s electricity from clean, renewable energy sources, jeopardising targets to cut climate pollution. Labour’s environment spokesperson, Sarah Boyack MSP, has accused the Scottish government of damaging the vital renewables industry by abandoning a requirement for public sector electricity to be generated by hydro, wind or other forms of renewable power. Concern has also been expressed by the renewable energy industry and environmental groups. The Scottish government, however, argued that its new electricity contract was aiming to save taxpayers’ money.
Sunday Herald 24th Aug 2008 more >>
Trident
The Ministry of Defence faces such a critical shortage of civilian staff, engineers and technical expertise that it is struggling to maintain its aircraft, and the supply of equipment to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq is under threat, leaked memos reveal. Senior commanders are also warning that the nuclear submarine deterrent could be confined to docks within 18 months unless a shortage of submariners and nuclear technicians can be resolved.
Independent on Sunday 24th Aug 2008 more >>
Climate
Climate negotiators have made unexpected headway towards a new international treaty to combat global warming, easing a logjam that has held up progress for years. Representatives of rich and poor nations, meeting at a conference in Accra, Ghana, are nearing consensus on a way to control emissions of greenhouse gases from rapidly developing countries such as China and India, under a treaty which will take effect after the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012.
Independent on Sunday 24th Aug 2008 more >>
Fuel Poverty
Gordon Brown is coming under fierce pressure to impose a windfall tax on energy companies to help Britons meet the cost of soaring fuel bills. A poll published today shows that two-thirds of voters support the levy and the embattled Prime Minister may face a vote on the plan at next month’s Labour Party conference. Many Labour MPs believe the one-off tax could ease the pain for householders and rescue the party’s plummeting popularity by either offsetting fuel bills or by putting the cash towards long-term energy-saving measures. The MPs want measures to tackle fuel prices to be the centrepiece of Brown’s Labour relaunch expected in the next few weeks – 70 have signed a petition backing the plan.
Observer 24th Aug 2008 more >>
