UK Government Signals End Of Green Obsession

Britain sent a clear signal of support to its oil and gas industry when it named an advocate of shale gas fracking as environment minister and a wind farm sceptic as energy minister. The appointments in Prime Minister David Cameron's ministerial reshuffle on Tuesday mark a departure from his pledge to run Britain's greenest government, in favour of the fossil fuel sector that generates billions of pounds in tax revenue. "There is a shift away from greener ministers in posts towards less green ministers and I think that's serious," Alan Whitehead, a member of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, said during an industry event on Tuesday. --Reuters, 5 September 2012

---

The government last year put a brake on the development of shale gas extraction due to environmental concerns after it triggered two small earthquakes near Blackpool. But Owen Paterson, a member of Cameron's Conservative Party who was appointed Environment Secretary in the reshuffle, has hailed the potential economic benefits of shale gas, a message likely to sway the country's decision in favour of the drilling method. --Reuters, 5 September 2012 One of the key political battle grounds in coming months will be the growing divergence between an outdated green agenda and a new push for environmental deregulation and economic growth. In light of Britain’s struggling economy, it is becoming increasingly evident that the passion for green control and command policies is coming to its predictable end. Saving jobs and the economy is now the uppermost priority for Britain and most other European countries. --Benny Peiser, City A.M., 5 September 2012

---

---

Green campaigners are concerned over the appointment of Owen Paterson as Environment Secretary after Caroline Spelman lost out in today's Cabinet reshuffle. Conservative Home, a Tory support group, reported that Paterson set out a three-point plan this summer, at a cabinet meeting, which included proposals to end all energy subsidies, fast-track the exploitation of shale gas and review airport expansion policy. Paterson has not endeared himself to renewable energy advocates in the past, describing wind farms as a "massive waste of consumers' money," on his North Shropshire constituency website. --Edie News, 4 September 2012 So that's it then. The final shred of credibility of "the greenest government ever" has been doused in petrol and ignited with a casual flick of a gold-plated lighter. The appointment of Owen Paterson as environment secretary is a declaration of war on the environment, and another sign that the right of the party – fiercely opposed to anything that prevents business from doing as it wishes – has won. --George Monbiot,The Guardian, 5 September 2012 Environmental campaigners should prepare for deep disappointment: despite listing "trees" as an interest, Paterson is no treehugger. In May, he reportedly told the Cabinet that it should end all energy subsidies, such as those for wind and solar power, and fast-track shale gas exploitation. He also urged more aviation capacity, which seems far more likely now Justine Greening - implacably opposed to a third runway at Heathrow has been removed. As MP for North Shropshire, Paterson has spoken against wind farms and the new pylons needed to carry their power to the national grid. --Damian Carrington, The Guardian, 4 September 2012 The province of North Holland has decided to stop building new wind turbines. There will be a total ban on new wind turbines by the end of the year, according to deputy Mr Bond. He says that large wind turbines do not fit into the province’s landscape. The decision is a setback for about twenty planned wind projects in North Holland which will not be approved. --NOS News, 5 September 2012 Contrary to the impression given by much popular writing on the subject, the theory of evolution is in crisis. So what? Disagreement – and the deeper insights that result from it – enables new approaches to scientific understanding. For science, unlike for dogmatic belief systems, disagreement is to be encouraged. --John Dupre, Project Syndicate, 4 September 2012

---