The Cameroons do the environment (again)
Peter Hoskin 6:20pm
When Cameron first set about decontaminating the Conservative brand, the emphasis was on turning the Tories into the party of the environment - the Blue 'n' Greens, if you like. But with the decontaminaion near enough over - and after the unmitigated disaster that was the Tories' last environment report - the emphasis has slowly shifted onto other areas.
But now green issues look set to return with a vengeance. As Alex Singleton reports over at Three Line Whip, the think tank Policy Exchange have just begun a "programme revisiting environmental policy". The focus, says Singleton, will be on practical environmentalism - such as how to deal with litter. And you can be sure that what Policy Exchange comes up with will soon be official Tory policy.
Early days, I know, but it sounds promising. Whilst I'm still uncertain about the science behind climate change, I do think that there's nothing wrong - in principle - with looking after our planet. But, at a time of fiscal hardship, it's unreasonable, unrealistic and - to some extent - immoral to impose massive costs on the public in order to do so. Keeping fuel prices artifically high with hefty fuel taxes doesn't (yet) force people to run out and buy electric cars. It places a fiscal burden on them, and potentially impoverishes them The same can be said of ramping up vehicle excise duty, or any other of the Government's countless green policies.
On the other hand, encouraging people to put their litter in a bin, or to turn off lights/taps when leaving a room is not only good for the environment, it could also be good for their pocket-books. Hopefully, Policy Exchange will deliver that kind of environmentalism. Because that's an environmentalism I'm sure the public will be happy to get behind.
Previous
David
August 8th, 2008 7:24pm Report this commentAgreed, Peter. I'm not sold on MMCH either, but I see absolutely no harm - in fact, I see positives - in being friendly to the environment and living a bit greener. It's this 'boiling your kettle kills penguins' stuff I cannot stand.
Hysteria
August 8th, 2008 7:33pm Report this commentgive it a couple of years and the concern will be accelerating global cooling. Saving energy, stopping waste, protecting plants and animals all make sense.
Cogito Ergosum
August 8th, 2008 7:40pm Report this commentWhen the dinosaurs lived in England, they lived in a tropical paradise. Therefore global warming or cooling is natural.
The long term future for us ought to be a high-energy society, not a hair-shirt society. What Cameron should be planning for is the future scientific strength of this country (England? Britain? UK?).
CCTV
August 8th, 2008 8:20pm Report this commentThe environment is very important, so control Immigration. No other policy has as much effect on green spaces, water supplies, house building, road congestion, or energy demand as Immigration.
Any environmental policy must control Immigration
J H Holloway
August 8th, 2008 8:20pm Report this commentAs the previous posters have pointed out, there's a much more relaxed, realistic approach to greenery, which ironically is more in tune with 'conservative' party roots.
I'd recommend that Goldsmith is smothered and Dave boy adopts a 'waste not, want not' green policy. This goes with the grain of many Brits, especially the older generation who vote in big numbers and can remember days when there wasn't plenty and food was more valued.
This sort of low-impact, money saving, modest, self-discipline is perfect for the new Conservative message.
And the line on 'climate change' should be 'well it has happened throughout history, but why not just clean up our act anyway'.
Dave might also say that he'll get the useless EU to do something useful by coming down hard on packaging. No food maker will budge on this until they are all forced to.
Pete, Scotland
August 8th, 2008 9:57pm Report this commentIn all this talk about saving the planet I don't see much mention of the fact that bees are are in serious danger of becoming extinct.
It is already happening, and having a huge impact, in parts of China and elsewhere.
When bees disappear completely, we won't be far behind them.
Who's going to save the planet then when we aren't here to pay our green taxes?
wonderfulforhisage
August 8th, 2008 10:31pm Report this commentThe great thing about Global Warming/Cooling is that it gives the bossy boots brigade something to get steamed up about on our behalf.
Goodness, how I do so wish these dogooders would leave the rest of us to go to hell in our own way.
Off topic, I've just noticed Clemency Burton-Hill in the top left hand corner of my screen. She's just triggered a minor global warming in this neck of the woods. Should she be banned one wonders?
On second thoughts.....oh dear.
Diablo
August 9th, 2008 12:32am Report this commentWhat's a pocket-book? Is it by chance an American phrase for a good old British wallet? If so, why not use British English?
Oh, and while I'm at it, can you explain what was "unmitigated" about the last Tory environment policy? "Ill-judged", perhaps but not unmitigated, surely?!
The Happy Carbon Footprint
August 9th, 2008 1:34am Report this commentJ S Holloway says: "As the previous posters have pointed out, there's a much more relaxed, realistic approach to greenery, which ironically is more in tune with 'conservative' party roots." You should not have closed your quotes here, sweet thang ...
"And the line on 'climate change' should be 'well it has happened throughout history, but why not just clean up our act anyway'."
Oh, how sweet!
You do understand that the stars you think you are seeing in the skies have probably been extinct for hundreds of thousands/millions of years but we are just now seeing their reflected light?
The universe, in other words, is larger than disposing properly of a Coke can, which is a tidy, aesthetic thought, but doesn't count on what we refer to as "the larger scheme of things".
The universe rolls on, with or without J S Holloway's neat ideas.
Let's get more oil pumped out while we figure out new sources. That means offshore California, Alaska, which is drowning in oil, and Alberta, which is similarly drowning.
Andrew W
August 9th, 2008 6:58am Report this commentEnvironmentalism is all old hat in these financially taxing times. 'Dave' needs to concentrate on the total reform of government with the consequent halving of taxes.
TrevorH
August 9th, 2008 9:45am Report this commentRising oil prices and the credit crunch have given the Tories an ideal opportunity to rein back on carbon taxes - prices are high enough as it is. Thankfully they seem to be taking it.
Being economical is fine its virtuous. But there is no such thing as man made global warming. There is no evidence for it and no theory that holds up and the data thats being collected is full of holes anyway.
Read about Maurice Strong if you want to know about the corrupt politics behind the scam.
It would have been hysterical but for the fact that it was pathetic to watch George Monbiot supporting new nuclear power plants because he believes that otherwise we will be faced with 'runaway' global warming.
Ian C
August 9th, 2008 12:31pm Report this commentIf there is any REAL smartness in the Tory leadership they will convert their green message into a) practical measures like getting lights off that need not be on eg shops and offices and b) seek methods for building incentives for non-profligate behaviour.
To preach as the present mob do inspired by the authoritarian delusionism of the green movement, and as Cameron at one time looked like he was buying into, would mean a short term in power. Are you listening Tories....?
Cogito Ergosum
August 9th, 2008 1:43pm Report this comment"Are you listening, Tories?", asks Ian C 12:31-9-Aug. Did they read Spectator Wiki-Man's article this week?
SWM points out that criticism can turn into support if comment columns such as this one are answered, even if the responder refutes the original comment.
Verity
August 9th, 2008 3:25pm Report this commentA. There's no "man made" global warming, so no need to pull back on usage of anything you damn' well feel like using.
B. While we search for alternative, or renewable, sources, the Americans and Canadians should tell the left to bugger off and open up new oilfields. There is plenty of oii.
Max Kaye
August 9th, 2008 5:30pm Report this commentTime to ditch all the 'Fighting Climate Change' nonsense.
Sure, we need to limit pollution and protect our environment, but that's just common sense.
A big vote winner would be to announce the abolishing of all so-called 'green' taxes.
Back to top