Ellen (Harrow East): “We will do our bit on climate change” promised Harrow East MP Robert Blackman after being lobbied at his constituency office by climate activists on 5 November. He undertook to write to Chris Hulne MP, Secretary of State for Climate Change and Energy, to urge that the UK play a leading role at December’s international climate talks in Mexico. Also that the British government will support new and innovative ways of raising finance to pay for climate action, such as taxes on air travel and on international financial transactions. He acknowledged that poor countries need help to adapt to the impacts of global warming. In Britain and locally in Harrow Mr Blackman said he would be happy to support energy efficiency measures and implementation of Harrow Council’s Climate Change Strategy.
Fiona (Bath): On Friday 5th November a group of Bath residents met with Don Foster MP as part of the Big Climate Connection lobby. Transition Bath raised the issue of local energy use and production, particularly highlighting high energy use in private homes and calling for a minimum efficiency standard to be set for rented houses. Don Foster was very supportive of such schemes and reiterated that the government recently set aside £1 billion to upgrade 3.5 million homes, but warned that finding money for more than that would be difficult. He did, however, say that he and Chris Huhne are very keen to pursue the development of a smart grid with energy suppliers, a measure that would encourage more small-scale renewable energy production, and reduce unnecessary energy use at peak times.
Bath Friends of the Earth challenged the government on its commitment to reduce emissions from power stations by 2020. Don Foster was optimistic that massive reductions in emissions can be achieved through the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS), but, he argued that the target could not realistically be met before 2025.
The Bath Bus Users Group talked about the need for decent public investment in green jobs and initiatives through the Green Investment Bank which was announced by George Osborne in the Comprehensive Spending Review. There was disappointment with the £1 billion allocated to start the fund which was lower than expected and puts the UK at risk of not being at the forefront of this important area of technological investment. Don Foster reiterated his support for the Robin Hood Tax and his hope that the government would move further towards agreement beyond the tiny tax on profits which will raise only 10% of what could be raised through a more effective tax. He is also passionately in support of the need for climate financing to be additional to overseas aid money, particularly in light of his concern for the huge amount of water and sanitation work that is needed in developing countries. We look forward to hearing more from Don Foster over the coming months as we continue to hold the government to account on its pledge to be the greenest ever government.
