Early in the year I argued that it was important for political leaders to talk in public about their environmental ambitions. Today, the Deputy Prime Minister did just that. You can read his speech here.
There is lots of good stuff in here - not just on energy, but also some welcome intent about the natural environment. Although, Mr Clegg may have stretched the limits of credibility when talking about biodiversity getting better (am not sure that chimes with State of Nature or State of UK Birds etc) and the implementation of the Marine and Coastal Access Act (the number of Marine Conservation Zones designated is woefully short an ecologically coherent network), there is real substance in the speech.
I was particularly interested in his proposal for a statutory advisory committee on the natural environment. Why does this matter? Since the coalition government has been in power, it has cut and changed the nature of organisations like the Environment Agency and Natural England. It is now much harder for them to speak out in public and I remain concerned that they have the capacity to fulfil their legal obligations.
As I have written previously, I think it is important that specialist organisations are able to speak truth to power. This is part of good government. This is recognised for the economy, hence we have the Office for Budget Responsibility. It is even recognised for climate change, as the Committee on Climate Change repeatedly demonstrates with its statements on the need to debarbonise the economy by 2030. The Natural Capital Committee is expected in 2014 to put a spotlight on those natural resources we are exploiting unsustainably. I hope they have the freedom to do so without interference. Perhaps they themselves will morph into the statutory advisory body, but where would that leave Natural England?
Mr Clegg encouraged the environmental movement to continue ‘holding our feet to the fire’ when it comes to pushing for progressive environmental policies from this administration. However he also sought to defend the lobbying bill which could seriously affect our ability to do just that. Ho hum.
My final thought is this. The current plan for saving nature is clearly inadequate so we need a political arms race to come up with the best answers to the problems that nature faces. Mr Clegg has stated his personal commitment to the environment and signalled his intent to come up with new ideas. He deserves credit for doing this. I do, of course, want him to turn intent into action but I also look forward to hearing Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband’s response. I hope we don't have to wait too long...
What did you think of Mr Clegg's speech?
It would be great to hear your views.
That was a good speech from Nick Clegg and it raises the environment up the political agenda somewhat. He quite rightly spent a good proportion of the speech on issues of climate change and it is reassuring that the Lib Dems are taking the problem seriously. I would have liked it more if he had also talked in similar detail about measures to protect nature and to reverse the declines in biodiversity. I am not sure he really understands the issues involved here.
However ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS and I have to say in England at least,to date we have not seen many positive actions from this Government designed to help nature,for example in preventing the persecution of Hen Harriers and the designation of a proper integrated marine protected zone system. The Government actions to date in general nature protection I think can be described as meagre indeed.However with, determination and perseverance, qualities, which the RSPB has in plenty hopefully this Government can be persuaded to improve its performance in support of nature in the few more months it has to run.
redkite
Dear Martin,
Whilst I'd have liked the Lib Dems to have done more (and Dan Rogerson has the opportunity to sort out the seemingly everlasting fiasco over the future of our Forestry Commission forests) I do applaud Nick Clegg's stand against George Osborne on renewable energy.
But here is an interesting question - I wonder if you know the answer ? - where does nuclear stand in all this ? Just as Osborne rails against the cost of green energy the Government has agreed a subsidy - over 35 years ! as I understand it - of 9.1p per kilowatt hour. That compares with the highest rate of 8.6p for the Renewable Heat incentive and, I believe, a similar value for offshore wind. Only solar, at 19p, stands out - and as the rain falls outside and the sky lowers one can only speculate that solar might be a better bet in Spain !
Effectively, the 9.1 p 'strike p[rice' is now the baseline for all non-fossil fuel energy sources and even the Conservative party could hardly be peverse enough to cut support to supplies which are cheaper than the support to nuclear. Or could they ? One wonders.