The pressure on the mainstream parties in the run up to the UK's 2010 election will be to talk about public spending cuts. Other key issues such as Afghanistan, Europe and the financial crisis are also likely to take centre stage. Climate change, however, may well take a back seat, especially as climate change scepticism is beginning to rise according to Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
A ConservativeHome survey, for example, showed that 76% of Conservative members believe people's energy bills will be a bigger political issue at the general election than climate change.
All of the top 10 Conservative bloggers either doubt or dismiss the scientific consensus that climate change is caused by human activity, according to a survey of the top Conservative thinkers on the web.
All 10 bloggers, including MPs, MEPS and key Tory thinkers, reject or question the view that climate change is caused by humans, and many disagree with their leader that addressing it should be an urgent policy priority if they win power. The views undermine Conservative Party leader David Cameron's focus on environmental issues and may be a problem for the Party in the run up to the election.
And what of the Labour Party? During its term in office, the Labour Party has introduced the Climate Change Act, the Climate Change Levy which is having a significant impact on energy efficiency in business, and the Renewables Obligation which provides an incentive for investment in renewable energy sources. However, many ask whether they have done enough, and incidents such as the attack by the Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, on climate change 'saboteurs' may reflect real fear in government that both public and political will to tackle climate change are slipping away.
Australia’s recent voting down of climate change laws, and the disappointing end to the Copenhagen summit with its low-ambition outcome, seem to show that this is not just a UK phenomenon.
This election represents a real opportunity for all of the UK political parties to adopt strong policies to tackle environmental problems. Whether they will do so, however, remains to be seen.
A ConservativeHome survey, for example, showed that 76% of Conservative members believe people's energy bills will be a bigger political issue at the general election than climate change.
All of the top 10 Conservative bloggers either doubt or dismiss the scientific consensus that climate change is caused by human activity, according to a survey of the top Conservative thinkers on the web.
All 10 bloggers, including MPs, MEPS and key Tory thinkers, reject or question the view that climate change is caused by humans, and many disagree with their leader that addressing it should be an urgent policy priority if they win power. The views undermine Conservative Party leader David Cameron's focus on environmental issues and may be a problem for the Party in the run up to the election.
And what of the Labour Party? During its term in office, the Labour Party has introduced the Climate Change Act, the Climate Change Levy which is having a significant impact on energy efficiency in business, and the Renewables Obligation which provides an incentive for investment in renewable energy sources. However, many ask whether they have done enough, and incidents such as the attack by the Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, on climate change 'saboteurs' may reflect real fear in government that both public and political will to tackle climate change are slipping away.
Australia’s recent voting down of climate change laws, and the disappointing end to the Copenhagen summit with its low-ambition outcome, seem to show that this is not just a UK phenomenon.
This election represents a real opportunity for all of the UK political parties to adopt strong policies to tackle environmental problems. Whether they will do so, however, remains to be seen.
Comments