British Government is labelled Climate Criminal
Artists impression of the new Kingsnorth adjacent to the old.In an open letter to energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband, representatives of more than 40 developing countries brought together by campaign group the "World Development Movement" urged the government to impose a ban on all new coal-fired plants built without carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology or risk being seen as a "climate criminal" by the developing world.
"New coal power stations in the UK will exacerbate the impact of climate change on impoverished communities in the global south and prevent the UK from developing sustainable ways of creating a low-carbon economy that could be used elsewhere in the world," the letter states. "A decision to support new coal power stations will confirm the UK as a climate criminal in the international climate change negotiations."
Murray Benham, head of campaigns at the World Development Movement, said that approving the plans for Kingsnorth in their current form would also seriously undermine the government's standing at this year's international climate change negotiations.
"Any international credibility the UK has for putting climate change targets into law will be shot to pieces by another decision in favour of a carbon emitting monster," he said. "The World Development Movement has calculated that a new power station at Kingsnorth would create 30,000 climate refugees across the world. Campaigners from the developing world are clear this is unjust, and Ed Miliband cannot allow it to happen."
The government has hinted that it is likely to approve the plans for a new plant at Kingsnorth in the coming months, arguing that the plant would be in the running to secure government funding to fit CCS technologies and that its inclusion in the EU's emissions trading scheme means E.ON, the plant's operator, will be under pressure to cut emissions from the site in the long term.
However, the letter argues that the government's proposals for a CCS " demonstration" project do not go far enough and claims that efforts to incorporate coal-fired plants in the carbon market and allow them to buy carbon credits through the UN's Clean Development Mechanism, have "continuously had negative impacts on communities in the global south while failing to cut emissions".
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British are "bored" with Climate Change
A new energy report suggests that British people are less environmentally conscious than they were five years ago.
4 out of 10 britons take no action at all to reduce their household carbon emissions, and twice as many people are now "bored" by talk of climate change as in 2005. Experts warn that green fatigue is one of the major reasons as to why there are more cars on the roads, more planes in the sky and no reductions in the mountain of packaging waste. The report reveals that too few people are making an effort to reduce their household CO2 emissions and environmentalists believe the recession is further undermining public commitment.
The report, by market researchers Mintel, shows that many of Britain's 26 million homes fail to make simple adjustments such as switching off lights, turning down thermostats, and switching off appliances rather than leaving them on standby. The findings also reveal that people are less willing to spend money on energy-efficient appliances than they were five years ago. Analysts believe the recession together with a backlash against "extreme" environmentalist pressure has reduced people's enthusiasm to combat climate change.
The report also found that resistance to saving the planet was greater among men; one in four said they think there is too much concern over the environment, compared with one in six women.
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More information on the 2016 definition of "Zero Carbon".
Housing Minister, Grant Shapps announced additional information about the new definition of "Zero Carbon".
The Government plans to investigate setting up a community energy fund which will be used to pay for district heating and renewable energy schemes.
Developers who pay into the fund will not have to install onsite renewables or microgeneration equipment. Many developers have welcomed the flexibility of paying into a fund rather than grappling with renewables on each site.
However, the full definition of 'zero-carbon' has once again been delayed. This is despite a pre-election promise to get the definition of zero carbon finalised “within weeks” of getting into office.
The new Government Housing Minister has recently announced that the coalition will review the level of on-site renewables required - before publishing the final definition of the standard, which all new homes will have to reach after 2016.
In the announcement, the Minister also re-affirmed his commitment to all new homes being zero-carbon from 2016 and confirmed the introduction of the ‘Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard' which requires a minimum standard in relation to insulation levels and air tightness and thermal bridging in buildings.
Zero carbon is required of all Code for Sustainable Homes level six homes. Clarification of what zero carbon will mean is still to be decided.
If you require assistance with your Code for Sustainable Homes level requirements, contact Ecowise - we are a fully accredited Code for Sustainable Homes assessment organisation.
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Pilot Tidal Energy Scheme for North Wales Coast
Conwy County Borough Council has backed plans for a pilot tidal energy scheme off the North Wales Coast.
The £150 million scheme at Llanddulas in North Wales would provide a testing facility for turbine designers and manufacturers, and assess the environmental impact of turbines.
The project was given approval by the council as part of a strategic regeneration strategy for the Conwy coast, prepared by consultant Capita Symonds.
Paul Terry, Capita Symonds, said: "Tidal power will play a key role in providing a sustainable energy source for future generations. The North Wales coast is an ideal place for such a scheme as it’s blessed with a good tidal range and suitable ocean depth." He added that the project could also help protect the coast from rising sea levels, storm surges and coastal erosion.
The regeneration strategy also calls for seven new visitor centres costing £30m should be built at key locations stretching from Conwy to Rhuddlan. But North Wales Tourism chairman Chris Jackson raised doubts over whether the proposals could realistically be funded in the current economic climate. The council’s approval now means that Capita Symonds will seek funding for feasibility studies and investigations to develop a business case for the scheme.
