The Signaller

NOW WE’LL PAY £1BN A YEAR TO TACKLE ‘CLIMATE CHANGE’

Lib Dem minister Chris Huhne

Monday December 12,2011

By Macer Hall

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LIB Dem minister Chris Huhne agreed yesterday for British taxpayers to spend £1billion a year to help poorer countries cope with climate change.

The Energy Secretary supported a deal at the chaotic United Nations climate talks in Durban, South Africa.

An agreement – backed by the world’s biggest polluters – the US, China and India – committed the world to fresh talks on new carbon emission-cutting targets to come into effect by 2020.

A £64billion “green climate fund” to pay for environmental projects around the world was also agreed. The UK’s contribution could add up to £6billion.

Critics last night warned against the strain on already stretched taxpayers.

John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “So far, green policies have been misguided and costly, and families are paying a heavy price for the attempts politicians are making to control greenhouse gas emissions.

“We should not compromise the ability of businesses to kick-start the recovery, or drive up the cost of utility bills even more for hard-working taxpayers.”

So far, green policies have been misguided and costly

John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance

But eco-campaigners complained the deal did not go far enough. Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said the Durban outcome still means the world will warm up by 4C.

He warned: “This would be catastrophic for people and the natural world. Governments have spent crucial days focused on a handful of specific words in the negotiating text, but have paid little heed to repeated warnings from the scientific community that much stronger, urgent action is needed to cut emissions.”

He urged Europe to show leadership by increasing its promise to cut emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 to 30 per cent.

As the conference ended, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the South African chairman, said: “We came with plan A, and we have concluded this meeting with plan A to save the planet.”

Friends of the Earth’s executive director Andy Atkins said: “This empty shell of a plan leaves the planet hurtling towards catastrophic climate change.”

The last attempt to secure such a treaty failed two years ago.

Lord Monckton's response to climate change madness 

This is what happens with too much wind! Another one of Huhne's costly investments

ENERGY BILLS TO SOAR BECAUSE OF WIND FARMS

A report today claims renewable technologies cannot meet the UK’s energy needs

Monday December 12,2011

By Daily Express reporter

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BRITAIN is heading for an energy crisis within five years because of the Government’s “misguided” reliance on wind farms.

A report today claims renewable technologies cannot meet the UK’s energy needs and will only lead to higher bills due to their dependence on subsidies – it has already cost every household about £320.

The report by the Adam Smith Institute claims solar and wind power are so intermittent they “do little” to cut carbon emissions as back-up supplies from fossil fuel are required.

It warns: “Present policies will lead to an energy crisis by the middle of this decade.” Britain has 3,421 turbines with a further 4,500 to be built by 2020, which the report warns is “unrealistic”.

Instead it calls for more nuclear power.

But the Department for Energy and climate change said the study “missed the point” and the Government was developing a “mix of energy sources”.