Climate change, energy policy, and the need for a ‘Just Transition’ to a more sustainable economy.
The recent TUC report ‘Powering Ahead’ argues that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is an investment in our industrial and environmental future. It will be important for the economic regeneration of key industries by stimulating future clean growth in the UK. Teesside Collective is working to make CCS a reality. Investment in CCS infrastructure for…
In an important week for global affairs, Chinese president Xi Jinping has given a major speech at the United Nations in Geneva, arguing that the world must not allow the Paris climate deal to be “derailed”. Demonstrating the neat turn of phrase associated with his predecessor, Deng Xiaoping, President Xi said: “Clear waters and green…
Martin Wolf is on fine form in today’s Financial Times (£), writing about the imperative of addressing climate change. Specifically, Wolf describes with frightening clarity the warming of the planet and asks, rhetorically, if this is such an important issue, why has it not featured in the debates surrounding the US Presidential election? Wolf describes…
The TUC recently published a new policy document, ‘Powering Ahead: How UK industry can match Europe’s environmental leaders’. This document sets out a path to a sustainable industrial strategy, in which ‘sustainable’ describes the economic, social and environmental challenges facing companies, workers and the wider world. The British Ceramic Confederation (BCC) agrees with the TUC…
Theresa May says ‘Brexit means Brexit’, yet no one knows what Brexit will look like. The lack of a plan has caused unprecedented levels of political and economic uncertainty. It has also cast doubt of the future of the UK’s – indeed the EU’s – environmental and climate change policy. In November, the United Nations…
This week the TUC published a major paper on how UK industry can match Europe’s environmental leaders. Comparing UK industry with the Germans and the Danes is very timely given the Brexit vote on June 23rd and what this means for heavy industry across Yorkshire and the Humber. We are the most industry intensive and…
Earlier this week, the former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson made a speech in which he argued that leaving the EU would improve our environment. The speech was little reported, even less debated, which is a shame. The economy, immigration and sovereignty may be the biggest issues facing us in the forthcoming referendum, but if climate…
In a referendum campaign marked by claim and counter claim with each seeking to outdo the other, I believe the recent statements from the Brexit camp that leaving Europe would lead to lower fuel bills have been some of the most brazen. In fact looking at the industry and the many challenges it faces, a decision…
Like the rest of the Budget, measures announced today to address industry, energy and the environment were distinctly underwhelming. I’ve just ploughed through the Budget document (the so-called ‘red book’) and perhaps the Guardian’s Aditya Chakrabortty sums it up in my favourite tweet of the day: No, George, you are not the builders. You are…
The Paris Agreement that was finalised on 12 December (pdf) has had a mixed reception. For some, it is an historic document that will keep global warming in check. For others, it will deliver too little too late. Without repeating all of the arguments here, this post is intended to just focus on what it…