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4 weeks to save the planet - for the Inverness Courier
With the start of the Copenhagen climate summit only a month away, the focus in Parliament has been on the action that needs to be taken to stop runaway climate change. Encouragingly, it has also been by far the biggest item in my mailbag too.
On Wednesday, I took part in a Forum called by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg with the leading green campaigners and researchers to discuss how we can increase pressure on our government to do the right thing. Nick had raised the issue at Prime Ministers Questions earlier.
It was clear from the discussion that this summit really is the last best chance the world has to prevent a climate catastrophe. But equally that there are big barriers that may prevent a deal being done.
Global measures to rapidly reduce carbon emissions need to be agreed if global temperature increases are to be kept below the 1.7 degrees scientists now agree is the threshold for dangerous, runaway, climate change.
Liberal Democrats in parliament and across the country will keep pressing for the deal we need. We recognise we need to help developing countries with their targets and to set a higher bar for our own. The idea of a 'leapfrog fund', in which the rich world creates a fund to help developing countries to leapfrog the most polluting phase of industrialisation is crucial.
But Britain has also to lead by example. We have passed lots of legislation - in Edinburgh and London - but the government's record in actually cutting pollution as opposed to talking about it is not so great.
People across the country must keep raising their voices through measures like the 10:10 campaign - to cut emissions by 10 per cent in 2010 - to make abundantly clear that the tough measures needed are not choices, but necessities.
It was desperately disappointing that the government voted against the Liberal Democrat motion on 10:10. I personally have signed up to the campaign, alongside many local people.
Too much of the debate makes green measures sound like a grim necessity - when in fact they are a huge opportunity, especially for those who go first. Leading the way at Copenhagen will help us stimulate a cleaner, more efficient and innovative economy. The Highlands has huge potential through renewable energy to help fight climate change. Government must be bolder in support of the marine renewable technologies that offer such great opportunities - wave and tidal power.
Green measures should also be socially fair. That's why making homes more energy efficient needs to be a top priority. If more resources were focussed on how to treat homes, we would see a triple benefit of lower carbon emissions, lower bills, and lower fuel poverty. With half of the people living in the rural parts of my constituency living in fuel poverty, this is an urgent task indeed.
Kelly report
Details of Sir Christopher Kelly's report on MPs expenses were leaked last week. Despite the cries of angush from some MPs, his proposals are exactly the sort of strong medicine that is needed to purge the system after the expenses scandal.
Sir Christopher is apparently going to recommend that MPs should no longer be able to claim the interest on a mortgage, but should only be able to rent, as recommended by the Liberal Democrats. A lot of MPs, myself included, will have to make changes, but it is the right thing to do.
The expenses system in the past was far too lax - officials failed to spot mistakes, and a few MPs chose to abuse the system. So a tough new regime needs to be implemented before the election, so the MPs elected then start on the right footing.
But I have always also said that reform that only changes expenses and leaves the rest of the Westminster system intact is doomed to fail. As long as we have a Parliament that doesn't refect how people actually vote, with more than half of MPs in safe seats, then the arrogance and disconnection from the real world that caused the expenses scandal will remain. Kelly must be the start of a political revolution, not the end of one.
ends
Posted on: 03/11/2009
