Press Releases for 2004

CLIMATE CHANGE IS LOCAL - NOT JUST GLOBAL

16th September 2004

Keith Bothwell, Barton Ward by-election candidate for the Green Party, has challenged the local Conservative and Labour parties to support the climate concerns of their respective party leaders. Michael Howard and Tony Blair have made major speeches on the environment calling for more action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions(1). However, in the Canterbury district, both Conservative and Labour parties, as well as Liberal Democrats, support a massive Business Park on the New Dover Road which will generate significant traffic movements and air and noise pollution and remove grade 1 agricultural land. Whatever their candidates may say, these three parties remain committed to the Business Park. Keith comments:

"Most people already believe climate change to be a serious threat. 79% support wind farms as one of our responses to this problem(2). However, if a Business Park is sited away from adequate transport links, increases traffic, and destroys agricultural land and an apple orchard, then this will result in more carbon emissions, not less. Why can't land empty on the Thanet Way or elsewhere be used instead? Michael Howard and Tony Blair also do not offer a means of reducing traffic or aviation, both contributing to climate change. Aviation fuel, like marine fuel, is not even taxed."

Caroline Lucas MEP for the South East adds:

"The Conservative Party is committed to more road-building, more airport expansion, and increased freight-mileage. Conservatives have routinely opposed rises in fuel tax, have rejected a European levy on aviation fuel which could be implemented immediately, and have failed to invest in public transport."

She also notes, of Tony Blair's speech:

"We agree that we need clear and consistent policies and messages but this speech falls far short: Blair expresses deep concern that aviation will account for 25 per cent of CO2 emissions by 2030 but yet he has given the green light to airport expansion on a massive scale(3).We are in danger of going down in history as the species that spent all its time monitoring its own extinction rather than taking the steps necessary to prevent it." END c348 words

FURTHER INFORMATION: Keith Bothwell on 01227 780477. Contact address as above. Keith Bothwell lectures in Architecture at the Kent Institute of Art and Design, specialising in sustainability. Notes: 1. Michael Howard spoke on 13th September and Tony Blair on 14th September. 2. New poll by Greenpeace www.greenpeace.org.uk 3. The Green Party rejects airport expansion at Manston and Lydd. See www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk for details of campaigning against airport expansion in the South East.

Site design and
management by

providers of

designed for

using

Computers

and VALID

Updated by
Philip
27th March 2005