March 2012 – Tom Burke

Newsnight – 29th March

On March 30, 2012April 2, 2012 By admin

I appeared on Newsnight last night, discussing energy security along with Peter Lilley MP and Joss Garman. Click here to view the programme (interviews begin at about six and a half minutes in).

Tom Burke’s political commentary: Trying to square the carbon price circle

On March 26, 2012March 27, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report, issue 446, March 2012. Economists like things to be simple. All the world is a market and the men and women merely rational agents. If each plays his part pursuing self-interest then all will be well with the world. This core belief has taken a bit […]

Why Nuclear Power makes No Sense for the UK

On March 26, 2012March 28, 2012 By admin

I will be running a series of Briefings along with Tony Juniper, Jonathon Porritt and Charles Secrett, following our letter of 12th March to the Prime Minister warning him that his plans for another generation of nuclear reactors are ill-conceived and doomed to failure. To substantiate the broad arguments advanced […]

Budget blog 2: Wolf ingnores evidence!

On March 22, 2012March 23, 2012 By admin

Martin Wolf is one of the world’s most trusted, authoritative and influential economic commentators. A central reason for his ascent to such a height has been the rigour of his thinking. He is, above all, the champion of public policy based on evidence rather than anecdote or prejudice. It is […]

Osborne shoots Cameron’s husky: budget 2012

On March 22, 2012March 27, 2012 By admin

I was on BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight last night giving my reaction to Osborne’s budget, and the environmental impact it will have. Follow this link to hear the programme. My interview can be found 28 minutes in.

Budget Blog: Death of greenest government ever

On March 21, 2012March 22, 2012 By admin

What Cameron put together Osborne is now taking apart. Detoxifying the Conservative Party while in Opposition has been the Prime Minister’s greatest political success. It got him his current job. It also got the Chancellor the opportunity to present budgets. Hugging huskies was a central plank in this Hilton inspired […]

Climate change: what needs to be done

On March 20, 2012March 26, 2012 By admin

Spotlight: Climate Change Published in the British Medical Journal 2012; 344:e1358, on 19th March 2012. If we are to meet the challenge of generating political will, the climate conversation must involve everyone, from all professions and all walks of life. Political will is built into the base of society; it is […]

Coalition review: energy and climate change

On March 20, 2012March 26, 2012 By admin

Published in The House Magazine, No.1411, Volume 36, on 15th March 2012. The Coalition Review looks into how far the government has stuck to the Coalition Agreement in key policy areas. This week Lord Turnbull, Michael Meacher, and I each assess how the government has done on energy and tackling […]

Nuclear power will fail to achieve what George Monbiot wants

On March 16, 2012March 27, 2012 By admin

Published in The Guardian, 16th March 2012. Jonathon Porritt, Tony Juniper, Charles Secrett and I wrote a letter this week to David Cameron, highlighting the key economic and political issues with pursuing a pro-nuclear power policy. In response, George Monbiot and others wrote their own letter to the Prime Minister. […]

David King’s misplaced enthusiasm over nuclear

On March 15, 2012March 27, 2012 By admin

Enthusiasm has a way of blinding you to glaring inconsistencies in your arguments. David King is an enthusiast for nuclear power. As chief scientist he was an important influence in persuading the government to buy into the clever French plan to make British householders and businesses subsidise Areva and EDF, […]