ENDS Report 436, p. 48, May 2011. One year on and a string of government missteps have left many questioning its true commitment to the environment and genuine reform The collision between the simplicities of politics and the complexities of government is often a brutal experience for ministers. Politics is […]
How Green is my Government?
Tom Burke’s political commentary: One year on, coalition’s promise is under stress
ENDS Report 435, p. 61, April 2011. David Cameron pledged his administration would be “the greenest government ever”. Forthcoming decisions on the Green Deal, Green Investment Bank and fourth carbon budget will reveal how serious he was It is a year since the coalition government took power. Though distasteful to […]
The role of nuclear power in a post-Fukushima world
This piece was written in the aftermath of Fukushima. Some people may find the current spat between Guardian eco-warriors’ Monbiot and Vidal, entertaining. I doubt that I am alone in finding it both distracting and somewhat offensive. I take considerable objection to Monbiot’s use of the royal ‘we’ to apologise […]
Online debate: the world would be better off without nuclear
Tom Burke’s political commentary: Say yes to negawatts, no to new nuclear subsidy
ENDS Report 434, p. 67 28 March 2011 British governments have been pushing for nuclear power, aiming for a new station on grid by 2017. But the development needs of the industry clash with the coalition’s mission to elevate the market’s role in choosing technologies. Market fundamentalists have a mantra […]
Tom Burke’s political commentary: ‘Greenest government’ neglects politics in quest for managerial efficiency
ENDS Report 433, p.54, February 2011. The coalition government failed to make a political case before announcing the sell-off of England’s state-owned woodlands. It will do well to learn the lesson of what followed. In November 1999 I wrote an article, “Sleepwalking to Seattle”, for the Times. I pointed out […]
Tom Burke’s political commentary: marriage made in heaven or a crash waiting to happen
ENDS Report 432, p. 51, January 2011. The growth and green agendas are at last converging. How smooth their meeting will be depends on the government’s ability to pursue multiple policies that work with, not against, each other. A hard lesson from nearly 40 years of environmentalism is that there […]
Tom Burke’s political commentary: This killer bill will weaken environmental regulation
Published in ENDS Report 430, p. 70, November 2010. The alarming Public Bodies Bill gives ministers sweeping powers to abolish or change regulatory and advisory bodies set up by act of Parliament. Fraudsters and conjurers are both skilled in the art of misdirection. They are masters at deceiving you into […]