Category Archives: Business

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

Posted on March 26, 2012 by tomburke

TweetSharePublished 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 … Continue reading →

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Is the planning system holding back economic growth?

Posted on February 13, 2012 by tomburke

TweetShareI have been quoted (below) giving my reaction to the report Inexpensive Progress which is released today. The report was carried out by Vivid Economics, and commissioned by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the National Trust and the … Continue reading →

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Will the government push for economic growth at the expense of environmental protection?

Posted on January 31, 2012 by tomburke

TweetShareI have been quoted in Damian Carrington‘s most recent Environment Blog for The Guardian, Environmental protection rules may be headed for government shredder. The blog covers Oliver Letwin’s proposition to replace all of the current environmental guidance including that on … Continue reading →

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Tom Burke’s political commentary: These plans for planning need urgent rethinking

Posted on September 27, 2011 by tomburke

TweetShareENDS Report 440, p. 54, September 2011. The government’s national planning policy framework is bad news for business, the environment and for its own green economy ambitions There is almost certainly a good case to be made for simplifying the … Continue reading →

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Is green growth a good goal for government?

Posted on July 26, 2011 by tomburke

TweetShareAppeared on the Green Alliance’s Catalyst Forum, on 26th July, 2011. Yes, but we must be clear about what makes growth green No-one should doubt the government’s current appetite for growth. The economy grew by a mere 0.2 per cent … Continue reading →

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Tom Burke’s political commentary: marriage made in heaven or a crash waiting to happen

Posted on January 25, 2011 by tomburke

TweetShareENDS 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 … Continue reading →

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Speech: The launch of the BBC’s internal sustainability action plan – ‘The Difference’

Posted on November 1, 2010 by tomburke

TweetShareI spoke at the launch of the BBC’s sustainability strategy and action plan The Difference, which was held in November 2010. Follow this link to watch my talk.

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Tom Burke’s political commentary: The risks that mining can’t dig its way out of

Posted on October 26, 2010 by tomburke

TweetShareENDS Report 429, p. 52, October 2010. With its big environmental impacts and need for huge upfront investments, the global mining industry needs political and policy stability more than ever before. I was in Western Australia in early October. I … Continue reading →

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Without a true green investment bank there can be no environmental progress

Posted on October 7, 2010 by tomburke

TweetSharePublished in The Guardian on 7th October 2010. If David Cameron is to deliver his promise of a low-carbon economy, he must demonstrate the political will. David Cameron promised this to be the greenest government ever. Brave words. But it … Continue reading →

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Tom Burke’s political commentary: corporate culture, risk and responsibility: navigating the abyss

Posted on September 28, 2010 by tomburke

TweetShareENDS Report 428, p. 54, September 2010. BP’s analysis of what caused the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico sounds uncomfortable echoes of the US military’s reaction to events at Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq war. Corporate and … Continue reading →

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