Articles by Publication – Page 30

The debate must focus on the human cost

On September 16, 2009March 13, 2012 By admin

Published in The Independent, on 16th September 2009.

Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: It’s time to realise the climate is too big to fail

On August 1, 2009April 11, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report (Issue 415, p48), in August 2009. Climate change poses a systemic risk for humanity, one where a failure causes a cascade of contingent failures which lead to a collapse of a whole system. In this case, that system is the global economy. By analogy with a […]

Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Labour’s environmental rhetoric fails to convince

On July 1, 2009April 11, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report (Issue 414, p57), in July 2009. The songs of one’s youth stick in the memory. I have long remembered a line from a now forgotten song by the Incredible String Band. It was called The Hedgehog Song. It tells the story of a young man who […]

Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Nuclear renaissance will fail without public trust

On May 11, 2009April 11, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report (Issue 412, p39), in May 2009. The current political crisis is more than a passing storm in the weather of events that politicians endure daily. To govern successfully in a parliamentary democracy they must possess both legitimacy and authority. The authority stems from the confidence of […]

Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: The case for rethinking green governance

On February 1, 2009April 11, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report (Issue 409, p55), in February 2009. During the second half of the eighties I made frequent trips to the countries on the other side of what used to be called the Iron Curtain. The trips were funded by George Soros. They were part of his vigorous […]

Climate change in 2009: the defining issue

On January 15, 2009March 13, 2012 By admin

In an open letter, I argue that the more immediate should not obscure the more urgent. Climate change must be at the forefront of the international agenda in 2009. Published in openDemocracy on 15 January 2009 A version of this letter was published in the Independent on Sunday, 4 January 2009. […]

Tom Burke: War passes: the climate is for ever

On January 4, 2009February 24, 2012 By admin

We humans are better at dealing with crises than long-term problems. The future could judge us harshly by Tom Burke. Standing in for John Rentoul’s usual commentary in The Independent, published on 4th January 2009. This is arguably the first week of the most important year in human history. The grandiose invites […]

Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: Now’s a good time to sort out green governance

On January 1, 2009April 11, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report (Issue 408, P58), in January 2009. There has been much media speculation over whether – along with jobs, mortgages and over-inflated bonuses – the economic crisis has also killed green. However, there was no sign of this in the outrage over the government’s decision to go […]

Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: When quiet protest turns to rage and judicial review

On December 1, 2008April 11, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report (Issue 407, p61), in December 2008. The scene at Stansted early one morning at the start of this month was depressingly familiar: delayed flights, crowded terminals, angry passengers, harassed staff, frustrated airline executives. Normally BAA accomplishes this all on its own. On this particular morning they […]

Tom Burke’s Political Commentary: The US returns from the green policy wilderness

On November 1, 2008April 11, 2012 By admin

Published in ENDS Report (Issue 406, p53), in November 2008. The US is back. The missing voice from the world’s environmental conversation has returned. It has been missing for a long time. Longer than you think. It is nearly 30 years since the world last looked to the US for […]