By: Charles Emmerson

Charles Emmerson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:03:28 +0000

With the greatest of respect Ryan, you are rather missing the point in your own fantastically alarmist way.
First, a large number of measures which are good from a conservation point of view are equally sensible from an economic point of view. As a nation, for example, it is cheaper to save energy than to build new power stations.
Second, if you believe that the rest of the world is going to pursue more environmentally-sound policies, thus creating a market for technologies and products which are ‘green’, I would hope that we would put UK manufacturers in a position to capture a significant portion of that market. Again, greenery and UK growth are not opposites, they may be complementary.
Third, I agree with you that some measures to promote a green economy may indeed be market-distorting, some may even be “invasive” and “regressive”. Such measures should be avoided. However, to lump all “green” policies together as such seems a tad close-minded and unimaginative. The “green” measures that will work are those that go with the grain of capitalism and growth, not those that oppose it.
I hope that you come to the discussion, as you seem pretty lively in your opinions.

By: Ryan Lavelle

Ryan Lavelle — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:40:23 +0000

I think these alarmists need locking up for their own, and our, mental and economic health.
In the midst of the worst financial crisis in several centuries, the last thing we need is a bunch of invasive, regressive measures that will stifle recovery and impose heavy taxes on us all.
Notwithstanding the fact that the entire theory of anthropogenic climate change is under serious threat due to the ongoing solar minimum we are experiencing.

Comments on: Insight with Colin Challen MP- Climate Change: a Perfect Storm

By: Charles Emmerson

By: Ryan Lavelle