Ming Campbell » Environment

Renewable Heat Incentive

Menzies Campbell - Early Day Motions — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Menzies Campbell has signed EDM143. Motion reads: "That this House notes the major contribution that renewable heat can make in meeting the UK's legally binding renewable energy target, creating green jobs and reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels; further notes the Coalition Agreement's statement of intent to increase this target; supports the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI); further notes that current Ministers voted in the previous Parliament in support of the RHI and that industry confidence in the RHI has led to considerable investment in green jobs, manufacturing and installation capacity; and believes it is critically important for the Government to move quickly to maintain this confidence by making clear its intent to proceed with the RHI broadly in line with the recent consultation, subject to further consideration of the details and after full consideration of the consultation responses."

CAMPBELL BACKS EARTH HOUR CAMPAIGN

Web Team — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:36:47 +0000

North East Fife’s MP Sir Menzies Campbell is showing his support for WWF’s Earth Hour.

WWF’s Earth Hour is a global initiative taking place on Saturday 27 March 2010 between 8.30pm-9.30pm. WWF is calling on individuals, businesses, iconic landmarks and local authorities to sign up to switch off their lights for one hour to show they care about people and wildlife threatened by climate change. This year’s event is set to surpass those from previous years’, with over 1,100 cities and towns across the globe switching off their lights in support of Earth Hour.

This year more than 91 countries taking part. A ripple will cross the Earth as landmarks in 25 time zones switch off. Many of the world’s most iconic landmarks are on board including Piccadilly Circus and the London Eye, Manchester’s Trafford Centre, and Inverness Castle.

Commenting after attending a parliamentary reception to show his support, Sir Menzies said:

“The WWF’s Earth Hour initiative is really building momentum. On 27th March, as lights are switched off across the globe, world leaders will be left in no doubt about people’s support for immediate action to tackle climate change. I am very pleased to play my part.”

CAMPBELL SIGNS UP TO 10:10 ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN

Web Team — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:10:46 +0000

Sir Menzies Campbell has pledged his support to the environmental campaign 10:10.

The campaign seeks to encourage individuals, business organisations and public sector bodies to cut their carbon pollution by 10% by the end of 2010.

Commenting, Sir Menzies said:

“I am proud to add my name to such an important campaign as this.

“Climate change is a massive problem, affecting every part of the globe, and it’s easy to feel powerless to do anything to stop it. What this campaign emphasises is that if we act together, with each individual making small changes to their lifestyles, we can take a huge step towards reducing Britain’s harmful carbon emissions.

“I would encourage everyone – businesses and schools included – who is interested in combating climate change to sign up to the campaign. By using energy more efficiently, turning off electrical equipment when they’re not being used and recycling more, we can save money and improve our personal carbon footprints.

“Together, we can send a clear message to the British Government that people want immediate and ambitious political action on climate change.”

Watch film: Environment Action Now

Web Team — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:55:27 +0000

In the Liberal Democrats’ new film to mark their conference in Brighton, party leader Ming Campbell talks about the urgent need to take action on climate change.

It is our duty to future generations to act and to act now.

Only the Liberal Democrats have the vision, and the will, and the courage to make sure that the planet remains safe for our children and our children’s children.

If you support a move from income tax to green taxes, from people to pollution, please sign the petition now at www.greentaxswitch.com

Tax pollution, not people

Web Team — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:44:02 +0000

In today’s webcast from the Liberal Democrats’ conference in Brighton, Ming talks about today’s debate on taxation and the party’s proposals to switch the burden of taxation from national income tax to charges on pollution.

Ming’s conference video – Monday

Web Team — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:31:47 +0000

Ming talks in today’s webcast about the today’s debate on climate change at Liberal Democrat party conference and about the keynote speech by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Leading the fight against climate change

Web Team — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:36:18 +0000

Ming Campbell has written an article for the Liberal Democrat Voice website on the issue of climate change:

The role of our Party on this issue has always been to lead the way and we will continue to do so. Not only that, we’ll continue to press for Britain to take global leadership on fighting climate change.

Read the full piece here.

Ming Campbell launches plans for a carbon neutral Britain

Web Team — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:57:21 +0000

Earlier today Ming Campbell launched the Liberal Democrats’ proposals to make Britain carbon neutral by 2050.

He said:

“With these policies the Liberal Democrats have become the first major British party to map out the route to a carbon neutral Britain.

“And the first to plan the way towards a cleaner global environment too.

“Pollution doesn’t respect national boundaries. Climate change is a global problem that requires an international solution.

“Britain should not be a bit player in finding that solution; we should be leading the pack.

“Under our proposals, the United Kingdom would set the green standard for others to reach.”

Further details, including the full policy document detailing the plans which will be debated at the party’s autumn conference, are avaiable on the Liberal Democrat website.

Government has failed to learn from floods

Web Team — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:19:01 +0000

Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell has criticised the Government for failing to learn the lessons of the summer’s floods. He was in Gloucestershire visiting a fire brigade control room that is facing closure. As the BBC reports:

He said: “The government is compromising safety and could be putting lives at risk by introducing regional fire and rescue control centres.

“Closing down locally based centres will severely undermine a community’s ability to cope with emergency situations such as flooding, while regional centres will lack crucial local knowledge.”

He added: “It is high time that the government realises that a one-size-fits-all approach to fire and rescue centres will not only put public safety at risk but will also stop close co-operation between local fire, ambulance and police services purely because of a Westminster diktat.”

In relation to construction on flood plains, Sir Menzies said ministers should put people’s minds “at rest by giving responsibility for flood defences to one agency who will ensure defences are adequate before any building takes place”.

He added: “Gordon Brown promised a full review on the floods so that lessons could be learnt, but the government appears to being going full speed ahead on moves which may lead to increased risk of devastation when flooding occurs in the future.”

Environment deal at G8 that ignores science is unacceptable

Web Team — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:25:26 +0000

Commenting ahead of the summit of the Group of Eight leading industrial nations, Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell warned the G8 leaders that they should not seek to play politics with the issue of climate change by reaching compromise solutions that go against scientific advice.

In particular he warned that any attempt by the United States to circumvent global talks that will take place under the auspices of the United Nations in December would be disastrous.

As Africa will also be a key focus of the Summit, Ming stressed that it is in developing countries where the impact of global warming is felt the most.

He called on the leaders at the summit to meet their obligation to Africa and the developing world by supporting an international ‘Leapfrog Fund’ which would provide resources to facilitate the development of low carbon technologies.

The facts:

14 countries in Africa are subject to water stress or water scarcity and a further 11 will join them in the next 25 years
The half-century long trend of failing rainfall is set to continue – the 2002-3 drought resulted in a food deficit of 3.3 million tonnes and an estimated 14.4 million people needing assistance
Africa’s costal areas already experience erosion, flooding, and subsidence. It is estimated that 1/3 of Africa’s coastal infrastructure could be submerged by 2080 including Guinea, Senegal, the Gambia and Egypt

At a meeting of activists and supporters in Northampton today, Menzies Campbell said:

“At his last meeting of the G8 leaders the Prime Minister must avoid the temptation to do a compromise deal on the environment for the sake of his legacy.

“A compromise could put the global negotiations on replacing Kyoto at risk and more importantly could take us past the threshold of unacceptably dangerous climate change.

“It is essential that the Prime Minister gives his commitment to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and does not allow the United States to circumvent the global talks due to take place in December.

“Going above 2º would cause chaos for most of the world. In Africa and other developing countries, in particular, it would lead to prolonged droughts and famine, major flooding in coastal areas and millions of people displaced, dying and destitute.

“The G8 countries have an obligation to prevent this apocalyptic scenario by supporting an ‘International Leapfrog Fund’ which can help develop low cost renewable energy technologies in these countries.

“Any compromise deal that ignores science is unacceptable.”