Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A striking example of a national organization overriding local mem-
bers' views is the RSPB. Not surprisingly, the RSPB has traditionally been
against wind turbines because of the birds that accidentally fly into them,
and most RSPB local groups still oppose them. But the RSPB national
organization commissioned a report, published in March 2009, which
called for more wind farms in the UK, provided these were not in areas
identified on “bird sensitivity” maps as being of special concern to bird
conservationists. With this safeguard in mind, the report said “we need a
clear lead from government on where wind farms should be built”.
Nuclear
Nuclear power is still controversial among environmental groups, although
some of them, such as WWF or the RSPB, prefer to stay silent on the sub-
2006
Thom Yorke headlined the Big Ask Live concert in London, attended
by David Miliband (who was about to become Labour government's
environment minister) and David Cameron (the leader of the Conservative
opposition). The support of both these men was thought to be crucial.
Cameron, who was re-branding the Tories as a greener, more caring party,
came out in support of a climate bill that was almost identical to that
proposed by FoE. Even more important was the subsequent replacement
of Margaret Beckett as Environment Secretary by David Miliband. “Whereas
Beckett saw it as her job to keep NGO pressure off her department and the
government, Miliband's approach was to say 'you bring the pressure on and I'll
get the bill through the cabinet”, according to Mike Childs. No fewer than 412
MPs (out of a total of 646) signed an early-day motion supporting a climate-
change bill. FoE had turned up the pressure on MPs via a grassroots campaign,
sending MPs postcards urging them to vote for the motion.
2007
A draft Climate Change bill was unveiled by the government. But FoE
and other NGOs kept up the pressure to get the bill strengthened. It was. The
emission-reduction goal was increased to an eighty percent cut by 2050, and
emissions from aviation and shipping were included.
2008
The Climate Change Act became law. How workable the legislation
will be is another matter. What do legally binding targets really mean? Can a
government bind its successors? How would a government discipline itself for
falling short of a target? One thing is certain - the bill's clauses rendering the
targets as “legally binding” provide the opportunity to take governments to
court - an opportunity that environmental groups will doubtless take.
