LGA WANTS COUNCILS TO BEAT GOVERNMENT ENERGY TARGETS

The Local Government Association is trumpeting its global warming policy again in the latest edition of its weekly taxpayer funded magazine "First". See HERE. The article indicates that the LGA wants councils to try and exceed government targets on renewable energy. I have written to them as follows:

Dear Sir,

In Issue 390 article "Focus on Europe" it was said that the LGA wants "local authorities to have the ability to set [renewable energy] targets in excess of national targets". Given that many experts have said that the EU targets, adopted by our government, are impossible to achieve by 2020, how does the LGA presume that councils are going to achieve even more? Anyone can set abitrary targets, but meeting them (without massive cost implications and the risk of wrecking the economy) is an entirely different matter.

The LGA has a catchy soundbite "small change, big difference", but the reality, in my experience, is that most small changes make a small difference. The change from 2% to 15% of renewable energy would be a massive change, requiring immense cost. It is now becoming clear that there is no consensus that CO2 levels are causing significant climate change. Indeed global warming has stopped for almost a decade. Also there is no binding international agreement to limit CO2, so for the EU to act unilaterally without firm commitment from developing countries such as India and China will cause no reduction in CO2 anyway.

All pain with no gain.

Cllr. Derek Tipp (New Forest DC)

I doubt whether they will publish it, but I will let readers know if they do. I believe it is important for us to challenge these organisations and policies as often and as prominently as we can. Unless the public are made aware of what is going on, and the damage that it is going to cause, then policy change will be impossible. Too many councillors are ambivalent about this and do not want to admit (or even accept) the potential disaster of attempts to rapidly de-carbonise our economy.

LORD MONCKTON'S ADDRESS TO THE LGA

I recommend Lord Monckton's address to the Local Government Association, given a few weeks ago. I wish I could have been there when he delivered it, as regular readers of this blog will know that the LGA is pumping out its global warming policy in almost every issue of its state-funded magazine "First". - see HERE

UK COUNCILS URGED TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT'S EMISSION TARGETS

Local councils are being pressured by the LGA (Local Government Association), in an unprecedented move, to get them to sign up to support the unilateral cuts in CO2 emissions contained in the Climate Change Act. This statement is part of a little known document called the Nottingham Declaration. The LGA is determined to get all local councils to sign up by the end of the year and so are chasing the 10% who have not yet signed. My own council - New Forest - is the latest to sign, despite the doubts of some members. Given the massive propaganda campaign by the government, backed by most of the media it is not surprising that the majority of councillors would support this, but there is no doubt that opposition would be much higher if councillors were not pressured into voting for something that many do not really support. In the end I was the only councillor who voted against it, something I was prepared to do no matter what the consequences. It will be interesting to see if there is any press reaction to my objection. Of course I appreciate that this is of little interest to the majority of the general public who are concentrating on who is going to win the next TV talent contest. They will only become interested in this debate when the lights go out due to power cuts and their jobs disappear to China and India.

COUNCILS UNDER PRESSURE

Unless you are a local councillor, you have probably never heard of the Loal Government Association (LGA). It was set up in 1997, supposedly to provide a voice for local government, but what has happened is that, in my opinion, it has been used as a vehicle in order to push an agenda. The taxpayer funds a glossy weekly magazine which is sent to every councillor in the country. It is also available online.

In the latest issue you can see how the "climate change" issue is being pushed. Look at the example of "smarter travel" being pushed. 24 employees telling residents how to travel - the nanny state is growing into an interfering busybody. What you won't find from the LGA is any reference to any doubt about the cause of climate change. This is the message coming from government all the time.

As a councillor myself I can only use my vote and very limited influence to try to prevent my own local authority from spending money on such schemes.

LGA GW PROPAGANDA CONTINUES

The UK's Local Government Association, in its latest magazine for all councillors, has returned to its favourite topic - global warming (or climate change as they prefer to call it). Not content to print multiple articles in the magazine they have even sent us all an additional magazine, filled with exhortations to "tackle climate change". Any change it seems can be tackled - even showing a picture of winter snow to make the point.

LETTER PUBLISHED BY LGA

Back in July I wrote a piece about the Local Government Association urging councils to aim for a higher renewable energy target than that set by the government.

Astonishingly they have now published my letter in their weekly magazine "First" sent to all councillors. It will be interesting to see what response, if any, they get in the next editions.