Tom Levitt's Column 12 January
Posted by Tom Levitt, MP for High Peak, at 13:24, Mon 12 January 2009:
This is my weekly column for 12 January 2009. You can find more about my work at www.tomlevitt.org.uk or by emailing me directly at tomlevittmp@parliament.uk, where priority is always given to emails from High Peak constituents.
Tom Levitt MP’s column 12 January 2009 – Tackling Climate Change
As US President-elect Obama made clear in his speech on economic policy last week, we must think of where we want to be after this recession is over and make preparations now for the future.
One such priority is in the field of energy. Both Obama and Gordon Brown have made it clear that investment in renewable energy must be maintained and increased even against a poor economic backdrop. The price to be paid for not doing so is too high.
Reducing carbon emissions quite literally saves the planet – and saves money at the same time. The web site www.direct.gov.uk/actonco2 contains help and advice for households and businesses to do just that.
Here in High Peak we have a fine example of what can be done when communities really take green energy seriously. The Torrs Hydropower scheme at New Mills (www.torrshydro.co.uk) is a huge success. It uses the power of the rivers Goyt and Sett to generate enough electricity to run a nearby supermarket. It does good and it looks good too, whilst also being friendly to local fish!
I have the privilege of being a shareholder in the scheme, a not for profit enterprise financed to a large extent by such contributions from local people. What we are doing with water to create clean electricity is a beacon for others to follow.
I was pleased to read that a young woman from High Peak had visited the UN climate summit in Poland in December.
I met the Polish climate change minister a year ago and I know that he was determined to make international progress on reducing carbon emissions worldwide, in advance of a major upgrading of the world’s Kyoto commitments. It has long been feared that without America taking climate change seriously such ambitions could not be realised.
Hopefully, Barack Obama will change all that.
Commenting on this message is now disabled.