Step out of Bermondsey tube station and you’ll find it hard to miss the pictured series of posters occupying the bus stops and lamp posts of Jamaica Road. They appear to be addressing the concerns surrounding the government’s draft energy bill set to be introduced in November 2012.
The draft energy bill shows strong support for nuclear and gas industries, favouring the ‘big six’ energy companies, whilst taking a step backwards in supporting smaller renewables companies. Clearly, the coalition's promises of being the ‘greenest government ever’ are looking bleak.
With the National Snow and Ice Data Centre reporting Arctic sea ice to be at a record low this summer and warnings that we could see ice free summers within the next 10 years, this should be a slap in your face wakeup call for the government to reduce dependency on dirty fuels and introduce a much needed and massive programme for investment in renewable energy sources such as wind, wave and solar.
Clearly whilst most are recognising that we're experiencing an arctic emergency, George Osborne has his head in the sand, and is proposing that gas remains a major part of the UK’s energy mix until 2030. Yes George, gas may be recognised as one of the cleaner fossil fuels however that does not mean that it’s not hideously dirty.
There’s still hope as the Liberal Democrat’s energy policy is promisingly clear in its opposition to these changes and supports a powerful move towards renewables and a low carbon future.
The posters on Jamaica road are a well timed campaign to put pressure on Simon Hughes to oppose the draft energy bill as it stands, support his own parties’ core values surrounding energy and prevent George Osborne from killing green growth.
Comments