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Sir Nicholas Stern’s report is possibly the most important paper to be published by the Government on the subject of climate change. It joins the scientific evidence with an
economic assessment of current climate change and points to a relatively small window of opportunity for action. Having been to a Met Office
briefing at Labour Party Conference on the science of climate change, I fear the case is made beyond doubt that, whilst there may be long term inter-ice-age warming trends, the impact of post
industrial CO2 in the atmosphere is leading to additional man-made temperature rise.
The levels of CO 2 in will continue to rise for a hundreds of years and may only stabilize in around a thousand
years if global emissions are reduced massively from current levels. Temperature rises of 2-3 ºC are highly probable and will lead to melting glaciers, increasing flood risk and rising sea levels that could leave 200 million people permanently
displaced. Reduced crop yields particularly in Africa will lead to greater poverty and starvation and up to 40% of species could face extinction. There will be more examples of extreme weather patterns. If temperatures
rise by five degrees Celsius, up to 10% of global economic output could be lost. The poorest countries would lose more than
10% of their output. All in all the worst case could mean up to £1 in £5 reduction in everyone’s income. Action is required across all
countries and economic sectors in the next ten to fifteen years to minimise the impact of climate change. In the UK the Climate Change Levy –
which has already saved 28 million tonnes of carbon and will save 7 million tonnes per year by 2010 – a quarter of our cuts in emissions, has been an important tool to address climate change. However
our efforts need to influence global action and the starting point has to be to develop and extend the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme such that it can form the basis of a worldwide scheme. I
would want to see this include air travel.
We need to start pricing carbon now so our economy can adapt and we can become leaders in green technologies. I welcome Gordon Brown’s announcement of the creation of an Energy
Technologies Institute, a public private partnership to co-ordinate £1bn worth of R&D funding over the next ten years and initiatives with Norway and with China to develop Carbon Capture and Storage and clean coal technology. The Labour government introduced the Energy Efficiency
Commitment which means almost £400m being invested through the energy suppliers in energy efficiency measures. The Labour government understands
this is not an issue for simple posturing, but one on which urgent action is needed by individuals, national Government and countries working together internationally.
The delegation I joined to Israel in September created the opportunity to see at first hand some of the issues holding back the Road Map to peace in
the Middle East, to discuss with Palestinian and Jewish politicians and other opinion formers their perspectives and to understand what undermines
confidence on both sides. Tel Aviv, where we stayed, and its surrounding conurbations sustain 85% of the Israeli population, but
Israel is a small country and I was surprised by the lack of confidence about its long-term future. Jerusalem,
as the administrative capital, brought the conflict into stark relief as the proximity of the Al Aqsa mosque to the Western (wailing) wall highlights the collision of two faiths in a geographically
confined location. Whilst I had the chance to see some very positive progress in mixed schooling and policing between the Jewish and Arab
populations with residence in the state of Israel, these are first steps only. The real answers lie in the two state solution and in
Israel’s relations with its neighbours. The Jewish settlements in the West Bank are clearly unsustainable, as
is the absurd security fence. The latter may reduce attacks within Israel, but hugely alienates relations with the Palestinian Legislative
Authority. Every commentator we spoke to found the Hamas victory a surprising outcome to the spring Palestinian elections with people voting
against Fatah because of incompetence and corruption rather than because of a belief in Hamas policies. In Ramalla we visited the Palestinian Legislative Council and it is regrettable the Israelis
continue to hold some Hamas elected PLC members in prison. Hamas however, must recognise the Israeli state and distance itself from its Iranian and Syrian paymasters. We visited the Lebanese border and could see the damage that Hezbollah rockets had done. There was serious democratic debate within Israel about their response to the attacks and capture of the two IDF soldiers. The Kadima-Labor led government may yet fail as inquiries reveal further evidence, and
there was clearly disquiet amongst many Labor members of the Knesset and supporters. We didn’t get the opportunity to visit Gaza, it is simply too dangerous, but without economic support, access to new land and homes for the 1.8 million and growing Palestinian population living here, there
will never be peace.
Chris Mole MP
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November 2006
