Lib Dems want to be upbeat and positive where possible
Nick Clegg has spoken on the subject of encouraging green businesses. Rather than just taxing bad behaviour which pollutes our environment why not use the powers we have to make it attractive to ‘green’ the workspace.
I believe that the only way to ’save the planet’ (aka ’save our necks!) is to build a cross party/cross community consensus on tackling climatic change. No one group can do it on their own. No one party has all the answers…
All of us must be green.
But why?
As the world economy slides towards Recession there are many people in our society (let alone ‘the developing world’) that simply Can not afford to green… Or at least that is the perception. We must turn the tables on this concept and make the environment an economic asset!
We must wean ourselves off Oil. We need clean generation of electricity (Radwaste that can kill for thousands of years does not count!) we can use the science and technology and all the imagination of the human mind to overcome the current crisis. We can do it… but we must be clear that ‘Being green’ isn’t about a ‘Lifestyle choice’ or a ‘fringe movement’ or just something practiced by a few ‘rather weird’ social groups…
I want to see Hydrogen combustion engines in our cars. We can do that now. Fuel Cells can follow.
I want to see a decentralised grid with each town or even smaller communities with local clean energy sources.
Yes to tidal, geothermal, wind (offshore, onshore and inland)…
Yes to solar (both photovoltaic cells, solar power stations and water heating)
Yes to greater recycling, reuse and reduction in waste.
I don’t think this will happen without government intervention but also the power of the market needs to be brought into focus. No command economy will produce these necessary results… Don’t believe me? Then look at California and tell me if ‘The Governator’ is achieving world leading results by ignoring the Market… I don’t think so.
So lets all be Green. No matter what party or group you are from.
