Environmental Update (May 2010)
Election Changes
The introduction of Britain's first coalition Government in 65
years has heralded a shake-up in environmental policy.
The new Lib Dem-Conservative Government has agreed to make
radical changes to policy on air transport and energy generation.
It will support a new generation of nuclear power stations,
provided they require no public subsidy.
Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne, formerly home affairs spokesman,
has taken control at the Department of Energy and Climate Change
(DECC). He had opposed a new generation of nuclear power stations;
however, he explained that the coalition had agreed the Lib Dems
would abstain when parliament voted on the new National Policy
Statement on nuclear power.
Caroline Spelman has been appointed Secretary of State for the
Environment with ex-Conservative party chairman Eric Pickles now
leading the Department of Communities and Local Government
(DCLG).
A brief summary of policy includes:
- A third runway at London's Heathrow airport has been scrapped.
Any expansion at Gatwick and Stansted will also be refused. A
per-flight, rather than per-passenger, duty will be introduced on
airlines
- Plans for a high-speed rail network have been brought
forward
- Import and possession of illegally-logged timber will be
criminalised
- A cap on carbon emissions from new power stations will be set,
forcing coal-fired plant to fit sufficient carbon capture and
storage to meet the standard
- A floor price for carbon emissions trading allowances is
promised, alongside an undertaking to seek full auctioning across
the EU
- A huge increase in anaerobic digestion is promised, plus a
boost to renewable generation and the roll-out of a smart grid and
smart metering.
If you have any questions relating to how the election
might affect your business then please contact the Mentor 24/7
Advice Service on 0800 634 7006.