Benny Peiser has been interviewed about climate politics and climate policy by Local Transport Today.
Excerpts:
LTT first interviewed Peiser two years ago (LTT 30 Nov 06), just after publication of Sir Nicholas Stern’s report on the economics of climate change and at a time when the topic was rocketing up the agenda in transport. “The political, economic climate has changed beyond recognition globally, in Europe and in Britain, from the time we last met,” he says. “Then we were at the peak of the climate change concern. I said this has to run its course, it’s unstoppable, everyone is shouting ‘The house is burning’ but eventually it will cool down. I did not expect that to happen so quickly and dramatically.”
–Andrew Forster, 14 November 2008
The political class of Britain is in denial. They just don’t see or they don’t want to see that they are on their own now. No other country is following. It’s exactly the opposite, they are all retreating, whereas Britain is saying, ‘Oh, we are not going far enough, we need even more reductions.’ Apart from the question whether it’s actually feasible economically and energy wise and so on, it’s politically nonsensical.
–Benny Peiser, LTT, 14 November 2008
One of the big losers in this is the scientific community. Because their advice is no longer sought and their advice is no longer followed. Why? Because they’ve overdone it. I don’t think the decision-makers trust their advice. Not because they are climate sceptics – don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they are – but I think the exaggeration of the problem has made it difficult for decision-makers.
–Benny Peiser, LTT, 14 November 2008
PDF of full interview available here:
http://www.staff.livjm.ac.uk/spsbpeis/LTTPeiser-Nov08.pdf
Meanwhile, the German government are back-peddling on climate policy:
BERLIN, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The German government wants extensive exemptions for energy intensive industrial sectors for their carbon emissions caps from 2013, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief spokesman said on Friday. “We’ve got to prevent companies from being threatened by climate protection requirements,” government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm told a news conference. Wilhelm gave no further details and said negotiations were taking place.
The Guardian: ‘Germany wants CO2 relief for energy guzzling firms’
November 17th, 2008 | Tags: Climate Policy | Category: News, Opinion | Leave a comment