The UK debate on the environment

I spend most of my time at the moment thinking about environmental issues from the Colombian perspective: in particular, climate change adaptation, low carbon growth and rainforest/biodiversity/national park protection.

By climate change adaptation, I mean how Colombia can prepare better for future floods + extreme weather events; on low carbon growth, how the country can grow economically whilst maintaining its current low level of GHG emissions; and on the forests and biodiversity, I refer to conservation, debates about intrinsic value, 'ecosystem services' and the arguments which Amartya Sen cites in his 2004 LRB piece (to which I have often returned) as to 'why we should preserve the spotted owl'.

Meanwhile, however, the debate at home in the UK on environmental issues rages away and there are other issues which occupy the limelight.  In particular, this week George Monbiot has written two powerful articles on the nuclear versus renewable energy debate, and on the country's emissions reductions targets, while Simon Jenkins wrote a strident piece criticising the UK Government's wind farm plans in rural Wales.

The pieces can be found here, here and here.

Amid news that the world's emissions have increased substantially over the past year, and that it now looks highly unlikely that the world will be able to prevent a 2 degree celsius net rise, the UK debate is hitting the key issues on the head.

I am convinced by Monbiot's arguments in favour of nuclear power, despite the recent tragedy in Japan (the full impacts of which we do not yet know). And I share Jenkins' concern for the aesthetic value of the countryside and nature, and hence his opposition to wind farms in such areas.

Jonathan Porritt will respond to Monbiot's piece next week; it will be good to see what he says.

What is clear is that this discussion should be the central debate of our time: and it is striking that the strongest political leaders in the world, starting with Obama, devote such little political time and capital to addressing the issue.