After six years in Labour, I’ve now re-joined the Green Party

18 days ago Bright Green

Seven years ago this month, I made the difficult decision to leave the Green Party and join Labour. After five years of a left-wing leader, the Labour left is now weaker than it was in 2015. The first is to start a new socialist party. Breakthrough, RESPECT, the Socialist Labour Party, Left Unity, the Scottish Socialist Party – all were formed to challenge Labour from the left. I have thus been convinced that the best hope for democratic socialism in Britain is to build the Green Party and keep it on a left-wing trajectory.
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Rolls-Royce announces shortlist for SMR nuclear factory

Rolls-Royce's plans to develop a new generation of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants in the UK took another step forward with the publication of a shortlist for the location of its first factory. Negotiations to finalise plans for the selected site will then be initiated only when Rolls-Royce SMR has entered formal discussions on deployment of the planned SMRs with the government. Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, hailed the shortlist as a huge vote of confidence for the North from Rolls-Royce SMR. Tom Greatrex, chief executive at the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) similarly welcomed the latest step forward for the UK's SMR plans. Rolls-Royce SMR has also stressed that as the only SMR in Europe currently in the regulatory process, its project presents an enormous opportunity to export a leading British technology around the globe.

1 month ago Business Green

'Take back control': Keir Starmer vows to give communities greater say in energy and climate decisions

"Devolve new powers over employment support, transport, energy, climate change, housing, culture, childcare provision and how councils run their finances." "That mission builds on an opportunity - that clean British energy is nine times cheaper than imported fossil fuels," he said. He said Britain was rolling from crisis to crisis due to a lack of long-term vision from government, describing the government's current approach as "sticking plaster politics". He said the energy price freeze introduced by government to tackle the energy crisis exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine was the "perfect example of sticking plaster politics". "Don't get me wrong, nobody criticises the government for the effects of the war in Ukraine," Starmer said.

1 month ago Business Green

Media brands call for windfall tax on oil and gas firms

Some of the world's largest media brands have today published a published a joint editorial article calling for windfall taxes to be imposed on the largest fossil fuel companies. "Rich countries account for just one in eight people in the world today but are responsible for half of greenhouse gases. The editorial from leading media brands argues windfall taxes represent one of the most effective means of quickly boosting funding for climate-related projects in developing economies. "As a bare minimum, a windfall tax on the combined profits of the largest oil and gas companies - estimated at almost $100bn in the first three months of the year - needs to be enacted. The most recent warnings from the UN make clear this action is urgent and our industry is crucial to enabling transformational change.

2 months ago Business Green

Government crackdown on solar farms could cost farmers £1bn

Currently, the government recommends that solar projects planned for higher quality agricultural land that is officially classed as Grade 1, 2, or 3a are blocked by the planning authorities. However, the short-lived Truss administration proposed that solar projects planned for lower grade land classified as Grade 3b should also be blocked, arguing that solar projects were undermining food production. During the summer's leadership campaign Sunak expressed opposition to both onshore wind and solar development and upon taking office he appointed Truss' deputy Prime Minister, Therese Coffey, as Environment Secretary. "MPs campaigning against solar farms might want to check that they are really reflecting the views of their constituents and not alienating them," said Williams. Clarke's amendment proposes that the government should revise the National Planning Policy Framework within six months to allow both new onshore wind farms and the repowering of existing older wind farms.

2 months ago Business Green

Reports: Government prepares £600m green lifeline for UK's biggest steelmakers

Both plants produce primary steel using blast furnaces, which rely on coking coal and are hugely emissions and energy intensive. To bring the UK's emissions in line with net zero goals, these furnaces will need to be decommissioned and replaced with low-carbon forms of steelmaking or retrofitted with carbon capture technology. "We're behind the Germans on heat-pumps, insulation and building retrofits, the French on EV charging infrastructure, and the US on operational carbon capture and storage projects - despite the UK's North Sea advantage. In yet more green industry news, the North West heavy industry cluster has published a roadmap for its decarbonisation, setting out how it will transition to net zero by 2040. I will be encouraging the government to give the Net Zero North West Cluster Plan the attention it deserves and prioritise backing our region's industry to accelerate this blueprint for clean growth."

16 days ago Business Green

District 11 candidates clash over abortion, economy, Ukraine in congressional debate

Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains are among 46 municipalities from Morris, Essex and Passaic counties in the redrawn 11th District. Sherrill said inflation is a global problem, spurred by Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine and OPEC’s reduction in oil production. DeGroot’s crime-fighting claims are striking, Sherrill said, considering he now defends Morris County drug dealers as a private attorney. Sherrill supports federal protections; DeGroot said the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision makes it a state matter. Accounting for just one percent of abortions, late-term abortions often are a last resort to save the mother’s life, Sherrill countered.

3 months ago Morristown Green

COP27: UK, US, and EU lead $20bn deal to help wean Indonesia off coal power

The JETP is modelled on a similar $8.5bn deal agreed with South Africa at the COP26 Summit last year that was also brokered by a group of industrialised nations to help accelerate the transition away from coal power. However, the South Africa deal has faced criticism from some quarters, with campaigners arguing the initiative has not moved fast enough to mobilise the investment necessary to bring forward the closure date for coal power plants. "I am proud to launch a new Just Energy Transition Partnership with the government of Indonesia," he said. Indonesia, which has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2060, is heavily reliant on coal power, and with its economy rapidly expanding its demand for electricity is set to increase significantly in the coming decades. "We encourage other financial stakeholders to engage in the just and affordable energy transition here and across Asia and the Pacific," he said.

2 months ago Business Green

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