Lavenham public meeting - much agreement between local green groups and MP11 August 2011
More than 150 people turned out for a Stop Climate Chaos meeting organised by Transition Lavenham.
Craig Bennet, Friends of the Earth's Director of Policy and Campaigns, set out the global and national priorities for tackling climate change.
He emphasised the urgency needed for central and local government to act decisively and quickly.
Stopping airport growth was welcome, but approving new nuclear power stations sent mixed and confused messages.
A consistent green agenda is still needed, he said.
Local MP Tim Yeo, Chairman of the Parliamentary Energy and Climate Change Committee, agreed with much of what Craig said.
He stressed the need to decarbonise surface transport, for stronger (and better-enforced) building standards and a faster move to renewable electricity generation.
He hoped that the Government would get the Energy Bill right - and also the National Policy Statements on electricity generation.
In some areas he'd like Government to move faster, and his Committee Chairman role sometimes leads to conflict with it.
He regarded The Green Deal as an important part of the Energy Bill, but saw current planning control as a barrier to moving local initiatives along.
Will Hitchcock, a local Transition Town activist, was also on the panel.
During questions the panel agreed in key areas:
- the planning system needs updating urgently
- there's a pressing need for local authorities to be given climate change targets by Government.
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