Archived press release

Future generations will pay the price if anti-wind lobby succeed

9 June 2005

Local campaigners from South Lakeland Friends of the Earth are scheduled to give evidence to the inquiry on Tuesday 7 June 2005 in support of the proposed Whinash wind farm, emphasising the suitability of the site and the urgent need for renewable energy to meet UK climate change targets.

Climate change is already causing damage in the Lake District National Park and the predicted impacts in the north-west include increased rates of soil erosion, landslips, flooding, drought and loss of biodiversity. Other areas in the region that are of international importance to wildlife, such as Morecambe Bay, are also at risk from rising sea level.

Margaret Sanders of South Lakeland Friends of the Earth, said:

"We need wind energy if we're going to tackle climate change. The site at Whinash is ideal- it is windy and is near many other man-made developments, such as power lines and the noisy and polluting M6.

"Climate change is already causing damage in the Lake District National Park. At the inquiry the County Council suggested that wanting to tackle climate change was `hysteria'. If the Council doesn't even recognize that there is a problem, then we really should be worried, as the evidence on the need for urgent action is overwhelming."

Friends of the Earth's Executive Director, Tony Juniper said:

"Some objectors have questioned the reality of climate change, but future generations will not thank them for this blinkered view.

"Wind energy will have a crucial role in cutting carbon dioxide emissions in the next few years. The Government must also help the development of emerging technologies, such as wave energy, tidal power and carbon sequestration, so we can develop a low carbon economy. The nuclear lobby is doing its best to push nuclear energy, but this would be a dangerous and expensive diversion in the fight against climate change.

"As well as investing in renewables, we need to replace our old coal-fired power stations with cleaner and more efficient technology, tackle emissions from road transport and aviation and support companies and individuals to save energy and reduce our demand for energy.

"Tony Blair has said that climate change will be a priority at the G8, but if this isn't backed up by action at home, the rest of the world isn't going to take him seriously. The Government needs to deliver on its climate change promises. We want legally binding targets introduced to cut UK carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent each year, so the UK can demonstrate genuine leadership on the issue."

Notes

1. Jill Perry will be giving evidence to the inquiry on behalf of South Lakeland Friends of the Earth, scheduled in the draft programme for the afternoon of Tuesday 7 June 2005. www.persona.uk.com/whinash/inquiryprogramme.htm
2. The public inquiry started on Tuesday 19 April 2005 and is scheduled to finish on Friday 17 June 2005. The inquiry is taking place at the Shap Wells Hotel, near Penrith, Cumbria.
3. Many local residents are still waiting for their homes to dry out enough for repairs to be done after the floods in Carlisle. Experts predict more severe weather events if climate change is not tackled.

Information on climate change impacts predicted for the north west by DEFRA funded UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), based at the University of Oxford www.ukcip.org.uk/climate_change/by_location.asp

4. The IPCC Third Assessment report says "the greater the reductions in emissions and the earlier they are introduced, the smaller and slower the projected warming and the rise in sea levels". The report published in 2001 involved more than 2000 experts in its preparation. It is the most authoritative source of information on human related climate change due to human activities. www.ipcc.ch
5. The Royal Society has published a `Guide to facts and fictions about climate change' to clarify some of the misleading arguments put forward by the opponents of urgent action on climate change. www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?id=2986
6. Cumbria is one of the windiest counties in England, but as it has many designated areas, the sites available for building land based wind farms are limited. Whinash offers a great opportunity for the production of renewable energy and would make a significant contribution to county, regionaland national targets.
7. The Government is committed to sourcing 10% of UK electricity demand from renewable sources by 2010. Wind farms are expected to provide three quarters of this amount - 7.5% of electricity. To meet that target, both onshore and offshore farms will be needed. Electricity generation is responsible for around a quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, the remainder of emissions are due to heating, transport, industry and agriculture.
8. The proposed wind farm has 27 tall turbines, each between 2.5 - 3.0 MW capacity (to be decided). They would produce enough electricity annually for 47,000 - 56,000 homes, producing 207 - 248 million kWhrs per year. This would cut carbon dioxide emissions by 178,000- 214,000 tonnes every year or between 4 to nearly 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over a 25 year lifespan. For comparison, a large 1.1 GW nuclear power station might generate 8,760 million kWhrs per year.
9. Weather- related claims on property insurance doubled to over £6 billion between 1998 to 2003, compared with the previous five years, according to a report by Association of British Insurers published in 2005. The report predicts that claims could treble if no action is taken,

www.abi.org.uk/newsreleases/viewNewsRelease.asp?nrid=814

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust