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07/04/08 : Tories still sceptical about climate change
Reading Labour Party has released an email from former Tory leader Fred Pugh showing that senior Tories remain sceptical about climate change even though the recently published Conservative Transport Strategy says: “Climate change and global warming have become an overriding environmental concern since the early 1990’s and despite many indicators showing general environmental improvements, our current lifestyles are now affecting the global climate”.
In contrast, Cllr. Pugh said in an email apologising for not getting to a Climate Change Scrutiny Panel last week:
"I am a total sceptic (about climate change). While I accept that climate change may be a fact - I have seen for myself what has happened to the Swiss glaciers in recent years - I have yet to be convinced it is not a natural cycle. We had a mini ice age in the 16th and 17th centuries and it has got warmer since. Winters have got warmer in my lifetime. But if you accept global warming, how do you explain snow this winter in Saudi Arabia and other unlikely places? I have been to Guangzhou in winter more than once - it is normally very mild. This year they had blizzards and deep snow - previously unheard of.
"This year the antarctic ice cover has increased by 30% - in summer!
"I'm all for reducing carbon emissions - except when made by steam engines - but for the good of our lungs rather than for any other reason.
"Those who have fallen for the global warming propaganda should read Christopher Booker's page in the Sunday Telegraph. Selective use of research is not a very scientific approach."
Nor is Cllr. Pugh alone in this. Cllr. David Stevens made very similar statements at a Council meeting last year and, Labour Environment Lead Steve Waite says, he meets at conferences many other backwoods Tories who just won’t face up to the threat of climate change.
Labour’s Steve Waite says: “Too many Tories are, just like George Bush, burying their heads in the sand and refusing to accept that climate change is here and that it requires us to make major lifestyle changes for the sake of our planet. These people are dangerous, because if they were in control of the Council they would stop all the initiatives we are taking to reduce carbon emissions.
“Labour is pledged to reduce Reading Council’s carbon emissions by at least 10% by 2012, to become one of the leading Councils in carbon reduction and to take a lead among local Councils in the fight against climate change. With David Stevens calling the financial shots a Tory Council would abandon that whole agenda.”
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