‘UK needs clear policies, not distractions’

The UK needs to stop using global shake-ups and surprises as an excuse not to release clear energy policies. That’s according to Patrick Pringle, Director of the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), who spoke to […]

The UK needs to stop using global shake-ups and surprises as an excuse not to release clear energy policies.

That’s according to Patrick Pringle, Director of the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), who spoke to ELN at an All Party Parliamentary Climate Change group meeting organsied by Policy Connect.

He said the UK Government tends to hide behind and get sidetracked by unforeseen events like Brexit and US President Trump’s controversial policy changes.

He told ELN: “Surprises will affect things but equally on the global stage there’s a momentum that I don’t think necessarily can or will be reversed. We shouldn’t be diverted by these things. They have an impact but we can’t use them as an excuse not to take action.”

He stressed the importance of clear policy and direction by saying the decisions made now could decide whether or not the basics people expect, such as reliable access to electricity, will be available in the future.

He suggested the UK Government needs to increase engagement with scientists and researchers to improve the flow of information and the exchange of knowledge, “so that decision makers are able to use the best science at the right time to make their decisions”.

Former Energy Secretary Sir Ed Davey told ELN the UK Government is not taking energy seriously.

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