10th October 2007

Dear Mr Caborn.

Your government last year commissioned the Stern Report on the
Economics of Climate Change and continues to claim it is committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010. Where is the evidence?

On top of plans to expand airports, build more roads, endorse a further expansion of non-essential global trade and ignore the problems associated with nuclear power the government wants to bring back coal.

The Department for Trade and Industry, which is responsible for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, has allowed planning authorities to approve ten new open cast mines, seeking to extend the life of Aberthaw, one of the UK's most inefficient coal burning plants, and invest in new rail rolling stock to increase the import of coal from abroad.

Alistair Darling said in a parliamentary debate in May this year that
the technology for carbon capture and storage might never become available.Why is the Yorkshire Regional Development Agency exploring a massive investment in carbon capture without a grasp of its impracticalities and massive expense?

This technology would cost billions of pounds. Meanwhile, our housing stock is insufficiently insulated, quality bus contracts to improve bus services are at least five years away, there are no serious plans to tackle our high carbon food system and a lack of sufficient investment in renewable technology for homes has meant that the renewable energy industry is struggling to survive.

Why do you support the Coal Forum's demands for a future for the coal industry when we know it is the most carbon polluting method of producing electricity?

How can we condemn China's expansion of coal fired power stations when we are expanding its use in the UK? Have your government abandoned its commitment to prevent a two degree rise in global average temperature that would mark the start of runaway climate change?

Sheffield City Council is being urged to endorse a plan to draw up a
carbon footprint which will include the embodied carbon we import into the city and set year on year reduction targets. Your government's actions will completely undermine the real commitment of this city to do its bit in the race to prevent global climate catastrophe so ably put to us by Al Gore on his visit to the city in February.

Yours Sincerely.

Cllr. Bernard Little.