Bishop Hill The extraordinary intervention of Baroness Williams
May 13, 2014 Climate: Parliament There was an extraordinary intervention from Baroness (Shirley) Williams in the House of Lords today on the subject of climate change, on the one hand making wild and unscientific claims and on the other demanding that these same claims be taught to children in schools.
Baroness Williams of Crosby (LD):
My Lords, does the noble Baroness agree that one of the key findings of the United States climate change report is that the process of climate change is now much faster than we had expected it to be? The effects are predicted to fall within a matter of a decade or so, rather than 20 or 30 years from now. Given that, will she persuade her friendly Secretary of State for Education to ensure that children in school are made more aware of the absolute necessity of tackling climate change than they are at present?
The demand that children be indoctrinated is all too typical of people who call themselves liberals these days. That's "liberal" in the same way that the People's Democratic Republic of China is democratic.
For those that are interested, here's the full exchange:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the United States National Climate Assessment report about climate change impacts in the United States.
My Lords, the United States National Climate Assessment is a valuable addition to the growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating the current impacts and future risks of climate change. Like the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent assessment, it shows that climate change is already having a serious impact on many economic sectors and all regions of the United States. It strengthens the case for ambitious action to tackle climate change in the US and globally.
I thank my noble friend for that very helpful answer. Is not the ominous reality of this very detailed scientific examination, along with recent developments such as the alarming weaknesses in the Wilkes Basin ice banks in east Antarctica, that all countries need to accelerate and reinforce their carbon reduction programmes urgently? Does my noble friend feel that the UK Government are responding adequately?
I can assure my noble friend that the United Kingdom Government—and the previous Government as well—have always been a leader on the issue of climate change and have sought to strengthen not just their own position but those of other countries. We are leading on legislation, we are leading on targets and we are leading in the international conversations to make sure that we take other countries with us.
My Lords, if we in the UK doubled what we are now doing on climate change, what impact would it have in the United States?
The noble Lord makes an important point, clearly referring to the fact that the United Kingdom is, thankfully, responsible only for 1.5% of global emissions, unlike the United States. However, it is of course important that we continue to work with friends and colleagues in the United States to make sure that they keep heading in the right direction. We can say that the current Administration in the US are making all the right moves.
My Lords—
Lord Howell of Guildford (Con):
My Lords—
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Howell for his characteristic courtesy. Is my noble friend aware that her reference to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is wholly mistaken? Is she aware that the latest IPCC report explicitly states that estimates of the aggregate economic impact of climate change are relatively small and that moderate climate change, which is what it predicts for the rest of this century, may be beneficial?
My Lords, I promised myself that I would try to not get into a discussion on science with my noble friend, but he tempts me. The scientist in the family is my husband, but I would come back to the noble Lord on this particular question by saying that the overwhelming evidence from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is supported by every country in the world, clearly shows that this is a real hazard, it is man-made and it is causing us huge concern.
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab):
My Lords, the noble Baroness’s robust refutation of the noble Lord, Lord Lawson, is extremely welcome, but is her view of climate change shared by the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
I have never had a conversation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about climate change. We have had conversations on many other things, but certainly I will speak to him when I next get the opportunity.
My Lords, I will put a rather more moderate question. Is it not a bit regrettable that, whereas in the United States carbon emissions are falling as a result of the huge switch from coal to gas, the opposite seems to be happening here? Is the Minister aware that virtually no new gas turbines are now being built, despite government measures to encourage them? Indeed, some brand new and efficient gas stations are being closed down. Is there not something basically wrong with the policy?
One of the great successes in the United States has been the development of shale gas. It is, of course, a policy of which the Government are hugely supportive. Diversifying our energy consumption and investing in green energy, as this Government have clearly done, will both help ensure that we meet our targets.
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab):
My Lords, is the Minister aware that if she is asked a quiz question, “What do the noble Lord, Lord Alderdice, the noble Lord, Lord Bell, and the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, have in common?”, the answer is that we are all trustees of the Climate Parliament? In the Climate Parliament, Members of Parliament from all around the world agree with her and not with the noble Lord, Lord Lawson.
I pay tribute to the Members of the Climate Parliament, which is clearly a noble group of people.
Baroness Williams of Crosby (LD):
My Lords, does the noble Baroness agree that one of the key findings of the United States climate change report is that the process of climate change is now much faster than we had expected it to be? The effects are predicted to fall within a matter of a decade or so, rather than 20 or 30 years from now. Given that, will she persuade her friendly Secretary of State for Education to ensure that children in school are made more aware of the absolute necessity of tackling climate change than they are at present?
I will, of course, pass those comments on. It will take a whole generation to deal with one of the biggest challenges for our generation. As my noble friend said, it takes time between emissions going down and the real impact that that will then have in terms of keeping the global temperature down. The concerns at the moment are that the knock-on impact will be much greater than originally anticipated.
Reader Comments (56)
Just a teeny weeny point - can one of these 'noble lords' - or anyone else for that matter - point out to me anywhere in the United States - or anywhere else - where 'climate change is already having a serious impact on many economic sectors and all regions of the United States'...?
Well..?
While I'm at it, I'm intrigued by the UK government's 'legislation' on climate change. Supposing - just supposing - it doesn't meet its 'legally binding' targets.
What is it to do..?
Fine itself..?
Put itself in jail..?
Take itself out into the yard and shoot itself..?
Neil Craig: I take it you mean "None"?
sherlock1: ooh, yes... encourage them to indulge in the last of those. It will save us all a lot of trouble, later.
markx: merely a British peculiarity. After all, it's said in the U.S. that if one Senator wishes to call another a moron he refers to him as "my able colleague"; if he wishes to call him a corrupt moron, he refers to him as "my able and distinguished colleague".
@ sherlock1:
You are on to something there. Perhaps they will do as "little boots", and declare war on the sea.
In 20 years time i will be 70
See what the weather is doing on my 70th birthday barbeque.
Hang on she said "The effects are predicted to fall within a matter of a decade or so, rather than 20 or 30 years from now"
Back in 1985 did they not predict that there would be 25 million Climate Change refugees and no snow ever again.erm
Looks like the no snow is no show
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10829987/State-schools-churning-out-a-generation-of-amoral-children.html
Yeah but they are all deeply concerned about Climate Change.