Ed Miliband on the spot over climate change and the countryside

July 3 2009

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, has responded to a set of challenging questions on energy and the landscape from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). The Q&A has now been posted online and members of the public are invited to join in the debate.

Ed Miliband clarified his controversial statement that it should 'be socially unacceptable to be against wind turbines in your area – like not wearing a seatbelt or driving past a zebra crossing'. He now acknowledges that 'local communities do have an important role' and that 'there are some places where wind farms may not be suitable'. He also says that new energy infrastructure in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty could only be justified 'in exceptional circumstances'.

In answers to other questions, Mr Miliband refuses to rule out more opencast coal mining, but he does reaffirm his commitment to fitting all new coal power stations with Carbon Capture and Storage.

Welcoming the opportunity to discuss issues directly Ed Miliband said:

'The contribution our countryside makes to the well-being of the whole country is as important now as ever – and we know that protecting the countryside from the devastating impacts of climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face. Thank you CPRE for giving me the chance to talk with your members.'

Shaun Spiers, CPRE's Chief Executive said:

'We are delighted that Ed Miliband has agreed to address the very difficult question of how to get the energy infrastructure the country needs in order to keep the lights on and combat climate change, without unacceptably damaging the countryside. How can we save the environment without trashing the landscape?

'These questions aren't going to go away. They are asked every time a new wind farm is proposed. And communities asked to accept intrusive new renewable energy infrastructure such as wind farms will ask how serious the Government is about reducing greenhouse gas emissions when it is still prepared to allow carbon intensive opencast mining.

'Energy debates are highly complex. On wind farms, it often seems that there is no debate – just impassioned arguments from both sides with neither side listening to the other. CPRE is clear that we need to act now to combat climate change and that this will mean a big increase in renewable energy. Onshore wind farms have a role to play – but only where they will not cause unacceptable damage to the countryside and where they have been subject to proper democratic planning scrutiny.

'We see this blog as the start of a discussion with the Government on these very important issues. We hope that as many people as possible, both CPRE members and the wider public will participate. We look forward to seeing Ed Miliband's final response and congratulate him on having the confidence to start the debate.'

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