Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for June 24, 2008

The Need to Balance Environmental Policies Against Economic Growth

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There is an insightful short article in The Guardian by Irwin Stelzer, who is the director of the centre for economic policy studies at the Hudson Institute, and editor of the book Neoconservatism:

Gordon Brown is eager to prove that red is green, while David Cameron is urging voters to “vote blue, go green”. So far, so good. But the prime minister is having some difficulty answering the question “How green are your taxes?” – while the leader of the opposition’s promise to make green taxes “replacement taxes, not new taxes”, contains more than a dash of Brownian stealth.

Continue reading Brown’s pale green policies are more honest than most, Unlike Cameron, the prime minister grasps the need to balance environmental policies against economic growth.

Real Food Shortage Will Require Real Science and Technology?

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The British government is preparing to open the way for genetically modified crops on the grounds they could help combat the global food crisis.

At least that’s according to Andrew Grice, Policitical Editor with The Independent, reporting on a meeting between Britian’s Environment minister, Phil Woolas, and the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, amidst claims that “rocketing food prices and food shortages in the world’s poorest countries mean the time is right to relax Britain’s policy on use of GM crops.”

As Graham Young, Chief Editor of e-journal On Line Opinion, recently emailed me, “With food shortages becoming the new Greenhouse type issue, I think that all is set to change. Governments will be throwing money at scientists who say they can feed the world, and it will become a new glamour industry… it is perhaps ironic that hard science, rather than computer modeling, might come back into vogue now that we have a real, rather than potential, problem.”

Ken Willett Talking Transport in Brisbane

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The Institute of Public Affairs invites you to the third Brisbane Club Lecture for 2008. Entitled ‘Prescribing the right medicine for a city choked with congestion’ the lecture is on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 5pm in The Brisbane Club’s The Oak Room (241 Adelaide Street, Brisbane CCBD).

After the talk, attendees are invited to come at their own expense to an informal dinner with Ken Willett at the nearby restaurant Zenbar at 7:00pm.

Ken Willett is a Senior Consultant for ACIL Tasman. Ken has worked in project/corporate for more than 38 years and is an expert in urban transport economics and natural resource economics. In recent years he has focused on anti-congestion policy and abatement of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. Before joining ACIL Tasman, Ken worked in the private and public sectors in three states and headed RACQ’s public policy department for nearly 5 years.

RSVP Andy Poon, Telephone 03 9600 4744, Email apoon@ipa.org.au