EON's decision to delay their plans to build a new coal fired power station here in Rochester has rightly been welcomed by environmental campaigners and indeed anyone who wants clean power.The drop in demand,caused by the worldwide economic downturn creates the space to further consider how power generation for the future can include a mix of renewable sources while cleaner technology for using coal is developed.

Contrary to many press reports, concerns forcefully articulated by lobbying groups like the World Development Movement are in fact shared by a largely less vocal majority who want to preserve the benefits they enjoy now,recognise the need to be more careful with resources and understand that those in the world who pollute least are most affected by global warming.However, to give everyone the confidence to make the changes needed, a more hopeful,less polemic message is required.

Resources may be finite but the spirit and determination of humanity are not.Climate change is surmountable if we act quickly and do so together.Whilst all politcial parties in the UK acknowledge the need for action only Labour has been in a position to acually legislate for change through carbon reduction targets and showing investment commitment to clean technologies.Such measures won't solve all of the problems,are imperfect and need developing but a start has been made.

For people in Rochester and Strood,the delay brings new opportunities,with the will to work together we can reduce consumption,develop clean and renewable technologies to generate power and have new jobs associated with doing so.Hope and encouragement won't deliver everything we need to tackle climate change but will make a difference to how we feel about playing our part.

Teresa went on to list a number of ways in which individuals across Medway can make a difference in there own lives including:

            

Teresa has also met Ed Miliband to express her emphasis on supporting the binding targets to reduce emissions from a 60 per cent cut to a 80 per cent cut, covering all the major greenhouse gases, rather then just carbon dioxide. In addution, Teresa also discused the Kingsnorth Power Station and has agreed that the the government should review the feasibility of the power station, consult local residents and make a rational judgement on the national energy mix required.

Teresa also spoke at length to Ed Milliband on the direct theat of aircraft emissions from the Tory proposed Estuary Airport scheme which is being pushed aggresively by Tory Mayor, Boris Johnson.

Commenting later, Ed Miliband said, "in tough economic times, some people will ask whether we should retreat from our climate change objectives. In our view, it would be quite wrong to row back and those who say we should misunderstand the relationship between the economic and environmental tasks we face. Of course, there are trade-offs but there are also common solutions to both: for example, energy-saving measures for households which cut bills and emissions, such as those announced in September by my RHF the Prime Minister. Or investment in new environmental industries which both improve our energy security and reduce our dependence on polluting fuels."

Why have Labour raised the target to 80%?

The original 60 per cent target included in the Climate Change Bill was based on a Royal Commission report in 2000, which said that we needed to cut emissions 60 per cent cut by 2050. Since then, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports have found that the Arctic sea ice has melted faster than expected, emissions from other countries have grown faster and the impacts of each degree of climate change are known to be worse.

The Climate Change Committee concluded that for the UK to play its part, our greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 must be not 60 per cent lower than 1990, but 80 per cent lower, and that they should include all major greenhouse gases.