No new coal: Stop EON Kingsnorth and a new generation of coal power

WWF-UK Response to the Queen's speech and announcement of an Energy Bill, 18th November 2009

Kirsty.Clough — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:05:02 +0000

The Queen’s Speech today announced an Energy Bill that would allow the Government to raise money to fund carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.

David Norman, Director of Campaigns at WWF-UK said:

“Our main concern with this Bill is that it does nothing to prevent new large coal plants being built with only a small fraction of their emissions being captured. Without a guarantee of a legally-binding policy which limits CO2 emissions, the Bill gives the energy companies too much carrot and no stick. It must go further and include an Emissions Performance Standard"

“Last week the Government agreed that a ‘safety net’ policy would be required if carbon capture and storage doesn’t do the job or is too expensive. However, postponing a decision on this until 2018 leaves it too late to put an alternative plan into action. This would be a huge risk for investors and an even greater one for the climate.”

“The Committee on Climate Change has called for the UK power sector to be decarbonised by 2030, but a Bill containing only carbon capture and storage funding provisions cannot put us on track to achieve this. It doesn’t inspire confidence that the Government are heeding the Committee’s advice.”

MEDWAVE: Come together to stop climate chaos

Elizabeth — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:22:06 +0000

Climate Change threatens millions around the globe. The most recent studies suggest that without action, our future, together with that of the eco-systems around us, is very bleak. In December, world leaders will gather in Copenhagen for what may be the last chance to secure global agreements to effectively tackle emissions before we pass catastrophic tipping points into irreversible climate chaos.

London 05.12.09

On December 5th, tens of thousands of people will gather in London to demand urgent action in making immediate cuts in emissions rather than squandering precious time on ineffectual and unjust market mechanisms.

Join others from Medway travelling together to London by train.

Gillingham 10:29 / Chatham 10:33 / Rochester 10:36 to arrive at Victoria at 11.17.

Phone 07050 659349 if you need directions to join the Medway block.

Ed Miliband's energy policy leaves UK's credibility at Copenhagen in tatters

Elizabeth — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:03:04 +0000

In response to Ed Miliband's energy statement to parliament today, the World Development Movement reacted with disappointment and argued that the UK's credibility at Copenhagen has been 'shattered'.

Deborah Doane, director of the World Development Movement said:
"Ed Miliband today has shattered the UK's credibility at the Copenhagen summit by going ahead with disastrous plans for new coal. His decision to allow two new dirty coal power stations to be built will see increasing emissions long into the future. He has acknowledged that carbon capture technology may not work, but nonetheless hasn't introduced a safety net to protect the climate if this unproven technology fails.

"Furthermore, he's done nothing to shut down old coal plants which can continue to pollute for decades to come. This policy flies in the face of recommendations from the government's own climate advisors.

"This will continue to increase our climate debt to the world's poorest people. And in turn, this will lock in greater inequality and injustice faced by people, like those in the Philippines or El Salvador who are currently suffering from climate-change related weather disasters, such as flooding and typhoons."

Decision to scrap Kingsnorth coal fired power station deals serious blow to Hunterston plans

Elizabeth — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:37:32 +0000

Campaigners call on Scottish government to scrap dirty coal in Scotland.

Responding to the news that plans for a new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent have been put on hold, environment and development organisations in Scotland have called for plans for a new coal plant at Hunterston in Ayrshire to be dropped.

Research undertaken by independent energy analysts Garrad Hassan, and recently published by the organisations, shows that Scotland can meet or exceed its electricity needs without such additional thermal power stations.

Liz Murray, Head of Scottish Campaigns for the World Development Movement, who are campaigning to stop new coal plants at Kingsnorth and Hunterston, said:

“The fact that E.ON is postponing its plans for the new coal power plant at Kingsnorth should ring alarm bells for the Scottish Government and Danish energy company DONG, who is planning to invest in a similar sized coal plant at Hunterston in Ayrshire. In the knowledge that its world-leading climate legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 will mean a continuing drop in demand for carbon intensive energy, the Scottish Government should call a halt to the Hunterston proposal now and focus fully on renewable electricity instead.”

Juliet Swann, Head of Projects and Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland added:

“Kingsnorth has been a key target for campaigners and this announcement shows how embarrassing that action has been for E.ON and the UK Government. With local opposition growing in Ayrshire, and actions planned in Edinburgh and Copenhagen, the Scottish Government and DONG should be wary of the bad publicity associated with a continued commitment to an unnecessary dirty coal power plant at Hunterston.”

WWF Scotland’s Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said:

“This decision finally exposes the tactic used by some energy companies - that the lights will go out if their new power station plan is not approved - as little more than scaremongering. The research we recently published with others makes it clear that Scotland does not need any new unabated coal-fired power stations. Ministers should take this opportunity to develop a truly sustainable energy strategy that instead harnesses this country’s abundant natural renewable energy resource.”

Campaign success: EON shelves plans for dirty coal at Kingsnorth

Elizabeth — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:13:42 +0000

EON have confirmed that they had shelved plans for the controversial Kingsnorth coal plant in Kent. The news of the victory spread like wild fire, and the 'Stop Kingsnorth' campaigners received it via text at a coal debate in Rochester, hosted jointly by the World Development Movement and the local campaigning group, Kingsnorth Climate Action Medway, who have been working closely for nearly two years.

The official line from E.ON was that the delay is as a result of the recession. But we have been arguing all along that we just don't need new coal power stations in the UK. The recession excuse aside, meeting renewable energy and energy efficiency targets must mean that the 'the lights will go off' rhetoric from E.ON and the government has always been nothing more than a public relations exercise to sell coal power to the public.

We have been campaigning to Stop Kingsnorth because the new power station would have emitted more CO2 than Tanzania, and could have caused 20,000 people to become homeless and meant that 100, 000 more people lost their dry water season supply. This news is a massive victory for those people. And it has come about through a massive alliance of diverse campaigns from WDM, Greenpeace, the Women's Institute, grassroots movements, like the Camp for Climate Action and campaigners from Kent and the global south. It is evidence that the pressure brought by these varied groups and the different tactics employed has made a huge impact that has stopped Kingsnorth.

It's not yet clear what the government's official reaction to this news will be, but UK's already massive and growing climate debt to the global south means that the UK must radically reduce its carbon emissions now. So the UK government must rule out new coal in the UK straight away, ahead of crucial international talks at Copenhagen. We can’t rely on energy companies to do it because of concern about profits in the recession. This is about people not profits.

The Great Climate Swoop

Elizabeth — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:31:34 +0000

Hundreds of activists from the Camp for Climate Action, Plane Stupid, Climate Rush and beyond are swooping to take control of EON’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal power plant over 17^th and 18^th October.

Find out how to get more involved here.

There is a FOOTSTEPS TO THE FUTURE demonstration, not organised with the police, and the mission will be to present our positive vision of a fossil-fuel-free future outside the power station gates. Those keen to do so may camp for one night outside the power station, but you can also come just for the day. If you're planning to be in the Footsteps to the Future bloc, please e-mail info@campaigncc.org so that we can get an idea of numbers to expect.

The Great Swoop will be in the spirit of Civil Disobedience and Direct Action like the Climate Camps we’ve seen over the last few years in the UK and similar actions around the world – intended to express a sense of urgency, alarm and anger at the failure of those in power to stem the lethal build up of heat-trapping emissions - especially from coal, the worst and most widespread source of carbon pollution. The campaign against new coal has been championed by the likes of NASA climate scientist James Hansen and is backed by a wide variety of organisations worldwide from the World Development Movement to Greenpeace to the Women’s Institute.

We won! EON announces Kingsnorth plans to be shelved!

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:12:31 +0000

Full details see the WDM website!

Kingsnorth: The Great Debate

Elizabeth — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:45:04 +0000

Join us on Wednesday October 7^th from 7pm at the Roffen Suite, Rochester, for an evening of exhibits, discussion and debate about dirty new Kingsnorth coal.

Burning coal is the biggest single cause of climate change, yet the government is still considering giving the go-ahead to a series of dirty new coal power stations, the first of which is proposed for Kingsnorth.

This public event will give YOU the chance to quiz the experts and find out what dirty new Kingsnorth coal would mean for the environment, for jobs, and for global justice.

Despite assertions by energy companies such as E.ON, can carbon capture and storage really reduce carbon emissions? What would a dirty new coal power station in the UK mean for people in the developing world? And what would it mean for people in the Medway?

Come to the Roffen Suite, Rochester, on October 7^th from 7pm and put your questions to the experts at a joint event organised by The World Development Movement and Kingsnorth Climate Action Medway.

A range of speakers will be joining us, including:

Tim Jones – Head of Climate Policy, The World Development Movement

Sean Furey – Deputy Director, CPRE – Kent

Claire Fauset – Researcher, Corporate Watch

Accompanied by speakers from Kingsnorth Climate Action Medway and the energy sector.

Kingsnorth petition to be presented to Miliband

Elizabeth — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:19:47 +0000

A petition against Kingsnorth power station was due to be handed to the Government today (Saturday August 22nd 2009).

It had originally been planned to hand over the protest, with more than 1,600 signatures opposing plans to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth on Tuesday.

The petition, which has been compiled by the Kingsnorth Climate Action Medway (KCAM) group, will be handed over to Ed Miliband, the energy and climate change secretary, by Medway Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews.

Hundreds of people living on The Hoo Peninsula, where the planned power station is to be built, have signed it.

Mr Miliband is expected to announce a decision on whether the plant will be built by the end of the year.

KCAM hope Mr Miliband will respond formally to the objections raised by the signatories, as they say it will have a negative impact on climate change.

Justin Geiss, a member of the group who also lives in Medway, said: “I’m really appalled by the idea that we might end up with a huge new polluting Kingsnorth coal power station.

“A new plant at Kingsnorth would emit enormous amounts of climate-changing carbon emissions - over six million tonnes per year.”

Take action against dirty new coal at Kingsnorth by joining the Big If campaign: http://www.thebigif.org/

Pete Postlethwaite joins The Big IF

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:19:55 +0000

Oscar nominated actor Pete Postlethwaite has joined the campaign to stop new coal at Kingsnorth:

"At the premiere of our climate film, The Age of Stupid, in March this year, I told climate minister Ed Miliband that if the UK government does say yes to Kingsnorth, they would clearly be unfit to represent the people of Britain and I would give my OBE back to the queen in protest.

Coal is the biggest single cause of climate change, an injustice that is already devastating the lives of the world’s poorest people. Unless we act, things will only get worse - we cannot allow this to happen.

Since I made my pledge, Ed Miliband has made a step forward by proposing to capture a quarter of the emissions from Kingsnorth. This shows that campaigning really can make a difference. But Ed’s proposals are not enough. Even if they are successful, Kingsnorth could still be responsible for creating more than 20,000 climate refugees. It is outrageous that the government is considering more dirty coal at Kingsnorth. It would not only make a mockery of their climate targets, and loose them any credibility at the global talks on climate action, but would also be a climate catastrophe in itself."

Watch Pete's video below - and sign up to the big if at: www.theBigIF.org