NewNet Profile: Rt Hon Greg Barker MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for the Environment

2 July 2009

Greg Barker MP

Conservative Shadow Minister for the Environment Greg Barker MP discusses the need for UK energy reform, the shortfalls in the Government’s approach to achieving a green economy and the importance of private capital to the development of the UK’s clean technology and renewable energy industry.

Greg Barker was elected Conservative member of parliament for Bexhill and Battle in June 2001. He has been a member of the Environmental Audit select committee since 2001, and in November 2003 was appointed to the Opposition Front Bench as a Conservative whip.

Barker was appointed Shadow Environment Minister in December, 2005, after the election of David Cameron as the Conservative Party leader.

In your opinion, how has the Department of Energy and Climate Change fared since it was established back in October 2008?

‘The focus on energy and climate change was a very welcome one. The difference between Labour and Conservative is all about our ability to deliver transformational policies, and whether these policies can meet and deliver our CO2 reduction targets. So far, DECC has been very disappointing in terms of what it has actually been delivered.

Gordon Brown does not seem to have grasped the scale of change necessary to move to a low carbon economy.’

Can this not be attributed to teething problems as a new department finds it feet?

‘It would be wrong to blame mere settling in, as it goes back to the heart of the culture of Gordon Brown’s administration, that it shies away from real change and offers skin-deep solutions to deep-rooted problems.’

In that case, what more should we be doing?

‘In the Conservative’s Low Carbon Economy paper we have set out a range of measures to transform the UK, economy, making it greener and safer.

These measures include smart meters, offshore networks to harness wind and wave power, and a fully funded and comprehensive programme to develop three large scale CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) plants and a decentralised energy revolution, to name just a few of our ambitious policies.’

How relevant an issue is energy reform with the backdrop of a global recession?

‘For us it is one of the biggest issues, if not the biggest. We see the pathway out of recession as a real opportunity to fast track the greening of the economy and shift the economic focus from Labour’s debt bubble. It could enable us to create highly skilled manufacturing base, which could be the hallmark of a successful green economy.’

What kind of advantages does the UK have as it looks to develop its green potential?

‘The UK has huge advantages and this is why it is so frustrating that we are not moving faster towards a low carbon economy. We have huge potential for renewable energy generation from our coastline. We have world class universities and research centres, developing exciting and cutting edge renewable energy technologies.

Despite the crisis, the City of London continues to be a global leader in green finance, which will be needed to fund the billions of pounds required for the private sector to develop new technologies and new industries, and to decarbonise our existing business base.

We have an extremely flexible entrepreneurial economy, thanks to many of the changes brought in by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, which is still one of the most creative and flexible economies in the world, despite 12 years of a Labour government.

Our business workforce understands the need for change and has the capacity to bring about this change.’

How important is private capital to developing the UK’s green potential?

‘Deployment of private capital is absolutely key, but there will also be a key role for Government to provide leadership, particularly in planning infrastructure and incentives to direct private sector capital into new areas, which fundamentally will be private sector engines of growth.

I believe the private sector will make handsome returns if we catch the lead in these sectors early enough.’

Many of the green technologies, such as CCS and marine energy, are unproven on a large scale. What needs to be done to develop them and bring them forward?

‘We need to bring technologies down the cost curve and into place in a commercial setting. Gordon Brown’s Government seems more taken up with endless consultation and iterative reviews with no consequences or action at the end of the process.

We need leadership from a government prepared to give long-term direction to industry and investors, and to make long-term decisions in UK policy.’

Clean energy is a global issue, how important is the UK’s development in an international context?

‘We want a lot of this new technology to be shared around the world. The global economy is becoming more interconnected over the passage of time, and in fighting climate change, international cooperation will be vital.

We are seeing new ways of doing business if we are going to crack the technology in the time scale to beat climate change.

What sets David Cameron’s viewpoint apart, is that he is optimistic about beating global warming and resolute in the face of this difficult challenge. Our optimism comes from the wealth of creativity and dynamism of British business to meet the challenge.’

How important an issue is security and energy independence when looking at new energy sources?

‘Energy independence and energy security are two sides of the same coin. We have to end our dependence on fossil fuels.

They seemed to have grasped this in the US and are channelling efforts into being energy secure in response to climate change. Rather than fighting each other, we need to realise we are all in this battle together.’

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Tags: c leantech, climate change, policy, private equity, venture capital, wind

This story was published on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 am and is filed under knowledge. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “NewNet Profile: Rt Hon Greg Barker MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for the Environment”

David Brooks says:

3 July 2009 at 3:21 pm

Dear Sir. I run a small business
that takes in saving energy.
I hope when you regain power you remove HIPs and Landlord EPCs, these are a waste of time and paper plus landlords do not want them and they go unread by the tenants. Then you may find that grants and advise will lead to power saving, cutting down on wasted heat.
Esther V Shire says:

17 July 2009 at 12:51 am

Rt Hon Greg Barker MP and HSBC Global Head of Research discuss Climate Change & Investment in the current global economy. Also, cleantech companies present their technologies and business on this video site: http://www.3bnexus.com