The Energy Saving Trust at the Liberal Democrats Party Conference

Last weekend I attended the Liberal Democrats party conference in Bournemouth. We had an Energy Saving Trust Energy Doctor, Chess Sharpe, on the Green lib Dem stand - Chess is an Energy Advisor at the South West England Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre – she did a great job.

I chaired our Energy Saving Trust fringe event on Sunday 20^th September, entitled Citizen Action: Cracking the politics of behaviour change. The event looked at: “How can we avoid the Catch 22 situation of green behaviour change, 'I will act, once you have'?”. We wanted to discuss how the government can provide a framework for people to live greener lifestyles and help create the political mandate for change amongst the electorate. Others on the panel were, Simon Hughes MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change, Dave Sowden, Chief Executive, Micropower Council and Faye Scott, policy advisor at the Green Alliance.

I also had the chance to meet Susan Heinrich, Chair of the Green Lib Dems as well as Martin Horwood MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Environment and for Climate Change, and discussed with them the work and services of the Energy Saving Trust and discussed Government’s Home Energy Pay As You Save pilots, the Government’s Low Carbon Transition plan, and Feed in Tariffs.

We also attended a breakfast meeting organised by Consumer Focus.  The event was chaired by Lord Whitty, and discussed a range of consumer issues including the White Paper, consumers and energy policy.

 

Finally, I was pleased that we held smarter driving lessons for the following three MP's: Sir Robert Smith, Lembit Opik and John Leech.

Comments

[Rue Stanley]

I was intersted to hear that you discussed the dilemma of I'll act when you act- what answers did you come up with? There is one view that says if you understand the impact and consequences of not acting or the impact of one small action on the whole- ie; if I know that throwing away this rubbish has x consequences and you ethically want to do the right thing you should change your behaviour-
could that mean that educating people regarding the consequences of their actions and of others may have value?

[George]

That is a great article. Thank you for sharing it.