A national journalist has given a powerful talk to a Farnham audience about energy, climate change and the delicate balance between “Green versus Growth”.
More than 100 people recently gathered at the UCA for a thought-provoking event featuring Jillian Ambrose, energy correspondent at The Guardian.
Chairperson Theresa Meredith-Hardy felt compelled to organise the event on behalf of the Waverley Liberal Democrats in response to a “common experience of meeting people disengaged from politics”.
She often feels disheartened when encountering people who “don’t do politics” on the doorstep.
She said: “I wanted to highlight that if you live in a beautiful area like ours and value the environment, then that is politics and it needs more open dialogue.”
Jillian spoke about the likely realities of climate change, energy transitions, and the often-ignored complexities of achieving net zero.
She highlighted that public figures and politicians often avoid having the very difficult conversations about the compromises and that transitioning to renewable energy will be challenging.
Farnborough Airport was a big talking point with Jillian being sceptical about breakthrough technologies like sustainable aviation fuels and their portrayal as the “silver bullet”.
She also fears that projects like airport expansions could undermine previous progress by encouraging the use of private jets, one of the most wasteful forms of greenhouse gas emissions.
An even AI isn’t as green as believed, as the boom has caused an energy-hungry data centres, something that few would have foreseen five years ago.
Despite the challenges, Jillian stressed that “green and growth” need not be at odds.
She spoke about the billions of pounds poised for investment in green industries and noted the growing acceptance of nuclear energy as a viable alternative.
She also pointed out that new homes can be built to much higher energy efficiency standards, provided the correct infrastructure is put in place.
Jillian also closed her talk on a hopeful note, reassuring the audience that the UK’s ambitions for economic growth and achieving net zero can still align – but it’s dependent on mature, open discussions and compromises.
Theresa added: “Above all, she urged everyone to take action, reminding attendees that change starts with their votes and continuing to have these difficult conversations.
“At the end of the day, both of these actions can make a real difference.”
Meanwhile, Waverley residents have been encouraged to put politics aside and back a petition calling on the Prime Minister to visit the borough.
The Lib Dems want Sir Keir Starmer to visit Waverley so he can see first-hand the “worsening infrastructure crisis” affecting communities around the patch.
They said: “Despite years of unprecedented housing growth, there has been little to no investment in the infrastructure required to support these developments.
“So we are calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to visit Waverley, hear from our residents, and see firsthand the devastating effects of this infrastructure crisis.
“His visit would send a powerful message that the government recognises the challenges both rural and urban communities face.”
More at: https://shorturl.at/KqGUh