The British government has shelved plans to get people to reduce their carbon footprint by allowing them to trade personal emissions permits because it would be too expensive and ambitious. After studying ways of encouraging individuals to cut their CO2 emissions so they could sell their excess permits to those who exceed their carbon quota, the environment ministry has concluded it is not yet practical.
--Reuters, 8 May 2008

In its report, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the carbon trading scheme had an "inherent fairness", as everyone would get the same allowance. ..But a government report said the scheme would cost up to £2 billion to set up and seemed like a "big brother" idea....However, Defra, which carried out interviews with 92 people, also found a "strong lack of trust in the government in doing this and a reluctance for individuals to have to contribute financially". One respondent said: "Just straight away it reminds me of going back to the war and rationing."
--BBC News, 9 May 2008

Surprise, surprise. After months of threatening us with environmental Armageddon, scientists are now saying global warming may be put on hold for ten years. Gordon Brown's U-turn technique has even spread to the science lobby. Could it be that our listening Prime Minister and his chums at Westminster will U-turn again and park the policies of crucifying drivers by huge taxes on fuel to save the planet while hammering the UK way of life? Go on, Gordon, give us leadership by cutting fuel tax to help restore the British economy and provide further help for the citizens you attacked in the 10p tax rate Budget fiasco.
--Iain McConnel, The Scotsman, 8 May 2008

One important development at this election was a formal agreement with the Green party calling for second preference mayoral votes for each other. This benefited the Greens - who added 40,000 votes and maintained their share of the vote and existing number of London assembly seats - but also aided the high turnout and Labour. Had I been re-elected I would have given Green nominees a central role in my administration.
--Ken Livingstone, The Guardian, 9 May 2008

In the election for London's Mayor, the Greens got just over three per cent of the vote. They struggled elsewhere to poll anywhere near that. Yet Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Nationalists dance slavishly to the Green tune. Why do we put up with this "green" extortion to so little purpose? That's the real mystery.
--Bernard Ingham, The Yorkshire Post, 7 May 2008

Excerpts from CCNet, 9th May 2008