Wednesday, 24th September 2008

UKIP MEP Graham Booth has called for "a full and open debate" on climate change before the EU goes ahead with plans to spend billions of pounds on measures which could prove to be unnecessary.

"The whole climate change programme has given the EU yet another excuse to flex its muscles and show the world how important it is, claiming that this is an issue that nation states cannot deal with alone," Mr Booth said in a speech to the European Parliament.

"The 20-20-20 slogan is a typical example of a catchy phrase to work with – 20% of energy in the EU from renewable sources, a 20% reduction in carbon emissions, all by the year 2020. But you are missing the most important point.

"Is any of this necessary?"

Mr Booth said the International Panel on Climate Change had claimed that 2,500 scientists were all in agreement that CO2 was responsible for global warming and that we humans were the culprits. Al Gore's infamous film confirmed that view.

"However, since then, over 30,000 scientists and climatologists have signed the Oregon Petition and the Manhattan Declaration, which directly challenge the IPCC conclusions, with some very compelling evidence.

"So, while we are urged to believe the IPCC's 2,500 scientists, we are being told to completely ignore the 30,000 scientists who are painting a different picture."

Mr Booth, who will retire as an MEP at the end of September, said the EU was persuading nations across the world to spend billions of pounds of taxpayers' money at a time when the world was facing dire financial problems. That expenditure might not only be totally unnecessary but could well be counterproductive  if the latest evidence of global cooling proved to be correct.

"We must have a full and open debate to prove exactly who is right. What do supporters of the IPCC's position have to fear?"

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