UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy: Renewables Greenwash
Background to formation
The UKBCSE was established in May 2001 and formally launched in Jan 2002 following the Prime Minister's Environment Speech on 6th March 2001 in which he emphasised the business opportunities presented by Kyoto and renewable technologies, and announced plans to invite 'CEOs from key sectors...together with the leaders of NGOs, to work to develop innovative strategies' in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in August 2002 [1]. Though depicting themselves as an independent lobby group, the UKBCSE have clearly worked closely with government on policy and initiatives from their conception as their website states,
'the UKBCSE took the lead role for the UK Government in bringing together the UK Energy Sector input to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. At the World Summit, the UKBCSE worked with the UK Government to launch the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)[2].'
The organisation went on to have 'a key role in the development and delivery of the UK Prime Ministers agenda for his G8 and EU Presidencies'[3].. In line with Blair's assertion that 'we have led the way in integrating environmental and economic goals within a liberalised electricity market',[4] the UKBCSE joined with sister organisations in Washington (USBCSE), Frankfurt (European BCSE or e5) and Melbourne (AUBCSE) in using strong sustainability rhetoric to push for emissions trading and other liberal market based solutions to climate change historically favoured by the UK government, and which tend to favour large scale existing technologies such as wind and nuclear, which their members predominantly supply.
Despite claims that they were formed 'at the request of major NGOs' [5] the UKBCSE has no NGO membership or declared connections, and was formed of the largest energy suppliers and distributors in the UK.
- ↑ Tony Blair, Speech by the British Prime Minister, 06 March 2001 "Environment: the next steps", World Bank Documents page. Accessed 08/11/09
- ↑ UKBCSE, "UK BSCE Introduction", UKBCSE Introduction page. Accessed 12/02/09
- ↑ UKBCSE, "UK BSCE Introduction", UKBCSE Introduction page. Accessed 12/02/09
- ↑ Tony Blair, Speech by the British Prime Minister, 06 March 2001 "Environment: the next steps", World Bank Documents page. Accessed 08/11/09
- ↑ UKBCSE, "UK BSCE Introduction", UKBCSE Introduction page. Accessed 12/02/09
