Concern on Paterson green record

4 September 2012 Last updated at 09:05 ET By Roger Harrabin Environment analyst

Environmentalists have expressed fears that the reshuffle makes the government more likely to take decisions against the environment.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson has taken over the environment brief from Caroline Spelman.

Green groups are concerned about Mr Paterson's track record on shale gas and energy subsidies.

They also say the removal of Justine Greening could signal a U-turn on building a third runway at Heathrow.

The reshuffle is the first major restructuring since the Conservative-Lib Dem government came to power.

Ms Spelman, Conservative MP for Meriden, was made Environment Secretary when the Coalition took office in 2010.

Mr Paterson takes over a portfolio - the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - with a ?2.2bn budget.

But it was reported in Conservative Home that Mr Paterson wants to end all energy subsidies and fast-track exploitation of shale gas.

This would shatter any ambition for the UK of keeping to targets for renewables or greenhouse gases.

As MP for North Shropshire, he has also campaigned against plans to expand output from Welsh wind farms because of the impact of pylons on the landscape.

Mr Paterson also wants to expand airport capacity, which would also threaten climate targets.

He was shadow minister for agriculture, fisheries and food between 2003 and 2005 and has also served as front bench spokesperson for transport.

He is the brother-in-law of the leading climate change sceptic Matt Ridley.

Some environmentalists have also told the BBC they are concerned by the removal of Justine Greening and Theresa Villiers from the Department for Transport.

They believe Mr Cameron is clearing the way for a Conservative U-turn on its opposition to a third runway at Heathrow before the next election.

Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, tweeted: "Greening's appointment 11 months ago indicated the PM's position on Heathrow was solid. Yielding so easily suggests panic, not principle."

London Mayor Boris Johnson expressed anger over the move: "There can be only one reason to move her - and that is to expand Heathrow Airport," he explained.

But Jean Leston, senior transport policy adviser at WWF-UK, signalled a more relaxed tone: "Justine Greening has been an impressive minister, who has dared to stand up to the aviation lobby and question the need for Southeast airport expansion.

"Patrick McLoughlin's return to the Department for Transport is a welcome move and will surely continue Justine Greening's robust defence of Government and party policy on aviation."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19476970#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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