Taken from http://ratcliffeontrial.org/2010/12/day-8-leader-of-the-uk-green-party-explains-the-eu-democratic-deficit/
This afternoon the much anticipated video-link with Caroline Lucas commenced. Former Green MEP from 1999 - 2010, and current MP for Brighton Pavilion, Lucas had a wealth of experience with the reality of the ‘democratic deficit'. The leader of the UK Green Party began her testimony by addressing the issue of targets and how the current targets set do not match up to the scale of the crisis we are facing. She stated a 90% reduction of emissions would be necessary to have any hope of stopping the global temperature rise at 2 degrees, with the current targets only as high as 80%.
In terms of her EU experience, Lucas aired her frustrations at the large amount of unelected power - both from the Commission, which has the power of initiation despite being unelected, and the equally undemocratic power given to corporate lobbyists, whom she claimed had better access to those in power than the elected officials themselves. This included, for examples, energy companies who lobbied against measures to reduce emissions, thwarting any attempts to improve the situation.
She also discussed the failure of the EU to prioritise realistic ways to reduce emissions, instead primarily focussing on flawed schemes such as carbon trading, which she stated was open to large amounts of abuse.
In regard to the British Parliament, the complete lack of interest in the climate was clear when Lucas stated that a recent debate on the Cancun Climate Summit had only been attended by 12 MPs, with the Prime Minister failing to attend the summit in favour of the World Cup bid. It was evident from Lucas's testimony that at both a national and supranational level, politicians were failing in their duty to protect the public from the effects of climate change.
The trial will continue from Monday, with more experts and defendants giving evidence.
