John Hemming, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil and Gas, told Radio 4's You and Yours (25th September)

"We need to recognise ... that there is a link between food and energy ... we need to be much more orientated towards controlling the use of fossil fuel."

He said

"I think the Government's not even doing as much as it intends to. The first problem ... is denial. They estimate the global peak for hydrocarbon production as being 2030 ... if you start by denying there is a problem then it's not surprising they're not doing anything about it ... (the Government is planning) for a growth in air transport, it's a farce ... when there isn't ... the fuel to power it."

Mr Hemming said

"Energy is going to be rationed by either price or by having tradable energy quotas. If it's rationed by price the poorer people will suffer to a far greater extent, it requires international action, one country can't resolve this on their own ... when you look at the numbers game in terms of alternative energies they're all various partial solutions, it's not clear they add up to a complete solution therefore you have to look at how you equitably deal with the fossil fuel provision that we have."

"I think we need to focus more on quality of life rather than standard of living ... what is critical is we need to look at an equitable way of dealing with scarcity ... it's in everybody's interest to adjust their lifestyle to minimise their use of energy."

Broadcast on Your & Yours - 25th September 08

"Participation, co-operation and community ownership are the solutions to creating sustainable urban environments.

"We should not adopt models of regeneration which prioritise profit over the need to empower community residents.

"Plentiful green space, access to good public services and improved safety all lie at the heart of successful and sustainable communities. But in order to create neighbourhoods that really 'work' - economically, socially, culturally and environmentally - we also need to give people a stake in their communities.

"Reducing crime, improving prosperity, and ensuring access to services like a GP, good schools or just somewhere to kick a ball around are hugely important. Most of all though, a sense of community is crucial. Residents must be given genuine opportunities to participate in decision-making regarding their homes and areas.

"Problems can then be tackled collectively, with respect for the equality of all residents. A stronger focus on socially inclusive housing and development would inevitably make it easier for people to get to know one another."

"Every UK city has a story to tell of estates built in the 1960s and 70s where shared walkways and open spaces have not brought people together, but have become places to dump rubbish, deal drugs or simply avoid out of fear of crime. UK property developers have a lot to answer for.

"Even now, the 21st century buzzword 'regeneration' often means turning run down areas into high profile retail or office developments for high profit, with promises about job creation for local people often ringing hollow.

'To create safer and happier communities that are socially and environmentally sustainable, we need groundbreaking environmental design, as well as a commitment to ensuring the provision of local employment and of well-insulated, affordable homes."

Chris Haine Shirley Ford

It is most pleasing to see people embracing a "greener" way of life as illustrated by the Big Green Station Event this weekend. Activities such as recycling waste of all kinds, lowering Carbon footprints and growing your own fruit and vegetables amongst other "green" activities will all help out world out of the mess it finds itself in the short term.

Unfortunately, unless society embraces a full on "Green" agenda taking in such activities as Green Economics, Education, Health Care, Law & Order issues and all the other activities that go to make up our "Environment" the soft "green" options are just so much fluff in the wind of change.

This last week it was announced that our present "Growth Lead" economy had come to a grinding halt. Now you may think that as the Green Party advocates a zero growth economic system this would be good news to us. It is far from the truth.

Zero Growth economics is a system in its own right with its own set of rules. All that the "zero growth" achieved is to show us that the present system of growth lead economies is failing and needs to be replaced but a sustainable Green system and as soon as possible.

Both the people of North Tyneside and their local government on the council and in the Mayor's office have made a start on Going Green, unfortunately it is only a cosmetic action which camouflages the underlying failure of growth-led economics that are still the major active system in our local governance.