When I was interviewed by Conservatives for my job in the run up to last year’s general election as press officer for the Eastern Region, I was asked what I thought about their immigration policy. Although I agreed there were concerns about this, I told them I felt there was one important issue we should be taking on board – the environment.

I asked why we were not championing environmental issues, that I knew people cared passionately about this. The reply was that it was not public sector. Nevertheless, I said, it would bring Lib Dem voters over, as well as the younger electorate. There was no interest at all and, of course, it was too late, the campaign strategy had already been drawn up.

So it was extremely heartening to see David Cameron show his green side from almost day one as Conservative leader, that he is now trying to fight this corner.

This is a passion he shares with our Iron lady Margaret Thatcher, a former scientist who foresaw the dangers that lay ahead and acted on her concerns by introducing legislation to deal with it, including the ban on CFCs. She was one of the first world leaders to alert the international community to the threat of global warming.

This is what she said 16 years ago when she spoke passionately at the 2nd World Climate Change Conference.

“The threat to our world comes not only from tyrants and their tanks, it can be more insidious though less visible. The danger of global warming is as yet unseen, but real enough for us to make changes and sacrifices so that we do not live at the expense of future generations.

“Our ability to come together to stop or limit damage to the world’s environment will be perhaps the greatest test of how far we can act as a world community. No-one should under-estimate the imagination that will be required, nor the scientific effort, nor the unprecendent co-operation we shall have to show.”

She conculded that nuclear energy would continue to make “a continuing important contribution” as a source of electricity.

What progress has been made since then?

An aversion to nuclear power was to be expected following the horrific 1986 Chernobyl disaster but I believe the lack of our natural resources will mean it is inevitable, along with renewable energy. However, the indecisiveness of this government in tackling these issues does not instill public confidence, it causes alarm.

And the serious question of dealing with nuclear waste must be addressed by those who can speak with authority, the expert views of highly qualified scientists must be considered, not just the politically correct view.

The learned Magnus Linklater described his very serious concerns at the government’s handling of nuclear waste last year, focus groups were being pampered at the expense of expert views. One leading scientist resigned in exasperation.

As a result of his thought provoking article, I went along to a government led focus group meeting to see for my myself. Yes, it was true, it seems the government is going to take on board my uneducated personal views on disposing nuclear waste, a subject I know as much about as being a lion tamer. There were no scientific experts to guide us.

So it comes as no suprise that the UK is set to miss its carbon emissions target by 20% by 2010, the writing has been on the wall for years.

Our future looks grim. Water shortages and power problems will undoubtedly lead to food shortages and famine as crops will be unable to grow and fish supplies will suffer in warmer more polluted waters.

Will this be Labour’s legacy? Which path will Blair take following the publication of the House of Commons Environment Audit Committee report entitled Keeping The Lights On: Nuclear, Renewables and Climate Change, thought to be against a nuclear future?

It seesm that it takes a scientist who is a government leader to make others sit up and act on these issues. What can be done in the short time available to overcome this scary scenario? Is it too late?