In December 2009 Prince Charles told the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen that the world had just seven years left to avert environmental disaster.

In a long speech he said: "Over the past three decades, I have been privileged to talk with some of the world's most eminent experts on climate change and environmental issues and to listen to the wisdom of some of the world's indigenous people.

"The conclusion I draw is that the future of mankind can be assured only if we rediscover ways in which to live as part of nature, not apart from her.

"For the grim reality is that our planet has reached a point of crisis and we have only seven years before we lose the levers of control."

Five years on from Copenhagen the climate of public opinion regarding global warming appears to have cooled. In the past 12 months, for example, Bradford Council planners have rejected a number of applications for the erection of wind turbines in Thornton, Queensbury and Menston.

Last week one national newspaper worriedly declared that since January this year 164 such projects had been halted due to public opposition, with the Secretary of States for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles rejecting 11 out of 13 applications.

The inference was the Government was backing down on climate change measures to assuage disgruntled rural Conservative voters thinking of switching their vote to Ukip

Keith Thomson, former Bradford Labour councillor and the T&A's environmental correspondent, said: "You need to remember that the Conservative Government is still enthralled by Nigel Lawson, who unelected sits in the upper chamber, and runs the Global Warming Policy Foundation, and argues the denialist position at every opportunity.

"His views are well represented within the current administration, particularly with George Osborne, and as UKIP don’t accept that there is a human signature to climate change and accordingly would ban all wind turbines, as well as burning coal, the Tories are taking a very strong anti-wind line to avoid losing votes.

"Wind turbines save a considerable amount of CO2 and, give or take the odd dead bird, do no damage – the August 12th pheasant slaughterers don’t see the irony of their position.

"Wind turbines are often criticised for the fact that they don’t work if the wind doesn’t blow – but if there are enough of them, linked by a network the wind blows somewhere and the power is not wasted.

"We could well do with them in the future, at night, in winter, when the surplus power is used for topping up the batteries of all the electric cars and buses that are the future.

"Any surplus power at night can be used to convert CO2 into methane, natural gas, that can then be stored in the gas network – certainly a better source than fracking."

Professor David Rhodes, formerly boss of Filtronic plc who now runs a profitable gas and oil pipeline company between Bradford and Leeds, said there was an argument for sea-based wind turbines, but even these would not be viable without public subsidies. As for land-based turbines he said:-

"They are not particularly energy neutral and not commercially viable without subsidies. The whole argument for wind turbines and other forms of so-called green energy is not scientific.

"It's been a bandwagon. About 15 years ago I was involved with a Royal Society inquiry looking at the future of energy over the next 50 years. The conclusion was that 70 to 80 per cent of our electricity needs would have to be met by nuclear power. The report, for the Blair Government, was shelved.

"The only thing that's changed since then is fracking. That's bang on and why it was in the Queen's Speech. If it's done properly, as it wasn't in America at first, there won't be any pollution of water courses."

Communities Minister, former leader of Bradford Council, Kris Hopkins MP said: “Inappropriately sited wind turbines can be a blot on the landscape, harming the local environment and damaging heritage for miles around.

"We make no apologies for changing planning guidance to ensure that these issues are properly taken into account. Every appeal is considered with due process on its individual merits, based on the particular circumstances of the case.”