Good Policy to Halt Climate Change

It was not sufficient to bring them increased representation and I would argue that were the extra votes placed with the Liberal Democrats, Green policies would be more likely to be implemented.

Climate change could destroy our way of life and no doubt will drastically change it for future generations. Yet there are still many who deny it and there is currently insufficient encouragement to individuals to take steps to make improvements.

I acknowledge that 'Going Green' is not easy. We have all been lulled into a false sense of security by that feeling that heat and light are there at the flick of the switch. We are too detached from the realities of fuel production. Hardly any coal is mined in this country anymore and we are scarcely aware of gas pipelines or even the huge power lines crossing the countryside. A greater awareness of these facts would bring home to us the realisation that this country is no longer self sufficient in fuel supplies. Then perhaps we would see more clearly the link between burning fossil fuels and climate change.

Liberal Democrats are the first party to aim for a carbon neutral Britain, where we absorb as much carbon as we emit, by 2050.

All of our policies have this as a green thread to them. For example we aim to cut income tax and make polluters pay instead. 100% of energy needs to come from clean sources without the use of nuclear power. Better home insulation and improvements to public transport will make Britain a greener and healthier place to live. Support for the renewable energy industry will also bring new green jobs, much needed in this current recession.

Labour and the Conservatives are going only half way with their policies to both raise awareness of and to slow down climate change.

The Labour Government passed the climate bill to reduce UK emissions but then supported the third runway at Heathrow airport which we oppose. There is talk of the need for low carbon homes but then a failure to halt a new generation of dirty coal power stations like Kingsnorth in Kent. Labour's transport policies have led to continuing year-on-year rises in traffic and vehicle emissions. Green taxes have fallen from 3.6 per cent of GDP in 2000 to just 2.7 per cent of GDP today, and renewable energy still accounts for less than 5% of the UK domestic electricity, well short of the Government's 10% target for 2010.

The Conservatives try to talk green including adopting a green tree as their campaign emblem but their policies often tell a different story. They oppose Heathrow but support airport expansion in the South East. They talk about decentralised and green energy then support a programme to build new nuclear power stations. It is clear that the Conservatives just see the environment as a tool to win votes.

Finally, we will not survive as a single entity. Whilst taking a lead by example Liberal Democrats are further committed to setting an international framework to ensure every country makes the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Whilst taking our own individual responsibilities seriously with the minutiae of turning off light switches and insulating our homes we must also keep up the pressure on those able to affect the bigger picture and bring a halt to climate change and global warming across the world.