Climate change on the agenda at party conferences
Wed 24 September 2014
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Speaking at the Party's annual conference, Labour leader Ed Miliband committed his party to tackle climate change and create a million high-tech 'green' jobs by 2030 if his party wins the General Election next May. Labour's promises follow earlier pledges for new laws 'for a greener Britain' by the Liberal Democrats.
Labour was the first of the three leading parties to hold its annual conference in Manchester, to be followed by the Conservatives in Birmingham and LibDems in Glasgow.
Miliband said Labour would boost investment in low carbon technologies by setting a legal target to remove carbon from the UK’s electricity supply by 2030 and develop an active industrial strategy for the green economy. He also outlined plans to insulate five million UK homes.
Miliband's speech was delivered at Labour's last party conference before the General Election and was delivered as a
UN Climate Summit was entering its second day in New York. The Prime Minister David Cameron and Barack Obama were among world leaders at the summit, which followed a weekend of global marches calling for action over climate change. (See
LowCVP story on the Summit here.)
"The environment isn’t that fashionable in politics at the moment," he said, "but it is important. It is incredibly important for our economy today."
In addition to securing the UK’s position as a "world leader in green industries", Miliband announced plans to allow the Green Investment Bank to borrow money so that it can invest in environmentally sustainable technologies and industries.
Miliband listed tackling climate change and delivering 'green' growth and jobs as one of six key national goals for the next 10 years.
In an earlier announcement, the Liberal Democrats promised to include 'Five new laws for a greener Britain' in their next election manifesto. These include a 'Zero Carbon Britain Bill' of which key measures include introducing a decarbonisation target for electricity generation, expanding the powers of the Green Investment Bank and banning electricity generated from unabated coal.
Their proposed 'Green Transport Bill' includes proposals to establish a full network of charging points for electric cars, only allowing low emission vehicles on the roads from 2040 and reforming planning law to ensure new developments are designed around walking, cycling and public transport.
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