Government promises investment in EVs, trees and nuclear fusion on eve of Conservative Party conference
Fri 27 September 2019
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The Government has promised to invest 'up to £1bn' in a package of measures to tackle the climate emergency including developing electric cars, planting a million new trees and funding the further development of nuclear fusion on the eve of its party conference in Manchester. With a General Election expected soon, the political parties are laying out their pitches in the key areas of policy.
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said that the Conservatives policies would include the creation of a new fund to invest up to £1 billion over five years to boost the production of key 'green' technologies in the motor industry, including batteries, electric motors, power electronics and hydrogen fuel cells.
The Conservatives are promising to establish a new Great Northumberland Forest, as well as creating more green spaces across the UK. Three new forests are proposed for Northumberland, with up to a million trees planted between 2020 and 2024.
In other measures, the Conservatives are committing £200 million to the initial development phase of the planned nuclear fusion power station which, they say, offers the prospect of limitless electrical power with minimal waste from 2040.
The Government has also said it is introducing new home-building standards and improving energy efficiency in existing homes.
The opposition Labour Party voted at its recent conference to create a path toward net zero carbon emissions by 2030, underpinned by a wide range of measures (see link).
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