Election 2010: a manifesto checklist for the environment

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How do the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Labour and the Green Party measure up on their environmental manifesto pledges? Here's the definitive list...
 


Climate change

Libs:

Cons:

  • Aim to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050
  • Cut central government carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 12 months

Lab:

  • Push EU towards 30 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2020
  • Provide additional climate assistance on top of commitment of 0.7 per cent of national income in overseas aid by 2013. No more than 10 per cent of existing aid will be counted towards climate finance

Greens:

  • Target to reduce emissions by 65 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 and 90 per cent by 2030
  • Annual carbon emission cuts of 10 per cent
  • Long-term plan to introduce carbon quotas
  • Zero emissions from power generation by 2030

Food and farming

Libs:

Cons:

Lab: 

Greens:

 


Energy

Libs:

  • A 10 year programme of home insulation offering each home up to £10,000
  • Aim for 40 per cent of UK electricity to come from non-carbon sources by 2020 and 100 per cent by 2050
  • Commitment that 75 per cent of new renewable energy must come from marine and offshore sources
  • Support plans for a European supergrid
  • Scrap Home Information Packs
  • Commit £400 million for shipyard upgrades in the north of England and Scotland to boost manufacturing of wind turbines
  • Eco cash-back scheme offering £400 if you install double-glazing, replace an old boiler or install micro-generation. Plus higher feed-in-tariff rates
  • Money for schools to improve energy efficiency
  • No new nuclear power stations or Trident nuclear weapons system
  • A tighter cap on emissions under EU Emissions Trading Scheme


Cons:
 

Lab: 

Greens:

  • Spend up to £20 billion over next Parliament on renewable generation
  • Require all major development plans and planning applications to show how they will contribute to carbon reduction targets
  • Aim for half of all energy to come from renewable sources by 2020
  • Oppose new nuclear power stations and phase out current ones
  • Re-introduce fuel duty escalator, increasing duty in real terms by 8 per cent per year
  • Ban new coal-fuelled power stations
  • Waste heat tax on new power stations
  • Stronger planning policies to support onshore wind and other renewables
  • Nationalise the electricity network
  • Introduce smart meters and support plans for a European supergrid

Natural world

Libs:

  • Argue for international target of zero net deforestation by 2020.
  • Law making it illegal to import or possess timber produced illegally in foreign countries
  • Double woodland cover by 2050

Cons:

  • Allow free vote on repealing the ban on hunting
  • New Border Police force to tackle illegal wildlife trade
  • Pass a law making it illegal to import or possess timber produced illegally in foreign countries
  • Push for more money from EU to be allocated to less industrialised countries to halt deforestation
  • Badger cull in areas of high and persistent levels of bovine tuberculosis (bTB)
  • Oppose resumption of commercial whaling

Lab: 

  • Right to roam extension to whole English coastline
  • Call for EU-wide, or if unsuccessful, UK ban on illegally logged timber

Greens:

  • Ban import of real fur products
  • Extend ban on hunting with dogs to other blood sports
  • Ban on animal testing
  • Ban on live animal exports
  • Ban on production and sale of battery caged eggs
  • Ban import of exotic pets
  • Oppose all forms of whaling, commercial and scientific

Waste and recycling

Libs:

Cons:

Lab: 

  • Separated public bins for recycling
  • Work towards a ban on recyclable and biodegradable materials from landfill

Greens:

Transport

Libs:

Cons: 

Lab:

  • High-speed rail between London, Birmingham, Manchester, Midlands, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow
  • Electrify train line from London to South Wales
  • Treble cycle storage space at rail stations
  • Enforceable right to the cheapest fare
  • Support third runway at Heathrow but no other new runways at any other airport in next Parliament
  • Rule out road pricing in next Parliament
  • Ensure 100,000 electric vehicle charging points by end of next Parliament

Greens:


Useful links

Liberal Democrat manifesto
Conservative manifesto
Labour manifesto
Green Party manifesto

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