Green thinking needs to be hard-wired into every level of government (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Green thinking needs to be hard-wired into every level of government

March 28, 2010 10:59 AM

Scientists tell us that the coming five years could be our last chance to avert dangerous climate change

Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg MP has written to Friends of the Earth in response to their lobbying for the general election, re-stating the Party's commitment to embedding environmental thinking into every decision affecting the government of Britain..

In his letter, published on the FoE website, Mr Clegg wrote: "This election could be a turning point, not just for Britain but for the world environment. Some people think that's overstating it, but the scientists tell us that the coming five years could be our last chance to avert dangerous climate change. That means the government we elect next has the most enormous responsibility: to provide change at home and leadership abroad to stop the disaster from happening.

"I am a huge supporter of Friends of the Earth. I've met up with FoE campaigners twice in the last year - at Glastonbury and at Sipsom, the village that will be destroyed if plans for a third runway go ahead. I am delighted you have chosen to get so involved in trying to influence the outcome of the election in a green direction. It's people like you who can and must make the difference and ensure the next set of MPs take that responsibility for the future of our planet seriously.The sad truth is there are far too many people standing for Parliament, especially in the Labour and Conservative parties who do not…

"The climate challenge requires a response at all levels of government - and Liberal Democrats would hard-wire green thinking into our whole approach. We know how important it is to make housing greener, so in government we'd start a programme to do just that - as well as tightening up the rule on new homes so they're fully energy-efficient and changing the way we charge for energy, so people who use less are better off. We'd cut fares for passengers on public transport and create a UK Infrastructure Bank to invest in high-speed rail and shift money from roads to rail. We'd reduce air pollution and set a target for zero waste, so we stop wasting resources and ruining our precious landscape with landfill."