UK political parties fall short
How green are our parties? The Green Standard report welcomes the profile that environmental issues now enjoy in political debate, and the ambition shown by the parties in some areas. But it finds that none of the parties have yet implemented policy commitments and action on the scale required to meet the range and urgency of the environmental threats we face, particularly in relation to the protection and enhancement of our countryside and wildlife.
The assessment, based on The Green Standard set of six robust environmental leadership tests developed by an NGO coalition in February, uses a traffic light system to score the parties on their record since the 2005 general election:
- Green to indicate support for both ambition and commitments
- Amber to indicate a mixed picture in relation to ambition and commitments
- Red to indicate where we are concerned by both the effect of a party’s approach and a lack of positive commitments.
The Liberal Democrats get three green lights for offering the strongest set of policies on climate change, green taxation and green living, but a red light for their approach to the natural environment.
The Labour government receives a green light for displaying international leadership on climate change. But it is failing on renewables and emissions targets and has failed to implement a marine bill. It receives a red light for its approach to planning policy.
The Conservative leadership have set out bold environmental aspirations and have played a vital role in raising the profile of these issues. However they currently have few policy commitments, and received no green lights in this assessment.
Proposals emerging from the Conservative Quality of Life Commission this week, and the Liberal Democrat proposals to make the UK carbon neutral by 2050, appear to be examples of what is required from the opposition, and from Gordon Brown’s government.
The six tests:
UK action on climate change: Achieve reductions in UK carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of at least three per cent year on year, en route to a low-carbon economy based on energy efficiency, renewable sources of energy and decentralised energy.
International action on climate change: Provide international leadership to restrict global temperature rises to 2°C and ensure worldwide emissions are falling by 2015.
Green living: Make it cheaper and easier for individuals to reduce their environmental impact through tax, regulation, information and other powers of government.
Natural environment: Protect and enhance the beauty, accessibility and wildlife of the environment in our countryside, towns and seas through incentives, regulation, investment and other powers of government.
Planning: Value, support and develop our planning system as a democratic tool for protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment of our countryside and towns.
Environmental tax and subsidies: Green the tax system by increasing the amount of revenue from taxes that reduce environmental damage, and eliminate environmentally perverse subsidies.
For more information contact Tracy Carty direct line: 020 7630 4527
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