The Liberal Democrats attempted to appeal to the green vote yesterday by launching a stand-alone environment manifesto.
The
environment manifesto did not contain any major new
green measures that hadn’t already been set out in the party’s
main election manifesto or spelt out by the party already during the election campaign. Launching it, though,
Liberal Democrat leader
Nick Clegg, presented his party as the only credible choice to put tackling climate change at the heart of government.
"This election is not like any other. Climate scientists tell us that the next Government will be the last that can stop dangerous climate change. That is a huge responsibility for the party that wins this election. But it’s an even bigger responsibility for the voters that will choose them on May 6," he said.
"So my message is this: don’t settle for a Labour party that has had 13 years to deliver on the environment and has failed. Don’t settle for a Conservative party that talks the talk on green issues, only to align themselves with climate change deniers in the European Parliament. And don’t give your vote to a Green Party that cannot make a difference in Westminster."
Clegg tried to appeal to the green vote by pointing to his party’s record on green issues out of office and its pledges on cutting
carbon emissions and creating a green economy should it be voted in.
"Choose the only party that was taking a stand on saving the planet well before it became fashionable," he said. "The only party that has led the way on tackling climate change, from championing the 10:10 campaign in our councils, to setting out radical plans in Parliament to cut Britain’s carbon emissions."
The manifesto spelt out 10 key green policy areas the Liberal Democrats plan to deliver on. They include on the economy, to create a £3.1 billion green economic stimulus package and a UK Infrastructure Bank; on
renewable energy, to set a target for 40 per cent of UK electricity to come from clean, non-carbon-emitting sources by 2020; and on international climate change, committing to securing a legally binding global agreement to limit global warming to below 1.7 degrees Celsius.
Labour also launched a reen manifesto on Sunday. It too offered a 10-point plan, most of which have been trailed already.
Launching the manifesto, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, said: "The
first-time voters of today will be the ones who will live with the
consequences of all of our decisions for years to come. Tackling
climate change isn't just about avoiding disaster but also ensuring we
have a prosperous future and a fair one. That's why I am proud of
Labour's Green manifesto. It embodies our values, creating jobs for
young people, protecting the vulnerable, standing up for the many an d
enshrining our commitment to fairness now and in the future."
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