Climate Change Emergency
By Fiona Southern
Greenhouse gas concentrations have reached a record high according to the latest bulletin published by the World Meteorological Organization. We are staring down the barrel of a gun - in March this year the United Nations said there were just 11 years left to prevent irreversible damage to our planet. This damage will see more extreme weather events causing fire and flood, rising sea levels, food shortages and ultimately vast numbers of displaced people.
It's a job for Government
We all know that we need to take individual action to stop this catastrophe but we need governments to show leadership, helping us to make the changes we must adopt and ensuring that those changes are fair across society.
Liberal Democrat response to Climate Emergency
The Liberal Democrats will place climate change at the heart of Government. We have a clear strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 but will cut emissions by at least 75% by 2030. We will restore the Department for Climate Change at the heart of our Government and establish a Just Transition Commission to ensure that a net-zero economy works for everyone.
An emergency requires a prompt response
The LibDems will restore subsidies for solar power and insulate every home by 2030. All new building will have to comply with a zero-carbon home's standard. We will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, cut VAT on electric vehicles from 20% to 5% and invest in more electric vehicle charging points.
Farming & Climate Change Emergency
We will reform agricultural subsidies to support farmers to cut greenhouse gas emissions from their stock and will plant an additional 60 million trees every year to absorb some of the excess CO2 in the atmosphere. Our environmental policy will reduce plastic waste and air pollution in our cities.
Leadership is what's required
The Liberal Democrats recognise that the climate emergency requires leadership and urgency and guarantees that we will make this a priority throughout Government.
