Climate change action after Copenhagen
March 26, 2010 3:10 PM
By Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change in Liberal Democrat Spring Conference Birmingham 13th March 2010
By Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change in Liberal Democrat Spring Conference Birmingham 13th March 2010
December's Copenhagen talks were a setback. The world failed last year to come to a legally binding agreement. But in every one of 198 countries, from presidents and prime ministers to community activists, there is now an understanding of urgency and a commitment to act.
Nonetheless since Copenhagen there have been more headlines in the conservative press, which is not called conservative without reason, arguing against action and against reason.
To those who are trying to distract from the climate crisis I say even if you are not persuaded by the science, everyone should accept that there is a risk - and it must be better to take precautions against the risk of disaster than to stand by idly doing nothing. Today, Liberal Democrats reaffirm our commitment.
We understand the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis. We realise that the next parliament may be the last parliament in which we can take decisive action to reverse the horrifying implications of the climate crisis.
We have made commitments in policy and action on a regular basis for all of the 27 years that I have been in parliament.
Liberal Democrats and our sister parties around the world have been:
• leading international action to deal with the climate crisis.
• leading in the European Parliament with Fiona Hall and her colleagues to put energy saving at the heart of the European Union's strategy.
• Leading in the UK parliament by forcing up the UK target for carbon emissions from 60 to 80% in the Climate Change Act, and
• Leading in the many councils across Britain, not least here in Birmingham where a circuit of combined heat and power systems around the city is already being built
This debate has shown our party has the experience and strength to deliver at every level of public life - which is why to those around the country tempted to support Green Party candidates, I say put your vote where the influence is and vote for the only green party in Britain that already can and does deliver.
We must go further and faster.
• At the international level there must be a new effective and permanent United Nations organisation to drive the agenda for climate security.
• In the Commonwealth and the European Union the UK should be at the forefront with the boldest actions and the clearest commitments.
• In Westminster We will not give up on our plan for emissions performance standards in British law.
• Across the country, we will go into the election with the most comprehensive plan for warm homes over the 10 years between 2012 and 2022.
• Lastly personally and collectively we must continue in the lead of the 10:10 campaign to achieve major changes now.
We are not like other parties.
For us the climate change crisis is not a new blinding revelation that comes in the last months of a 13 year government.
For us the climate change crisis is not a public relations opportunity one month which drops off the agenda the next.
For us stewardship of our planet and its resources, responsibility to our neighbours at home and millions of more vulnerable people far away is not just a commitment to fairness now but an obligation to future generations to leave them with a world worth inheriting.
The Copenhagen summit 2009 was a major setback. But with Liberal Democrats in government in 2010 there will be the energy and the commitment to take the action needed at home, in Europe, and across the world.
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