Libdems sign up to climate change agreement (Stone Liberal Democrats)

Stone Liberal Democrats <info@stonelibdems.org.uk>

Libdems sign up to climate change agreement

January 26, 2006 4:21 PM

Norman Baker MP

The Liberal Democrat party have joined four other political parties to sign up to a joint agreement on the need to tackle climate change together. The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the DUP, together representing 276 MP's, have put aside party differences to develop policies on "the most serious threat we face".

The Labour Party has been invited to join in this approach, but has so far declined to do so.

The Joint Statement (see below), published in the week when Government statistics revealed that UK C02 emissions are again rising, accepts the scientific consensus that human activities are causing climate change, and asserts that normal politics are not delivering the action needed.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary, Norman Baker MP said "We aim to push climate change up the political agenda and make it more likely that the radical action necessary will be taken.

"The challenge of climate change is so serious that parties need to strive to find common ground. The Agreement we have reached does not mean that we do not have differences of view and emphasis, nor does it mean that we will not disagree on particular issues such as nuclear power. But it does mean that we want to agree on as much as we can.

"I am pleased that the idea of a cross-party consensus, which the Lib Dems first proposed last year, is now taking off. The door remains open for the Government to join us. I hope they will."

THE JOINT STATEMENT ON CROSS PARTY SUPPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

In the light of the exceptional threat posed by climate change, and the need for robust, stable, and long term strategies to bring about a significant reduction in UK CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, we have reached agreement as follows:

We accept the scientific consensus that human activities are causing climate change to occur, and that the rate of change constitutes the most serious threat we face.

We believe that normal politics is simply not delivering the actions necessary to tackle this threat.

We therefore support the establishment of a Cross-Party approach towards finding ways to limit the emission of greenhouse gases and developing solutions to the challenge of climate change.

We accept that a cut in both global and UK emissions of at least 60% by 2050 is necessary.

We propose the establishment of a new, independent, authoritative body with a specific remit to:

Set binding annual targets, to secure reductions in UK greenhouse gas emissions and monitor progress towards them;
Advance measures to achieve year on year reductions in climate change gas emissions;
Publish a report annually on its findings which will trigger an annual debate on the floor of both Houses of Parliament on the report; and
Develop policy measures in the light of changes in scientific evidence.

We will work together to develop specific joint policy proposals, seeking agreement wherever possible, bearing in mind the right of the devolved administrations to make their own provisions.

We will establish a Climate Change Forum, comprising members of each Party, which will meet regularly to take this initiative forward.

Peter Ainsworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment Food & Rural Affairs

Norman Baker MP, Lib Dem Shadow Environment & Rural Affairs Secretary

Elfyn Llwyd MP, Environment Spokesperson Plaid Cymru

Mike Weir MP, SNP Spokesperson on Energy

Rev Dr William McCrae, Environment Spokesman, DUP