Why Labour?
Labour is making Britain greener, cleaner and less polluting. Key measures such as the Renewables Obligation and Climate Change Levy have delivered reductions in our greenhouse gas emissions, while our rivers and beaches are cleaner, our water is cleaner and our air is purer than in 1997. We have led the way internationally on climate change: we were the first to put climate change at the heart of the G8, the first to call a UN Security Council meeting on climate change, and the first to introduce a Climate Change Bill and in doing so set a long term framework for emissions reduction.
But there is more to do: our ambition is to reduce our CO2 emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020, while we triple our production of renewable energy; improve our housing stock so it is among the most energy efficient in Europe and energy prices are lower for consumers, particularly the most vulnerable; protect a quarter of a million more homes from flooding over the next three years; continue to improve air quality and the purity of our beaches, rivers and drinking water; ensure our farming sector thrives; and protect our countryside from animal disease.
Key achievements:
- Our CO2 emissions fell by 10.8 million tonnes last year and our greenhouse gas emissions were 66 million tonnes lower than in 1997.
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Over the past 6 years, Labour action has meant that 5 million households have been helped with insulation.
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Recycling has quadrupled since 1997.
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We’ve invested millions in new and improved flood defences, better protecting hundreds of thousands of homes.
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The countryside is open for all to enjoy, and we are opening up a coastal path so that each of us has, for the first time in our history, the right to walk around our coastline.
Winning the fight for Britain's future:
- We have set a target of making all new homes zero-carbon by 2015.
- Our new £100 billion blueprint for renewable energy will deliver a step change in low carbon energy supply.
- Over the next 3 years, our policies will mean that a further 5 million households will be helped with insulation, that 100 million low energy light bulbs will be given out; and other energy saving products will be provided to 4 million homes.
- By 2011 we will have phased out old high-energy light bulbs in favour of energy efficient ones, and are working with industry to phase out single-use carrier bags.
- Our waste strategy for England will deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to at least 9.3 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2020.