Labour has a record of action on climate change. We have displayed leadership at home and abroad. Our international efforts have helped to deliver the Kyoto protocol and moves towards long term agreement on a post 2012 international deal.
At home, we are well on our way to exceeding Britain’s obligations under Kyoto, and with our groundbreaking Climate Change Bill will set the world’s first legally binding long term framework for transition to a low carbon economy.
We will work with communities and households to make Britain’s homes, streets and neighbourhoods cleaner and greener.
Locally, Labour councils are working in partnership with the Labour Government to meet the priorities of hard-working families to create greener spaces. The waste strategy for England will deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, through waste reduction, reuse, recycling and sending less biodegradable waste to landfill.
In England the household recycling rate has increased from 7 per cent to 32 per cent since 1997. Labour is working in partnership with local authorities to improve local transport. Funding has doubled since 1997, and bus subsidy has increased from £1 billion to £2.5 billion.
We are giving local authorities that need them more powers over bus services in their areas to ensure that public needs and expectations are met. And we are helping the elderly and disabled make more of public transport- as of April we are giving over 60s and disabled people the right to free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.
We are also helping families and individuals to live greener lifestyles. Our commitment to making all new homes zero-carbon by 2016 will put environmental concerns at the heart of the planning system and the way we build new homes.
Meanwhile, we will build up to ten eco-towns which will showcase sustainable development, while providing clean and green, sustainable communities for people to live in. And while we are setting ambitious targets for new housing development to help first time buyers, we are also maintaining robust protection of Britain’s green spaces.
Today, over three quarters of all new housing is built on previously developed, brownfield land.
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE THE UK NEEDS TO BECOME A LOW CARBON ECONOMY, SO:
• In 2008 we will put our emissions targets into law, and will create a Green Homes Service to help individuals save energy, water and money by going green.
• In 2010 we will introduce a scheme for businesses and the public sector to save 4.2 million tones of CO2 a year.
• By 2011 we will have phased out the sale of high-energy light-bulbs, 5 million more homes will have benefited from discounted or free insulation and another 3 million homes from discounted energy efficient appliances.