Labour and Tories failing on climate change

By Alex Perkins, Canterbury Liberal Democrat Leader

 

Climate chaos is the greatest threat facing our society. Nine of the hottest ten years on record have been since 1990. Just in Britain, we have suffered two floods in 2002 that were meant to occur only every 30 years. We have had the wettest six months since records began in the eighteenth century, and the hottest summer temperatures in 2003. Storm surges, flood damage and droughts are rising.

UK carbon emissions are rising because Labour has cut green taxes - on fuel and flights - since 2000. Tory words have yet to be matched by a single proposal that would change behaviour. Only the Liberal Democrats are honest about what is needed.

Liberal Democrats believe we should switch to green taxes to change behaviour, not to raise cash for the state. Green tax revenue should go back in income tax cuts, so the more we change, the more we save. Higher vehicle excise duty must be charged on new gas-guzzlers, so that we buy low fossil-fuel-use cars. Emissions from aircraft flights should be taxed, instead of taxing passengers, so that airlines fly full and save fuel. We must stop the real fall in fuel duty and the climate change levy.

Please play your part in the campaign for our planet. Visit www.greentaxswitch.com to find out what you can do to help.