The Liberal Democrats are committed to Green policies. I want to make it very clear that my commitment to the green agenda is as strong as it ever was, and it will stay that way – whether fashionable or not, and no matter what the other parties do. I was as pleasantly surprised as you were, back in 2010, to hear a Conservative Leader declare he wanted this to be the greenest government ever. And every day my colleagues and I are working hard to hold our coalition partners to their word. Britain is on track to meet our target of getting 15% of our energy from renewables by 2020. Vince Cable’s Green Investment Bank – another world first – is up and running. Its first few projects alone will support a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking over 1 million cars off our roads. 80% of the 85,000 homes which have had a Green Deal assessment have told us that they have or intend to install an energy saving measure as a result. We’ve introduced the Local Sustainable Transport Fund – a pot of money for councils to invest specifically in low carbon transport schemes. Over £1 billion is now being invested to make it easier for people to get about on foot and by bike, buses, trains and trams. We’re on track to plant a million more trees by the end of the parliament – the majority in the most deprived and least green areas. After a comprehensive review, we plan to launch a new National Pollinator strategy next spring to protect the country’s bees and many other pollinating insects. We’ve promoted animal welfare, including ending the practice of keeping laying hens in tiny battery cages and, for the first time, implementing welfare standards for game-birds. We are also strongly committed to working with our international partners to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, and in a few months we’ll be hosting a major international conference in London to agree the action that is needed. Nick Clegg talking to Green Alliance 7/11/13
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 16:03:45 +0000
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