18 Sep 2009 03:09:22

Green Alliance challenges political parties

Politicians are being urged by a group of environmental organisations to prioritise green issues.

The Green Alliance made the demand in the form of a ten-point list, with the run up to a general election in mind.

Parties are being advised to commit to the points lined out in the document entitled Common Cause: the Green Standard manifesto on climate change and the natural environment.

These include reducing CO2 emissions by 80 percent by 2050, increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing deforestation.

Stephen Hale, director of Green Alliance, said: "It's now or never. Support for the Common Cause declaration will be the threshold for credibility at the next election on environmental issues.

"Action in the next parliament is critical if we are to simultaneously reduce our CO2 emissions whilst improving the resilience of our natural environment to avoid the looming crises of food, energy and water shortages by 2030."

The Green Alliance also advocated bringing in a new nationwide housing retrofit programme by 2011 to boost energy efficiency in homes.

http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea_p.aspx?id=4412

Sector

Domestic / Home

Community / Public sector

Energy efficiency

Resources

Water

Water conservation

Food

Environment

Climate change

Other

Carbon

Other