Coalition Government Pledges to Tackle Green Issues

The new Conservative-Lib Dem coalition Government has outlined its intentions to tackle some long-standing green issues, including cutting central carbon emissions, investing in offshore wind energy, encouraging recycling, and opposing new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Environmental issues will be dealt with by new Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Huhne, a Lib Dem who has pledged his commitment to tackling climate change "further and faster than ever before". The Government has also been commended by groups such as 10:10, a climate change campaign which aims to cut UK emissions by ten per cent by the end of the year.

Key Takeaways:

• The coalition has promised to cut Government carbon emissions by 10% in the next 12 months, a pledge made as transparent as possible by publishing energy used by government departments in real-time.
• Central Government emissions are equivalent to the city of Liverpool's emissions and those created by the pollution of some 200,000 cars.
• Campaigners argue that while cutting central Government emissions is a start, it's not enough to tackle Britain's larger eco issues, and history will judge the Government on its policies to cut the UK's emissions dramatically and get a fair international climate deal.
• The Government plans to impose a tax on planes instead of passengers, using a per-flight duty instead of the current air passenger duty, which is expected to rake in around £2.5 billion a year.
• Larger operators like BA have balked at the estimated £150 million extra taxes every year, potentially creating job losses in the UK.
• The coalition has agreed to disagree on nuclear power, with the Lib Dems planning to abstain in any parliamentary votes on the issue.
• The Government has promised to bring in an emissions standard performance for new coal power stations, which could be a key policy for stopping new coal power stations from being built.
• The Green Investment Bank, which will boost lending to the renewable energy industry and create green jobs, will have a small initial fund of £1 billion, but campaigners argue it needs to be capitalized to £40 billion to make a big difference.
• The bank could use pollution permits to bump up the fund and take action on green issues, but its success depends on its capitalization and the policies that support it.

Statistics:

• The coalition has promised to cut Government carbon emissions by 10% in the next 12 months.
• Central Government emissions are equivalent to the city of Liverpool's emissions and those created by the pollution of some 200,000 cars.
• The current air passenger duty is expected to rake in around £2.5 billion a year.
• Larger operators like BA may face estimated £150 million extra taxes every year.
• The Green Investment Bank will have an initial fund of £1 billion.
• Campaigners argue that the bank needs to be capitalized to £40 billion to make a big difference.

Sources:

• 10:10 climate change campaign
• World Development Movement
• Friends of the Earth
• Greenpeace
• Climate Change Capital
• World Bank
• United Nations