Environmental performance of the main UK political parties

Nine UK environmental groups are to publish regular assessments of the UK's main political parties’ environmental performance against what they call 'The Green Standard'. The first assessment of the parties’ performance against the tests will be published in September this year (2007), ahead of the annual party conferences. The final assessment will be published prior to the next General Election.

The groups who between them claim more than five million supporters, maintain that the three main parties are still showing little appetite for effective action, even though climate change has risen up the political agenda.

UK action on climate change
Achieve reductions in UK carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of at least 3% year on year, en route to a low-carbon economy based on energy efficiency, renewable sources of energy and decentralised energy.

International action on climate change
Provide international leadership to restrict global temperature rises to 2°C and ensure worldwide emissions are falling by 2015.

Green living
Make it cheaper and easier for individuals to reduce their environmental impact through tax, regulation, information and other powers of government.

Natural environment
Protect and enhance the beauty, accessibility and wildlife of the environment in our countryside, towns and seas through incentives, regulation, investment and other powers of government.

Planning
Value, support and develop our planning system as a democratic tool for protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment of our countryside and towns.

Environmental tax and subsidies
Green the tax system by increasing the amount of revenue from taxes that reduce environmental damage, and eliminate environmentally perverse subsidies.

Groups supporting this initiative

 * CPRE
 * Friends of the Earth
 * Greenpeace
 * Green Alliance
 * National Trust
 * RSPB
 * The Wildlife Trusts
 * The Woodland Trust
 * WWF

Reference

 * Woodland Trust press release, February 27 2007