Ed Davey has claimed that driving his party’s Green Agenda is “essential” for the future of the UK, while taking swipes at his Coalition partner’s green record in parliament.
Speaking at the launch of the Lib Dems’ Environment Manifesto, Davey described “daily battles” with the Conservatives over a number of key green issues despite Cameron’s pre-election promise to lead “the greenest government ever”.
In contrast, Davey claims that the Lib Dems have delivered during their time in Parliament. He claims that the party was responsible for securing £37 billion of investment for renewables, establishing the Green Investment Bank, leading Europe to a EU-wide climate change target; and planting 1 million trees.
“Protecting the environment, tackling climate change and delivering on the green agenda isn't a nice to have, it's essential and it's in the Lib Dems' DNA,” explained the energy and climate change secretary.
He continued: “In government we have a proud record of delivery…We've delivered in the face of almost daily battles with the Tories on everything from onshore wind to keeping climate change in the geography curriculum. By putting our plan for five new Green Laws on the front of our manifesto we've shown our intent to go further and faster if we're in the next government.
“Having Lib Dems in government will insure our environment against the risk of sharp lurches to the left or right that would result in our green delivery coming to a grinding halt.”
The Lib Dems published its Environment Manifesto on Sunday, outlining the party’s programme of delivery for the next five years and beyond. The manifesto builds on the party’s Five Green Laws which it highlighted in its General Election Manifesto. The party claims that its Green Laws would stimulate green growth, improve transport, create more energy efficient homes, boost air quality, reduce household waste and create a zero-carbon Britain within a generation.
Writing in the party’s Environment Manifesto, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: “Our generation will have failed in its duty to the next if we pass on a world scarred by rising temperatures and extreme weather.
“But tackling climate change and improving our environment is not just our moral duty. It makes hard-headed economic sense, too. The UK is now a world leader in the green economy – with huge potential for further growth.”