What the Conservative manifesto says on runways (nothing), climate etc (not a lot)
The Conservative Party manifesto was launched on 14th April 2015. On runways or airports, its only mention is to say: “We will deliver on our National Infrastructure Plan and respond to the Airports Commission’s final report.” ie. there will be no “swift” decision as per Labour. Does that mean they will revisit the Estuary airport idea, or Stansted? There is little on climate, other than to say (carefully chosen, non-committal wording) that: “We will push for a strong global climate deal later this year – one that keeps the goal of limiting global warming to two-degrees firmly in reach. At home, we will continue to support the UK Climate Change Act.” They say: ” Our tax cuts have encouraged record levels of investment in existing North Sea gas, and the birth of a new industry, shale gas, which could create many thousands of jobs.” They say they will build new infrastructure in an environmentally-sensitive way: “We will build new roads and railways in a way that limits, as far as possible, their impact on the environment.” [But there is no mention of building a new runway in an environmentally sensitive way!] And they “will protect the Green Belt, and maintain national protections for AONBs, National Parks, SSSIs and other environmental designations.”
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Conservative Party Manifesto 2015
Some extracts from the Manifesto on environmental issues:
We will spend more on infrastructure, to improve your quality of life . Overall public investment will be higher on average over this decade, as a percentage of GDP, than under the whole period of the last Labour Government. We will deliver on our National Infrastructure Plan and respond to the Airports Commission’s final report.
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On clean, affordable energy it says:
Our commitment to you:
…..”meet our climate change commitments, cutting carbon emissions as cheaply as possible, to save you money”
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We will push for a strong global climate deal later this year – one that keeps the goal of limiting global warming to two-degrees firmly in reach. At home, we will continue to support the UK Climate Change Act.
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We will work to prevent climate change and assist the poorest in adapting to it.
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Our long-term plan has unlocked £59 billion of investment in electricity. All parts of the UK will soon be helping to deliver secure, affordable and low-carbon energy, from the Hinkley Point nuclear power station, to offshore wind turbine manufacturing at the new Green Port in Hull, the next generation of pipelines West of Shetland and the Swansea tidal lagoon. Our tax cuts have encouraged record levels of investment in existing North Sea gas, and the birth of a new industry, shale gas, which could create many thousands of jobs.
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We will protect hunting, shooting and fishing, for all the benefits to individuals, the environment and the rural economy that these activities bring.
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Protecting and enhancing our natural environment. Our commitment to you:
We set ourselves the goal of being the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than that in which we found it. This is a big ambition to which we remain committed. We will:
– put in place a new ‘Blue Belt’ to protect precious marine habitats
– invest in cleaner air and water for you and your family
– keep our forests in trust for the nation
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We will build new infrastructure in an environmentally-sensitive way
We will build new roads and railways in a way that limits, as far as possible, their impact on the environment. This includes investing £300 million in cutting light pollution from new roads, doing more tunnelling, building better noise barriers and helping to restore lost habitat. [No mention of building a new runway in an environmentally sensitive way!]
We will protect the Green Belt, and maintain national protections for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and other environmental designations.
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John Stewart tweeted:
Tory Manifesto: “We will respond to the Airport Commission’s final report” No “swift” decision as per Labour. Hint may revisit Estuary idea?
More detail from Business Green here http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2403945/tory-manifesto-vows-to-halt-the-spread-of-onshore-windfarms
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What the Labour Manifesto says on runways, climate etc (not a lot …)
Only thing the Labour Party Manifesto says on the airport / runway issue is: “Following the Davies Review, we will make a swift decision on expanding airport capacity in London and the South East, balancing the need for growth and the environmental impact.” On climate it says: “Our country faces global challenges of climate change, terrorism and the spread of disease. In particular, tackling climate change is an economic necessity and the most important thing we must do for our children, our grandchildren and future generations.” And “We will put climate change at the heart of our foreign policy.” And: “We want an ambitious agreement on climate change at the UNFCCC conference in Paris, in December. We will make the case for ambitious emissions targets for all countries, strengthened every five years on the basis of a scientific assessment of the progress towards the below two degree goal.” There are a few more mentions of climate in relation to development, and some vague words giving support to onshore / offshore unconventional oil and gas, etc. …
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