Labour and Liberal Democrat energy representatives Ed Miliband and Simon Hughes joined forces to put Tory climate change sceptics in the spotlight this week.
The ‘green hustings’ event organised by the Guardian featured a debate on climate change and energy between the 3 biggest political parties. The debate can be heard online via the Guardian website.
Opening Speeches
Ed Miliband kicked off by claiming credit for the UK becoming the world leader in offshore wind energy. He said the Labour party is however under no illusion as to the scale of the climate change challenge ahead.
Greg Clark opened by saying the leader of the Conservatives David Cameron had bought the issue of climate change to the forefront of politics and is continuing to do so. He said combating climate change requires more than just target setting.
Simon Hughes said that the Lib Dems have long understood the impacts of climate change and spoke of the inter-twined nature of both protecting our economy and our environment. He said the debate is broader than solely climate change and that the environment and climate change touch every part of our lives from the economy to defence.
Who would do the best job?
Labour’s Ed Miliband wants the UK to become a green industrial powerhouse and pointed to the announcements by 4 out of the 5 main offshore wind manufacturers that they are setting up shop in Britain. Labour also proposes to cut energy prices for the vulnerable and obligate private landlords to improve energy efficiency.
Greg Clark believes tough decisions need to be taken and if the Conservatives are elected to government there is an opportunity to leave behind the talk and to translate ambitions into real change over the next 5 years.
Huges said we are currently having to tackle an economic, environmental and political crisis and that we cannot solve one aspect of this crisis without solving the other.
The Lib Dems believe Labour and Conservative parties will continue to frustrate change by making short term decisions to please friends and associates. Hughes said people should have the courage of their conviction and vote for coherent economic and environmental policies for the next generation.
Climate Change Deniers
Both Ed Miliband and Simon Hughes believe that the Conservative party is unlikely to secure the backbench support required to meet renewable energy commitments. They repeatedly pointed to the climate change deniers within the party.
Nuclear Power
The Lib Dems do not believe nuclear power stations can be delivered in time before the energy crisis hits and that the nuclear programme undermines the building out of renewable energy. Ed Miliband however criticised Simon Hughes for his anti-nuclear stance. He argued that renewables would be increased sixfold if Labour were to be elected but that we need nuclear to fill the energy gap.
Onshore Wind Farms
Miliband argued with Greg Clark over whether wind farms should be consented locally or by central government. Miliband pointed to the raft of onshore wind farm applications refused by Conservative councils. Clark defended this by saying most onshore wind farm proposals were in Conservative controlled rural areas and that climate sceptics within the party are a ‘minority’.
