Lib Dems propose a carbon-neutral Britain by 2050

11.06.59am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Aug 2007

The Lib Dem Green Tax Switch has been praised by environmental groups.

Lib Dem Transport Spokesman, John Leech MP, has helped announce plans by the Lib Dems to slash carbon emissions by 2050 to tackle the growing threat posed by climate change.

The plans propose a series of measures to make Britain "carbon neutral" and have been widely praised by environmental organisations such as Friends of the Earth. The Liberal Democrats are now the only party with concrete proposals on how to prevent climate chaos.

The measures are built around taxing carbon emissions rather than incomes leading to a massive cut in the base rate of income tax. They include major improvements to Britain's rail system and a switch to greener forms of transport.

A government-commissioned review last year showed that reducing carbon emissions could cost as little as 1% of Britain's gross domestic product.

"This year, we've had a shocking foretaste of what could be to come for Britain, Europe and the rest of the world," said John Leech MP. "Massive floods in Britain, India and America, fatal wildfires in Greece and devastating droughts in southern Europe should prove to everyone that climate change is a real threat."

"So far, neither Labour nor the Tories have made any concrete proposals on how they're going to cut carbon emissions," he continued. "It's all very well talking about the threat of climate change but urgent action must be taken now".

The Liberal Democrats have also reaffirmed their commitment to a future free from nuclear power stations.

<<ENDS>>

Notes to editors:

To see the Liberal Democrat Police Paper, "Zero Carbon Britain", please go to http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/zero%20carbon.pdf

To see Friends of the Earth's reaction to the proposals, please go to http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/lib_dem_green_plans_welcom_28082007.html