It's political party conference time and it is heartening to note that this weekend the Lib Dems have front loaded their conference agenda with issues relating to the environment - sessions on a zero carbon economy, environment taxes, sustainable aviation, and national food policy are all scheduled. However, the main motion that has our attention in on Monday when the conference debates and votes on policies for growth which involve a raft of green initiatives.
Over the past couple weeks Greenpeace has been targeting key constituencies and their MPs to give them a timely reminder that one of their electoral policies was to push for a 'green and sustainable economy'. There is a real worry that George Osborne is running away with the initiative to slash subsidies for renewable energy and a dash for a deeper dependency on fossil fuels, in particular gas.
Some Greenpeace members were in Chippenham recently to strategicaly place 'reminders' for Lib Dem MP, Duncan Hames, Their communication activity worked judging by the tweets issued by Mr Hames. One said "Returning to Chippenham, greeted by Greenpeace campaign. To be clear: it's not my team flyposting across town." Our Twitter account also received a message from him too. “Duncan Hames (@duncanhames)17/09/2012 16:10 @GreenpeaceBris You certainly made an impact. Consider me reminded. Some of my constituents thought my team put the posters up ourselves!”
A small select team from Bristol East were in the High Street in Chippenham last weekend. Their aim was to get constituents to write a message to Mr Hames encouraging him to stick to the Lib Dems electoral promise for a greener economy. Not an easy task!
It seems the campaign website, 38 Degrees, has similar concerns that George Osborne is trying to trample over big plans for getting carbon emissions under control. The website is calling for the Lib Dems to support a vote backing tougher climate rules that could stop Osborn in his tracks. Sign their petition here.
On the first morning of the Lib Dem Conference, The Guardian leads with an interview with Lib Dem treasury chief secretary, Danny Alexander, who attacks Osborne for endangering green investments.
The test for the Liberal Democrats now will be to pursue their conference decisions to ensure that future growth is sustainable and gets to grip with the dilemma of climate change. It will need conviction and no U-turns.
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