Tackling climate change
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Labour is committted to maintaining the campaign for global action on climate change. The Labour government has a strong track record on green investment, but is seeking to help Britain continue to reap the rewards of early action at home.
Following on from the Budget announcements of £60 million for offshore wind energy investment and a new £2 billion Green Investment Bank, more investment has been announced for renewable energy as well as moves to ensure that Britain has the skilled green workforce it needs – including 2,500 apprenticeships in wind energy by 2017.
After the progress made at the Copenhagen Summit, the government has renewed calls for a legally binding international climate change treaty. Labour are in favour of building on the strengths of the Kyoto Protocol, strengthening the UN decision making process to push through reforms, and pushing the EU to improve its plans to cut emissions.
In our manifesto, we are pledging to expand renewable energy so that 40 per cent of electricity comes from low-carbon sources by 2020 and create 400,000 new green jobs by 2015. We will also move towards a ‘zero waste’ Britain by banning recyclable and biodegradable materials from landfill. Britain already has more offshore wind-power than any other country in the world, and our plans could see this increase by up to 40 times.


Brixton’s brand new Windrush Square will open this weekend, with celebrations on Saturday and Sunday including live music and a lantern-lit procession by local children.
Our area leads the field in many ways on environmental awareness and eco-conscious living. As well as being designated an official Low Carbon Neighbourhood, the Transition Town Brixton Movement and the Brixton Green Project are helping to build the country’s first inner city model of a low-carbon future.
The Labour Government has launched the new Boiler Scrappage Scheme – a national initiative to help families save money on fuel bills and cut their carbon emissions.
Ed Miliband will be one of the UK’s principal representatives, along with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, at the Copenhagen Conference this month.
Ed Miliband came to our area on the eve of the crucial talks to hear the views of an area which is fast becoming the Green capital of London and Britain’s first inner-city experiment in low-carbon living. As well as being designated an official Low Carbon Neighbourhood, the
Sustainable Streatham (SuS) is holding its official launch this week and Chuka, a strong supporter of the group, is attending the event along with Keith Hill MP.
Chuka has signed up to the 10:10 carbon reduction campaign, committing to reduce his carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.
Chuka has signed up to Greenpeace’s airplot campaign to stop the third runway at Heathrow. 


