{"id":7034,"date":"2024-06-03T19:30:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T18:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/?p=7034"},"modified":"2024-06-03T19:48:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T18:48:46","slug":"uk-election-which-partys-green-policies-can-you-trust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/uk-election-which-partys-green-policies-can-you-trust\/","title":{"rendered":"UK election: which party&#8217;s green policies can you trust?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"7034\" class=\"elementor elementor-7034\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-10415517 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"10415517\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7caa3749\" data-id=\"7caa3749\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3721035a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3721035a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Urgent climate and nature action is needed from the next government. With an election date set, campaigner Connor Schwartz and policy expert Mike Childs assess how the parties\u2019 policies are shaping up.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-68dd4614 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"68dd4614\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-413b7bcf\" data-id=\"413b7bcf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74756381 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74756381\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin-top: 0cm; background: #F3F3F7;\"><span style=\"font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #6b6b6f;\">The starting pistol for the general election has been fired, and over the next 6 weeks we\u2019ll see promises galore from the different parties. Some of these promises carry more weight than others. For example, if they\u2019re made by the party leader or are in the manifesto, then there\u2019s a greater certainty that they\u2019ll be honoured (although this isn\u2019t a cast-iron guarantee, sadly). Other promises need to be taken with a pinch of salt.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"margin-top: 0cm; background: #F3F3F7;\"><span style=\"font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #6b6b6f;\">We\u2019ve carried out a rapid assessment of where the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green parties stand right now on climate, energy, nature and the environment, and where they\u2019re strongest and weakest. We\u2019ve scored them out of 10 on the 10 biggest green challenges for the next government, and we\u2019ll be using this to encourage the parties to strengthen the areas where policy is weak or lacking, and even to firm up areas where they\u2019re currently strong. \u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"margin-top: 0cm; background: #F3F3F7;\"><span style=\"font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #6b6b6f;\">According to the polls, the Labour Party will win the next election with a large majority. So, what it says matters. But right now, it\u2019s clear to see that the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats are leading the pack. Scoring only 51 out of 100, Labour has got much ground to make if it wants to be seen as a party that\u2019s serious on the climate and nature emergencies, as well as on rights and democracy. \u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"margin-top: 0cm; background: #F3F3F7;\"><span style=\"font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #6b6b6f;\">With a score of just 27 out of 100, the Conservative Party\u2019s policies, which are the most developed of all parties as it\u2019s in power and has laid-out plans, fall abysmally short of what\u2019s needed and, in some cases, take us backwards. This isn\u2019t a surprise. Over recent times, its plans have been heavily criticised by official watchdogs such as the Climate Change Committee and the Office of Environmental Protection. It\u2019s not too late though. Rishi Sunak\u2019s developing a habit of surprising announcements (think David Cameron as Foreign Secretary and a July election), so perhaps he\u2019ll publish a planet-friendly manifesto? We can but hope.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"margin-top: 0cm; background: #F3F3F7;\"><span style=\"font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #6b6b6f;\">When the manifestos are published, we\u2019ll provide in-depth policy analysis and scoring against\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftheearth.uk\/system-change\/friends-earths-demands-general-election\"><span style=\"font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #56a085;\">our 40 manifesto demands.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-423bf024 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"423bf024\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a1a5947\" data-id=\"7a1a5947\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e14b1a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7e14b1a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How the parties scored on green policies<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7e9899a4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7e9899a4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5fcb8845\" data-id=\"5fcb8845\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88fb92e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"88fb92e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin-top: 0cm; background: #F3F3F7;\"><span style=\"font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #6b6b6f;\">Below we look at 10 policy areas.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-10c6b1da elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"10c6b1da\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4835a290\" data-id=\"4835a290\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35c4978b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"35c4978b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Cut climate change emissions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-639d0272 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"639d0272\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7f31d9eb\" data-id=\"7f31d9eb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-364c59dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"364c59dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The government\u2019s Carbon Budget Delivery Plan contains the bulk of the policies the Conservatives are pursuing while in power and gives us the best idea of what another Conservative government could look like on climate, notwithstanding backsliding on some of the content, for example energy efficiency standards, over the last year. But following a court case by Friends of the Earth, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftheearth.uk\/climate\/whats-uks-climate-plan-and-why-do-we-need-new-one\">plan was recently declared unlawful<\/a>\u00a0and unfit for purpose by the High Court and must be revised within a year. Not good enough.\u00a0<strong>3\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0On the biggest climate question of all for a potential new government, we&#8217;re going to have to wait a little bit longer. We don\u2019t yet have a comprehensive plan that will guarantee the legally binding Climate Change Act targets and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftheearth.uk\/climate\/track-uk-breaking-its-2030-climate-promise\">our international commitment to cut emissions by 68% by 2030<\/a>\u00a0will be met. On the plus side, we do have a commitment to a net zero test on all government spending under a Labour government. But Labour&#8217;s insistence that &#8220;North Sea oil and gas will continue for decades to come&#8221; casts some doubt on whether it will be prepared to take the hard decisions to actively transition away from fossil fuels. Much work to do.\u00a0<strong>5\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0The Lib Dems have an ambitious overall goal to reach net zero emissions by 2045, but as yet we still need convincing they have a plan to deliver it. There\u2019s lots of space to fill this gap before polling day, and we look forward to seeing some more policy in the manifesto. In particular, we need to see an unambiguous commitment to meeting carbon budgets and the UK\u2019s 2030 international pledge. Work to do.\u00a0<strong>6\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The Green Party\u2019s policy to eliminate all emissions in 10 years is incredibly ambitious, and to be honest from our current starting point we have some scepticism over its feasibility. But the party\u2019s commitment to making the climate emergency an absolutely central priority for all of government is the sort of drive we need if we\u2019re to meet our domestic and international obligations. We shouldn\u2019t get complacent though, as there\u2019s still some more detail we\u2019d like to see in the manifesto, shining a bit more clarity on the specific targets and mechanisms that sit behind this giant objective. On the right track.\u00a0<strong>8\/10<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7de87c1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7de87c1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4fe146b7\" data-id=\"4fe146b7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fec350b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3fec350b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Fix the UK's heat-leaking homes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5fdf6d08 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5fdf6d08\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3c08bf27\" data-id=\"3c08bf27\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13282856 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13282856\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Despite some investment promised for building retrofit in the next parliament, \u00a32 billion per year is far from sufficient and, combined with a rejection of regulations to improve standards in the private-rented sector, will mean millions left in sub-standard homes by 2030. Not good enough.\u00a0<strong>2\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Positive noises abound from Labour on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftheearth.uk\/climate\/energy-crisis-and-solution-warm-homes\">warm homes,<\/a>\u00a0as it continues to use the same rhetoric that was once backed up by serious spending commitments as part of its \u00a328 billion green infrastructure pledge. However, Labour still needs to put more money where its mouth is. Currently there&#8217;s no credible reason to believe that anywhere near the touted impact will be able to be achieved under a potential Labour government, unless it spells out the spending and other policy mechanisms it will commit to (for example, minimum standards for the rented sector). Not good enough.\u00a0<strong>4\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0The Lib Dems have a broadly positive policy direction on warm homes, promising improved standards, a big insulation drive and a social energy tariff for the most vulnerable. But so far what we\u2019ve seen isn\u2019t close to ambitious enough and lacks the big funding pledge (and policy commitments) needed to back up a warm homes revolution. Something to improve on before the election.\u00a0<strong>6\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0At last year\u2019s conference, the Green\u2019s co-leaders put forward their \u201cFairer, Greener Homes Guarantee,\u201d promising huge investment of \u00a3145 billion over 10 years for grants to retrofit all homes that need it, and much stronger regulation and enforcement for the private-rented sector. We can\u2019t really fault it.\u00a0<strong>10\/10<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-10b05594 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"10b05594\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6095dcdb\" data-id=\"6095dcdb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-227e7161 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"227e7161\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Power Britain using clean, green, home-grown energy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-31ee6d04 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"31ee6d04\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f4aff76\" data-id=\"6f4aff76\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b2e1404 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3b2e1404\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The Conservatives have an admirable commitment to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2035, but without\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftheearth.uk\/climate\/release-our-wind-tremendous-renewable-energy-potential-england\">more onshore renewables<\/a>\u00a0this target will be missed. The ideological blocking of onshore wind in England, rhetoric against solar farms, plus recent lacklustre Contract for Difference auctions for offshore wind make the meeting of this goal hard, if not impossible.\u00a0<strong>6\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Labour&#8217;s clean power by 2030 policy platform is seriously aspirational. The only real green policy area that survived the chop in February&#8217;s U-turn on its green infrastructure pledge, this remains the core of the party&#8217;s climate platform for the election, alongside its plan to form GB Energy to invest in new capacity. The inclusion of some red herrings in the form of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftheearth.uk\/climate\/should-we-use-nuclear-energy\">new nuclear energy<\/a>\u00a0and an overemphasis on hydrogen aren&#8217;t particularly helpful, but overall a seriously solid bit of policy.\u00a0<strong>9\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0The Lib Dems have set a target for 80% of the UK\u2019s electricity to come from renewables by 2030. This represents a very good rate of deployment, but the last 20% is likely the hardest to decarbonise and currently there\u2019s no target for this. In their manifesto, we\u2019ll be looking for an explicit stop to new oil and gas licences, as well as more support for renewables.\u00a0<strong>7\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0This is an area of policy for the Greens where the broad direction, a decarbonised energy system, is spot-on, but where, as far as we can tell, the details on specific timelines, commitments and policy mechanisms are all lacking. We hope the manifesto will clarify.\u00a0<strong>6\/10 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29630fc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"29630fc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2ba7d270\" data-id=\"2ba7d270\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19dea6fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"19dea6fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Reduce carbon emissions from transport<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-76236ee0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"76236ee0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b2df374\" data-id=\"6b2df374\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ff85ae8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ff85ae8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The Conservative government\u2019s flagship policy on transport emissions was the 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.creds.ac.uk\/publications\/reverse-gear-the-reality-and-implications-of-national-transport-emission-reduction-policies\/\">Analysis by academics revealed\u202f<\/a>\u00a0that 72% of the potential ambition set out in the plan has since been lost in the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan. Since then, Rishi Sunak delayed the target date for the cessation of sales of new petrol and diesel cars, although targets on manufacturers to increase sales of electric vehicles remain. Abysmal.\u00a0<strong>2\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Labour has given us its plans for buses, which are key to reducing car miles and all the environmental and climate harms they cause, but what we haven&#8217;t seen is the financial resource that will be made available. Labour\u2019s policy for the railways is a good start but doesn\u2019t centre on climate imperatives, and it isn\u2019t developed enough yet to assess how well it would contribute to the 20% modal shift to sustainable transport that\u2019s needed. Would Keir Starmer&#8217;s Labour introduce a frequent flyer levy? And what&#8217;s on offer for the most environmentally friendly forms of transport of all: walking and cycling? We need more.\u00a0<strong>6\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.\u00a0<\/strong>One of the weaker areas of Lib Dem policy from what we can tell, and one with lots of room for improvement. Overall, it doesn\u2019t get to the heart of the problem and acknowledge the need to reduce car use. Without that, the party\u2019s policies on rail electrification and new bus routes are welcome but ultimately window dressing.\u00a0<strong>5\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The Green Party has a strong package of transport policies, centred around the important truth that we need to reduce the number of trips made by the most polluting forms of transport: cars and planes. Again, we need more specific commitments, eg on bus franchising and the level of funding for public transport, so let\u2019s see if the manifesto can deliver it.\u00a0<strong>7\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-573b59f8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"573b59f8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-61f2b9f1\" data-id=\"61f2b9f1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79c90c18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"79c90c18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5. Meet the UK\u2019s commitments for a global energy transition and a safe climate future<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-27268e9f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"27268e9f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28bb9b01\" data-id=\"28bb9b01\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-330f775 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"330f775\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Although it\u2019s good at repeating the UK\u2019s large (relative to other countries) international climate commitments, these are meaningless if they\u2019re not delivered. Assessments from the Climate Change Committee and Independent Commission for Aid Impact have cast doubt on the timelines and delivery of both emission reduction and international climate finance pledges.\u00a0<strong>3\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Whether in terms of climate finance, or even just formally committing to the UK\u2019s internationally agreed target of 68% emissions cuts by 2030, so far we&#8217;re broadly none the wiser as to how a Keir Starmer government would act on the global stage. We await some clarification in the party&#8217;s manifesto. Labour has refused to agree to return to the 0.7% aid spending that\u2019s essential for climate as well as development targets. In 2023 Labour also refused to commit to the current \u00a311.6 billion International Climate Finance figure. If this position has changed, we\u2019d love to hear about it.\u00a0<strong>3\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0So far, we haven\u2019t found a great deal of Lib Dem policy to assess in this area, and it\u2019s one we\u2019d definitely like to see developed and improved upon before 4 July. A commitment to reinstate the 0.7% aid target is positive, but more is needed across the board, including on international climate finance. Work to do.\u00a0<strong>5\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.\u00a0<\/strong>The Green Party has a whole raft of relevant policies on the UK\u2019s international role on climate change, importantly with a strong emphasis on funding for countries that have suffered catastrophic climate harms (aka Loss and Damage), as well as on increasing the UK\u2019s own carbon reduction commitments. You love to see it.\u00a0<strong>10\/10<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-78a4dc0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"78a4dc0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9703de5\" data-id=\"9703de5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fac5a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5fac5a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">6. Ensure a healthy environment for all<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-33f8fe4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"33f8fe4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1bf9b455\" data-id=\"1bf9b455\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73bfa181 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73bfa181\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Targets within the government\u2019s Environment Act were criticised as too weak by NGOs, but even these aren\u2019t on track according to the Office of Environmental Protection, including for air and river pollution. Not just silent on calls to strengthen people\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftheearth.uk\/nature\/how-can-we-make-our-environment-healthy\">right to a healthy environment through an Environmental Rights Act,<\/a>\u00a0the Conservative Party is playing with the possibility of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, which has been increasingly recognising aspects of a right to a healthy environment.\u00a0<strong>3\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Labour has a few policy highlights when it comes to the environment, like bigger fines for water companies that harm the environment and pollute our rivers. Labour\u2019s Clean Air Act should be celebrated too, but new targets aligned with World Health Organization standards will be needed, as well as bold policy for more clean air zones like London\u2019s ULEZ. Overall though, the interconnectedness of our environment requires more than a piecemeal approach. We need to see Labour commit to a whole framework of rights to a healthy environment.\u00a0<strong>6\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0The Lib Dems have a very strong package of policy on the environment, not only tackling many of the key areas including air quality and sewage discharge, but also bringing forward new legislation to guarantee everyone a right to a healthy environment. Top marks.\u00a0<strong>10\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Once again the broad principles and direction of policy are good, but we\u2019re hoping for some ambitious specifics in the coming weeks on air quality, our polluted waterways, funding for nature enforcement and more. While the Green Party has policy to bring in new rights for nature, we\u2019d like to see a clear commitment to a human right to a healthy environment too.\u00a0<strong>8\/10<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6214db7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6214db7f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-574023da\" data-id=\"574023da\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76bfc587 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"76bfc587\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">7. Look after nature at home and abroad<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-306549e2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"306549e2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-786c86db\" data-id=\"786c86db\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1679b5c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1679b5c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The Office for Environmental Protection produces an annual progress report and in January concluded that only 3 out of 10 indicators for thriving plants and wildlife have seen progress. The Conservative government has committed to introduce Forest Risk Commodities regulations to address overseas deforestation, but they\u2019re much weaker than needed as they exclude some key commodities and only address illegal deforestation, whereas much is legal deforestation but equally harmful to nature and communities. The rhetoric is strong, the delivery is poor.\u00a0<strong>3\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Nature is another area where Labour is pretty short on solid policy so far. Not only do we have little positive to point at, but there are also some worrying signs, with strong rhetoric on removing barriers to infrastructure developments. More infrastructure is needed, for example renewables, grid lines and housing, but not at the expense of nature. Some glimmers of hope exist in Labour\u2019s National Policy Forum document, which in theory feeds into the party manifesto, including commitments to assess and prevent environmental and human rights abuses in supply chains and ensure effective due diligence rules. If this can be carried through to the manifesto with a clear commitment, then that will be a strong position on global nature protection.\u00a0<strong>4\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0The Lib Dems have a strong showing on nature, with pledges to guarantee high environmental standards in future trade deals, set binding targets to stop the decline in nature, and double the size of the Protected Area Network by 2050. Good stuff.\u00a0<strong>8\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0With some big policies that are both ambitious and specific (embedding nature regeneration in the planning system, stronger legal protections for nature, and a goal of making all land abundant in wildlife), this is a very solid policy area for the Greens.\u00a0<strong>10\/10<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2a4e7ffa elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2a4e7ffa\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4650b418\" data-id=\"4650b418\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a306580 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6a306580\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">8. Defend democracy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4288daaf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4288daaf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2c177ff5\" data-id=\"2c177ff5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-765853ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"765853ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Although the Conservative government currently seems to have dropped its plans to repeal the Human Rights Act, it\u2019s overseen a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftheearth.uk\/system-change\/saving-our-right-save-planet\">plethora of restrictions on liberties,<\/a>\u00a0for example the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act and the Public Order Act, including the Serious Disruption Regulation. It\u2019s also brought in the damaging requirement for voter ID. The evidence so far suggests these sorts of policies will form the basis of the party\u2019s election platform and agenda if re-elected.\u00a0<strong>0\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Very little solid Labour policy for us to assess so far. Labour spokespeople have made various commitments to repeal a number of damaging pieces of legislation, eg the \u201cStrikes Act,\u201d the 2016 Trade Union Act and the Public Order Act, but without being formal policy or a promise made by the leader, we have to treat these with caution. We need to see clear manifesto pledges on these before polling day, alongside pledges to scrap voter ID.\u00a0<strong>3\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0The Lib Dems are committed to defending the Human Rights Act and repealing the pernicious restrictions on the freedom to protest, brought forwards in this parliament. This is good news for civil society, very good news.\u00a0<strong>8\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The party\u2019s policy on resisting the curtailment of democracy and civil society power hits all the right notes: opposing voter ID, supporting the Human Rights Act and continued access to the European Court of Human Rights. Great to see.\u00a0<strong>8\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-59b2d778 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"59b2d778\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2076a343\" data-id=\"2076a343\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29579633 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"29579633\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">9. Enhance democracy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-46153340 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"46153340\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-13537af7\" data-id=\"13537af7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-658f233b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"658f233b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The Conservative government has committed to further devolution in England, but complex devolution deals with no clear duty or responsibility to deliver on climate change and no extra funding don\u2019t make up for more than a decade of cuts. Promised reform of local government funding hasn\u2019t happened, and there\u2019s been very little action to support local government to deliver on climate, with some policy changes and rhetoric from government hindering ambitious councils.\u00a0<strong>4\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.\u00a0<\/strong>Labour has promised a \u201cfull-fat approach to devolution,\u201d which is certainly what will be needed to ensure the climate transition is sensitive to regional opportunities and differences. We\u2019d like some more detail on the specifics of the \u201cTake Back Control Act\u201d in the manifesto. In particular, there needs to be more join-up between Labour\u2019s promises on devolution and local growth and environmental objectives, but from what we can tell so far this is likely to be a strong area of policy for Labour.\u00a0<strong>7\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0A strong emphasis on access to the vote and devolution leads the Lib Dems democracy policy platform. Assuming this carries over into the manifesto and there\u2019s funding to back up devolved powers, then this is a solid policy area for the Lib Dems too.\u00a0<strong>7\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Solid policy in this area with a focus on improving access to democracy for young people, and a strong devolutionary agenda. We look forward to seeing commitments in the party\u2019s manifesto to reflect this.\u00a0<strong>8\/10<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2fe74d2f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2fe74d2f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4efb497d\" data-id=\"4efb497d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48d81661 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48d81661\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">10. Improve planning policy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-69f7185a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"69f7185a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-552f65bd\" data-id=\"552f65bd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-306fd5f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"306fd5f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Conservative Party.<\/strong>\u00a0The Conservative government\u2019s Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (2023) signalled the beginning of the end for important Environmental Impact Assessments, which inhibit environmentally damaging developments. On top of this, the Conservative government has maintained the imbalance between onshore wind developments in England and oil and gas developments, with the latter much less restricted in the National Planning Policy Framework.\u00a0<strong>1\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Labour Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Labour is certainly clear on one thing: if elected it will reform the planning system. Less clear so far, however, is to reform it how, and to what end. The UK\u2019s planning system is certainly in need of change, for example to swiftly build the low-carbon infrastructure needed, but not at the cost of nature. Labour needs to spell out its reform agenda, including how it will help carbon reduction and nature restoration targets. It has however promised to fund more planners in local government, the shortage of whom is a major reason for planning delays.\u00a0<strong>4\/10<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Liberal Democrats.<\/strong>\u00a0The Lib Dems are clear in their commitment to the Habitats Regulations, which have protected our most important wildlife sites and species for the last 30 years, pledging to double the area of land they protect. At this point, there\u2019s not much we can find to go on beyond this, besides some general good noises about making planning for new developments more integrated to better achieve holistic climate and environment goals. We\u2019ll keep a watching eye on this area, and hopefully we\u2019ll see more positive commitments soon.\u00a0<strong>6\/10 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Green Party.<\/strong>\u00a0Green Party policy pledges to put climate and environment at the centre of planning decision making is what\u2019s needed to ensure a built environment that\u2019s fit for a sustainable future. Further detail is needed on what this commitment means in practice.\u00a0<strong>7\/10\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Urgent climate and nature action is needed from the next government. With an election date set, campaigner Connor Schwartz and policy expert Mike Childs assess how the parties\u2019 policies are shaping up. The starting pistol for the general election has been fired, and over the next 6 weeks we\u2019ll see promises galore from the different [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":7008,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7034"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7051,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7034\/revisions\/7051"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}