Parties tackle environment issues

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Political adversaries, the Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats, have continued their campaigns by setting out plans to tackle climate change.

The Lib Dems said homes could be provided with free wind turbines and solar panels under a scheme announced by leader Nicol Stephen.

The pledges were at the heart of the party's £155m blueprint for a renewable energy revolution.

The Greens said binding targets for cutting emissions were vital.

The Lib Dems have set a target of making 40,000 houses a year into energy friendly homes, with the help of grant support and tax rebates.

Speaking from the Glasgow Science Centre, leader Nicol Stephen said his party's proposals would see tax rebates of £300 and grants provided to households investing in micro-renewables and energy efficiency.

Report card

"I want to encourage every adult and every child in Scotland to take action on the environment," he said.

"Investing in energy friendly homes will transform Scotland's current reputation for poor energy efficiency and too many cold, damp houses."

He added: "By helping people install their own wind turbines, solar panels, and energy efficiency measures we will cut fuel bills and pollution."

Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens published their verdict on the other parties' climate change policies by unveiling a report card putting themselves out in front on environmental issues.

They claimed voters faced a clear choice - either more Greens were elected or Scotland would suffer "more drift, more dithering and more failure" on climate change.

Nicol Stephen said his party would cut fuel bills and pollution

Green co-leader Shiona Baird said: "For all the other parties warm words on the environment, their green paint is flaking off in the heat of the election campaign.

"On climate change they all say they get it, but their policies tell another story."

Her comments came as the Greens, who want a £100m climate challenge fund, came top in a scorecard of party manifestos by campaign group Friends of the Earth Scotland.

The Scots Tories came bottom in the rating against 10 environmental policies the organisation wanted to see, ranging from climate change to waste reduction.

However, the party has pledged to invest £12m a year in an "Eco Bonus Scheme" to provide grants for households, communities and small businesses to install modern energy saving and creating devices, such as wind turbines.

They also want an "urgent" review of building standards to incorporate energy-saving design.