This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6997957.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
UK 'needs carbon neutral target' Call to ban petrol cars by 2040
(about 2 hours later)
The Liberal Democrats are calling for Britain to become entirely carbon neutral by 2050 in an "ambitious" attempt to reclaim the green agenda. The Lib Dems have backed a radical series of proposals to tackle climate change - including a ban on petrol powered cars by 2040.
The move follows recent high-profile Tory and Labour announcements. Environment spokesman Chris Huhne said tackling global warming would need an "enormous economic change".
The Lib Dem conference in Brighton is expected to back a motion calling for an "urgent" response to the "serious threat" of climate change. He set out plans to make Britain carbon nuetral by 2050 at the party's annual conference in Brighton.
But delegates are likely to reject a separate proposal to end the party's opposition to nuclear power. The Lib Dems are trying to regain the initiative after high profile Tory and Labour green announcements.
'Overwhelming'
The Lib Dem conference will vote on a range of environmental policies, including new incentives and targets for energy to come from renewable sources.
The party also wants taxes on highly polluting cars, a climate change charge for domestic flights and a toll on road freight, with cash raised used to fund rail improvements.
Look you need a thick skin in this business...and the one thing the public does see through is if you try to be something you are not Sir Menzies Campbell At-a-glance: Day one Send us your commentsLook you need a thick skin in this business...and the one thing the public does see through is if you try to be something you are not Sir Menzies Campbell At-a-glance: Day one Send us your comments
Environment spokesman Chris Huhne presented a motion calling for 30% of the UK's electricity to be produced from "clean, non-carbon-emitting sources" by 2020 - rising to 100% by 2050. Mr Huhne warned that climate change means "far more wild weather" following the devastating floods over the summer.
He said climate change was "the greatest threat facing our children and our grandchildren", adding that it was necessary to "come up with coherent proposals" to tackle it. Setting out his "green vision", Mr Huhne warned there was little time left to change the way people live.
Mr Huhne proposed a high-speed rail link between London and the North and special "green mortgages" to encourage people to buy environmentally friendly homes. Some of the other key proposals in the Liberal Democrat's Zero Carbon Britain plan are:
  • Introduce green mortgages to encourage more environmentally friendly homes.
  • Charging lorries to use the UK's roads in order to double rail investment, possibly creating a high speed line running north to south.
  • Boosting spending on flood defences to respond to climate change.
  • Encouraging microgeneration by paying a higher rate to producers who export energy to the National Grid.
  • Creating a climate change levy of £10 on domestic flights.
    • The conference voted to reject a call by MEP Chris Davies to end the party's opposition to nuclear power.
    Before his conference speech, Mr Huhne told reporters: "With these plans we can restructure the economy towards a basis that is based on renewable energy not on fossil fuels.
    "It's an enormous economic change but it's an economic change in line with changes which we've seen in the past, for example between the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century moving from steam power to the petrol engine, moving from gas light to electric light."
    Mr Huhne's proposals received the overwhelming backing of the party conference.
    Nuclear motion
    Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said his party was the only one to stand up and say what has to be done to address climate change.Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said his party was the only one to stand up and say what has to be done to address climate change.
    "We should be working towards a carbon-neutral Britain by 2050. We should be working towards the elimination of petrol-driven motor cars," he told BBC1's Breakfast programme."We should be working towards a carbon-neutral Britain by 2050. We should be working towards the elimination of petrol-driven motor cars," he told BBC1's Breakfast programme.
    "We should be really radical in what we do - the urgency of the problem is really enormous.""We should be really radical in what we do - the urgency of the problem is really enormous."
    The conference motion says the scientific evidence for climate change is "overwhelming" and that "if decisive action is not taken in the next decade, any prospect of a stable climate may be lost".The conference motion says the scientific evidence for climate change is "overwhelming" and that "if decisive action is not taken in the next decade, any prospect of a stable climate may be lost".
    But the Lib Dem leadership is maintaining the party's opposition to nuclear power.
    Unfair
    This is being challenged by Chris Davies, the party's climate change spokesman in the European Parliament.This is being challenged by Chris Davies, the party's climate change spokesman in the European Parliament.
    Unfair
    He said: "I have always been opposed to nuclear power. It is expensive, creates a legacy of radioactive waste and has absorbed public resources that should have been used to develop alternative technologies.He said: "I have always been opposed to nuclear power. It is expensive, creates a legacy of radioactive waste and has absorbed public resources that should have been used to develop alternative technologies.
    "But the imperative now is to fight global warming. We cannot ignore the fact that our existing nuclear power stations do not release carbon dioxide."But the imperative now is to fight global warming. We cannot ignore the fact that our existing nuclear power stations do not release carbon dioxide.
    "Carbon emissions will rise as they come to the end of their lives.""Carbon emissions will rise as they come to the end of their lives."
    Meanwhile, Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable attacked the government over the Northern Rock crisis.Meanwhile, Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable attacked the government over the Northern Rock crisis.
    He unveiled research suggesting voters believe the wealth gap in the UK is unfair.He unveiled research suggesting voters believe the wealth gap in the UK is unfair.
    'Genuine disgust'
    "It's clear that the Lib Dems' emphasis on fairer taxes - but not higher tax levels - with tax cuts for those on lower and middle incomes, strikes a chord with the voters," he said.
    "There is a genuine disgust at some of the tax dodging by the super rich, including the abuse of non-domicile status, and a large majority share our wish to see a crackdown."
    The Lib Dems are stressing they are on full general election alert, with campaigns manager Ed Davey warning on Sunday that a poll could be announced "in nine days' time" at Labour's annual conference in Bournemouth.
    Mr Davey shrugged off his party's opinion poll ratings, which have dipped below 20% in recent weeks, saying they would improve once a poll was called because of increased media exposure.
    'Out of touch'
    He said the Lib Dems were determined to smash the "cosy" two party consensus, stressing the party's "distinctive" policies on the environment, nuclear power and Iraq.
    He also hit back at Lord Rogers, the Lib Dems' former leader in the Lords, who said people had been "disappointed" by the performance of Sir Menzies Campbell.
    Mr Davey said: "I think on this particular issue, he is totally out of touch."
    He said people who had worked closely with Sir Menzies since he took over as leader had been "impressed" by his performance, he added.
    Sir Menzies insisted he had "a spring" in his step.
    "Look you need a thick skin in this business...and the one thing the public does see through is if you try to be something you are not," he told the BBC.