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Green agenda still key - Cameron | Green agenda still key - Cameron |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Tory leader David Cameron has said he will not be diverted from his "green" agenda by the economic downturn. | |
In a speech at Westminster's Royal Horticultural Halls, he said Britain "can't afford not to go green". | |
He called for rules ensuring all new coal-fired power stations include measures to trap CO2 and to encourage the development of "greener" cars. | |
Environment Minister Phil Woolas said Mr Cameron provided "salesmanship, not leadership" on the environment. | |
In his speech, Mr Cameron said he would not ignore the financial pressures on people, but would not drop his environmental agenda. | |
National security | |
He said any "green taxes" introduced by the Conservatives would be put into a separate fund for tax relief for families | |
And he said there were easy ways to encourage people to be more energy efficient - such as energy bills which allow each household to compare their gas and electricity bill with others. | |
The era of cheap oil is well and truly over David Cameron | |
Fighting climate change was not a "costly diversion" and over-reliance on oil and gas was "bad for our national security," he said. | |
"The era of cheap oil is well and truly over," he added. | |
"So whether we need to cut our carbon or not- which we do, whether you believe in climate change or not - which you should, for the sake of our future prosperity and our current cost of living, we must wean ourselves off fossil fuels and go green." | |
Wind turbines | |
Mr Cameron said all new coal-fired power stations should have to include measures to trap CO2 emissions and said a Tory government would make researching tidal power in Britain a priority. | |
He also promised to improve energy efficiency in the home, to encourage "micro-renewables" like homeowners' wind turbines and solar panels by paying them a guaranteed price for energy they create. | |
The Tories' proposals should have been more ambitious given what today's technologies can deliver John SauvenGreenpeace | |
And he pledged to draw up a long-term national transport plan aimed at aiding the economy and the environment - arguing that the government's arguments for a third runway at Heathrow airport fell apart under scrutiny. | |
Green groups welcomed his commitment to emissions standards, which they believe would rule out developments like the controversial new power station planned for Kingsnorth in Kent. | |
'Ahead of Brown' | |
Keith Allott, WWF-UK's climate change spokesman said it would "avoid the risk of locking the UK into a high-carbon future" and could boost investment in carbon capture technology. | |
John Sauven, of Greenpeace, said: "The Tories' proposals should have been more ambitious given what today's technologies can deliver but, by ruling out the proposed old-style coal plant at Kingsnorth in Kent, today's announcement puts Cameron way ahead of Brown when it comes to cleaning up our energy system." | |
However Environment Minister Phil Woolas said Mr Cameron provided only "salesmanship, not leadership" on the environment. | |
"The Tory leader continues to talk about introducing new green taxes 'on pollution' but still refuses to give any detail as to what they will be." | |
He said the government was acting to make Britain "a world leader" on climate change. | |
Later Mr Cameron and members of the shadow cabinet met US President George Bush - who is on the last leg of his European tour - at the US ambassador's residence. | |
He described it as a "very productive meeting" which included discussion of concerns about the presidential election in Zimbabwe, free trade and Afghanistan. |
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