Today was the first Climate Change day ever in a UK General Election.
Following hot on the heels of last week’s Guardian-hosted green hustings and the first mention of climate change in the leaders’ debates, climate change was again vying to be at the forefront of the campaign with a general election hustings organised by Ask the Climate question.
Ask the Climate Question is a coalition of environmental and development agencies, including CAFOD. We are working together to raise the issue of climate change in 51 key marginal seats across the UK.
The hustings coincided with the launch of the Liberal Democrat and Labour green manifesto on Sunday and the Conservative one yesterday.
After the disappointment of Copenhagen, where rich nations failed to reach a fair and legally binding global climate deal, we wanted to hear from the front bench spokespeople of the three main UK political parties, as well as a representative from the Green Party, what they would do, if elected, to tackle the biggest challenge of our age.
We were looking for some hope, and some commitments to action, for the millions of people worldwide already suffering the effects of climate change.
Could it be that the question of climate change is really being taken seriously during an election period? That’s what we in the audience were waiting to find out…
As I arrived at Great George Street, Westminster, there was a feeling of anticipation in the air as people milled about and filed in to take their seats.
Six CAFOD supporters joined Katy, Maria Elena and myself from our campaigns team (some of us pictured above) – as part of an audience of over 200 leading policy makers and analysts, activists and journalists.
After a couple of technical hitches, questions got underway and an hour and a half of lively, rich debate followed. It covered everything from how we can ensure there are sufficient additional resources available to help poor communities adapt to climate change – to renewable energies and a low carbon economy. And, of course, the crucial question of whether we can be confident that the parties are really committed to delivering on their manifesto promises.
All representatives began with a commitment: that their parties would legislate for 0.7 per cent of national income to be spent on aid by 2013. In fact, the Greens would like to increase this to one per cent and suggested they would impose a Robin Hood Tax to pay for it.
There was broad agreement that funding for poorer countries to adapt to climate change should be additional to existing aid budgets, though there was argument over where that funding should come from. In addition, the Liberal Democrats would like to see a UN organisation deliver that funding, since they believe the developing world does not have confidence in the IMF or the World Bank.
For the Conservatives, Clark announced that, if elected, they will announce plans in the first Queen’s speech to move towards a low carbon economy. While Labour’s Ed Miliband attacked the Conservatives for not being willing to impose renewable energy targets on local councils.
Throughout the debate Ed Miliband stressed Labour’s credibility and their track record on the environment, though Greg Clark attacked the government for failing to translate intentions into action on climate change in 13 years of power.
The Liberal Democrats’ Simon Hughes raised a smile from the audience when he pointed out that of course Labour were able to achieve something at Copenhagen……they were the party in government at the time!
Darren Johnson noted that at this election the Greens have a real chance of making inroads into Westminster by winning one or two seats for the first time ever.
Both the Liberal Democrats and Labour suggested that a growing number of young Conservative candidates are climate sceptic. This prompted Clark to defend his party by highlighting David Cameron’s consistency on green issues.
The debate ended with a two minute pitch for the ‘green vote’ from Darren Johnson and short recorded messages from Clegg, in front of a Lib Dem poster, Cameron in a bustling party headquarters and Brown with what I suspect was a wedding photo in the background! You can watch for yourself here.
As we left, the climate question still on our minds was whether in ten days time whoever ends up forming the next government will actually deliver on these promises. It’s time to make a difference to those lives who are affected by climate change now but have done the least to cause it.
Posted by Rachael Varney, CAFOD’s Parliamentary and Government Relations Co-ordinator
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