- Conference
- 2007 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 19 February 2007
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes with concern:
1)the growing consensus that global warming is already happening and that the potential consequences of climate change could end up being catastrophic;
2)that so far our political leaders have failed to address the need to significantly cut carbon emissions.
Conference believes:
a)that introducing ‘green’ taxes will not by themselves achieve the necessary cuts in carbon emissions required to offset global warming. Such ‘green’ taxes could hit the poorest hardest and simply have the effect of ‘poll taxing’ ‘greener’ behaviour;
b)that whilst international solutions are required to tackle a global problem our government should take a lead in tackling the causes of climate change;
c)direct government intervention is required to have a significant impact upon carbon emissions. Relying upon ‘market mechanisms’ will not tackle the problem;
d)Massive direct investment in public transport is vital in order to provide alternatives to the motor car;
e)as an employer of over 5 million public sector workers, Government has a direct responsibility to take a lead in reducing carbon emissions form workplaces;
f)that local authorities, as landlords to council tenants, should take the lead in installing ‘green’ technologies within council homes in order to reduce energy usage, and thereby also helping to reduce fuel poverty.
Conference resolves to:
i)call upon the Government to undertake a massive investment in public transport provision;
ii)call upon the Government and local authorities to undertake a massive programme of investing ‘green’ technologies to be installed in every council home;
iii)call upon the Government to pass legislation that will force all public bodies and private employers to undertake carbon audits within workplaces each year and to provide incentives for significant carbon reductions;
iv)to write to all councillors (with the exception of fascist BNP councillors) to undertake programmes to reduce carbon emissions within local authorities;
v)to publicise this motion.