Lib Dem government ‘would hit net-zero by 2045’

The Liberal Democrats have backed plans to ban all new coal mining and end the sale of new internal combustion engine cars from 2030.

At the party’s annual conference in Bournemouth yesterday, the Lib Dems passed a climate change motion that aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 “at the latest”, which is five years faster than the government’s 2050 target.

And it sets out interim targets of a 75 per cent reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2030 and 93 per cent by 2040.

The government’s existing 2030 target, which was set in 2015, is to cut emissions to 57 per cent of 1990 levels.

The motion says that setting a target date for net-zero emissions is essential but “early credible action” is “more critical”.

These actions include banning fracking and the opening of new coal mines and pits.

The deployment of renewable power should be accelerated so that it makes up 80 per cent of generation capacity by 2030, taking into account increased demand for electricity from transport and homes, the party says.

Solar panels would be required on all new homes as part of a push to ensure that more than half of all households and businesses are using renewable energy by 2030.

The motion calls for ending the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and small vans, including hybrids, by 2030 and that they should be banned from public roads by 2045.  The government currently has a target to end the sale of new internal combustion cars and vans by 2040.

The Lib Dems also back the deployment of technological solutions to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the establishment of a national Citizen’s Climate Assembly with a remit to advise the government on measures to tackle the issue.

The motion endorses the introduction of a zero-carbon standard for all new buildings by 2021 and a no emissions heat strategy. This would include a reform of the Renewable Heat Incentive and a decision on the appropriate mix of zero-carbon heating technologies within the next three years.

The Lib Dems would prioritise climate change within central government by creating a new cabinet-level post of chief secretary for sustainability in the Treasury and a new department for climate and natural resources.  And all top tier local authorities would have a statutory duty to set a zero-carbon strategy.

In his keynote speech to the conference immediately following the motion’s passage, Lib Dem shadow chancellor Sir Ed Davey said he would dedicate his first Budget to tackling the climate emergency and “decarbonising capitalism” if his party forms the next government.

Current opinion polls show that the Lib Dems have a strong chance of holding the balance of power in the next House of Commons if a general election were to be held this autumn.

Sir Ed, who was secretary of state for energy and climate change in the coalition government, said: “It’s a major reform, we must do this to respond to the climate emergency.

“The economic chaos of Brexit. And the political chaos of Boris Johnson. They will look like tea parties if we don’t stop climate chaos.”

Sir Ed said his Climate Emergency Budget would include investment in new technologies to help tackle climate change and fresh regulations to encourage companies and financial institutions to disclose their carbon investments and to show how they are moving to net zero emissions.