Greens challenge Brown to back up words with action

22nd November 2007

Sheffield Green Party says Gordon Brown?s more stringent carbon targets come after a decade of rising emissions under Labour. They say that fine words will be worthless without action.

A Green Party spokesperson on Transport Rob Murphy said, "The Government is finally taking on board what the Green Party and green pressure groups have been saying for years. What we need now is joined-up policy-making at national and local levels."

"The Government is spending 50 times more money on widening the M1 than it is on more renewable energy and better insulation in the home. The the billions spent on nuclear power could be invested in developing wind, wave and solar power for the nation. And they still seem determined to push through a third runway at Heathrow airport.

"In Sheffield, we need policies that use our local engineering and scientific expertise to build a low carbon economy which will create employment. The Council's recent economic strategy predicted a FALL in manufacturing jobs.

"Sheffield City Council should follow the Prime Minister?'s lead and examine every policy for its impact on carbon emissions, especially when considering planning, housing and transport policies.

The Prime Minister is excited about ?new vehicle technologies that are "just over the horizon? - we can?t wait that long. We need bold political leadership locally and nationally to stop the growth in car traffic which is choking our cities and motorways.

"To make real headway on curbing our emissions, we need action, not just fine speeches."?

ENDS

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