"The biggest threat to mankind - climate change" (Exeter Liberal Democrats)

Exeter Liberal Democrats <info@exeterlibdems.org.uk>

"The biggest threat to mankind - climate change"

October 19, 2008 6:25 PM

Speaking at the Green Liberal Democrats Conference Lib Dem PPC for Exeter Graham Oakes described the threat of climate change as "the biggest threat facing mankind in its history and if not addressed will kill more people than any previous plague or conflict"

The conference held in Stockport covered a range of issues and their effect both on humans and the planet.

Graham Oakes said "The government has done the right thing in raising the target in reducing carbon emissions and must avoid the siren voices of the Tories who are calling for measures to be delayed until after the present financial, we do not have the luxury of delaying these measures."

He also supported the Lib Dem commitment to upgrade and electrify the Exeter- Waterloo line. "It can't be right that a train from Manchester can reach London in half the time a train takes from Exeter. If we want people to get onto trains they must have enough seats for everyone to sit down, be reliable and affordable. If the train companies can not provide this then we must consider re-nationalisation."

Commenting on the links between residents parking charges and individual vehicle emission levels as used in some London boroughs he added "I'm concerned that this will particularly effect poorer people who are more likely to have older, more polluting cars. We should consider the approach adopted by France in the 1980s when they paid people approximately £500 when they scrapped their cars. This solved the problem of old, dangerous cars on the French roads. A similar scheme in the UK would help people to get a newer and therefore, hopefully, less polluting car. It isn't Lib Dem policy but the planet needs politicians to think of a range of measures if disaster is to be avoided.

During a debate on the effect on birds of climate change and how tidal barrages can destroy habitat Graham Oakes said " I was a long time supporter of the Severn Barrage as we need to generate clean renewable energy, however the effect of the barrage can be mitigated by instead building a series of tidal lakes, which would generate the electricity but have considerably less effect on the wildlife in the Severn Estuary, I have switched to supporting the tidal lakes and the Government should fund research into this alternative approach."