• Replacing our Nottingham Conference is an online GLD Green Festival entitled:
  "2020 Vision: Intensive Care for Our Planet - a sustainable recovery that works for everyone".
  It will be conducted online from 20th June until 5th July.
  Tim Farron MP is opening it at around noon on Saturday 20th.
  Please scroll down past the headlines for ticket discounts and more about these events.
  https://greenlibdems.org.uk/conference
  
• Please subscribe to our DAILY updates (not monthly)
  https://greenlibdems.org.uk/en/subscribe-by-email
• @GreenLibDems Our Twitter is blossoming under our new volunteer Joseph Dodd.
  Many thanks to Kevin Daws for his years of work building it up. Please follow us and give us your support.
  https://twitter.com/greenlibdems
• GLD Zoom Quizes: Thanks to Jason T Johnson for organising these, the next is at 8pm this Friday 5th June, themed 'Harry Potter'.
• GLD Photography competition https://greenlibdems.org.uk/photos
• 2019/20 Challenge magazines for sale £5 including postage (We have about 500 copies which weren't distributed at the cancelled York 2020 Spring conference). They are excellent unbirthday presents.
• https://greenlibdems.org.uk/challenge2019
• Retrofitting Britain's Housing Stock by Geoff Harvey
  http://grn.lib.dm/a21c6t
• COP26 has been delayed until autumn 2021, but work continues in the sub-committees
  http://blog.felixdodds.net/2020/05/press-release-new-dates-agreed-for.html
• a Zoom Q&A with Andrew Kelly, Lib Dem Greater Manchester Mayoral Candidate was also organised by Jason
• Stop Carbon Offsetting Greenwash by Stewart Reddaway
  http://grn.lib.dm/a71c6w
• Save Our Soil - The Neglected Earth Beneath Our Feet by Veronica-Mae Soar
  http://grn.lib.dm/a01c6b
• World Turtle Day by Diana Catton
  http://grn.lib.dm/a11c51
• Fluffy, Cute and Cuddly… Transforming How We See Bees by Mary Page
  http://grn.lib.dm/a61c45
• Pre-nomination hustings for LibDem Leadership contenders
  http://grn.lib.dm/a31c3S
• Our Air, Our Commitment! - toxic air quality across the Midlands by David McKenzie
  http://grn.lib.dm/a31c3B
• Fossil Fuel based industries, such as airlines, should bear the brunt of emerging from Covid-19 pandemic by Keith Melton and Steve Mason
  http://grn.lib.dm/a91c2d
• Lib Dems say Manchester Airport money must come with green conditions by Sam Al-Hamdani
  http://grn.lib.dm/a21bWj
• Principles of Liberal Democracy 2020 by Michael Meadowcroft
  http://grn.lib.dm/a11c11
• How can we lock in the environmental gains of the Covid-19 Lockdown? by Leon Duveen
  http://grn.lib.dm/a61c02
• Solving the pandemic crisis and climate change go hand in hand by Joe Dodd
  http://grn.lib.dm/a71c01
• Rebalancing Society... by Keith Melton
  http://grn.lib.dm/a21bZ0
• Planet of the Humans film by Michael Moore - Review by Jonathan N Fuller
  "Overall I would say the film is damaging"
  http://grn.lib.dm/a91bWh
• The Times they are a changin'… Part 3 by Keith Melton
  http://grn.lib.dm/a41bTT
• Would John Stuart Mill have been a Green Liberal Democrat? by Joseph Dodd
  http://grn.lib.dm/a71bTR
  GLD Exec and subgroups are at:
  http://grn.lib.dm/p4zL

The current virus has temporarily reduced carbon emissions, but climate change is still important.

Carbon offsetting is used to enable an organisation or person engaged in an activity that emits CO2 (or other Greenhouse Gas (GHG)), such as flying, to pay to support project(s) that reduce emissions so they can claim a neutral net effect on climate change. There is a wide range of such projects on offer commercially, an example being planting trees. The cost in £/ton of CO2 varies very widely, and the control and auditing of the validity of their claims is weak. Naturally, both organisations and people are tempted to opt for the cheapest, so there is pressure on projects to overclaim or be dishonest. An offsetting project must lead to additional GHG reductions over what would have happened anyway; for example, if it is profitable without subsidy (most wind or solar projects are now profitable) or is part of a country's Paris commitment, it is not valid. Double counting is of course dishonest.

Retrofitting Britain's Housing Stock

Britain's housing stock is the worst insulated in Europe and we won't meet our carbon reduction targets unless we do something about that. But we must face the reality that we can't bring our ageing housing stock up to an acceptable standard overnight; not only will it be very costly, but it will take years to accomplish. All the more need then, for policies which promote actively seeking out the opportunities with the highest carbon return on investment. We need to find ways to give the investment return an attractive immediacy and achieve a cultural shift to viewing poorly performing legacy housing stock not a as millstone, but as an exciting opportunity for renewal.

When I was growing up there was a catchphrase often bandied about (with a suitable rustic accent) - "The answer lies in the soil." There have always been some who understood the importance of soil; but it has now become an imperative, as we are told that if we continue as we are then we have around 60 years worth of harvests left to us.

We do not come across many wild turtles in the United Kingdom, but nevertheless it is important to think about them on their international day. They are the longest living species on the planet and nobody knows quite how long they can live - the oldest living land animal in the world is believed to be Jonathan the giant tortoise, who was apparently born in 1832. Before Jonathan achieved this distinction, another giant tortoise called Adwaita was believed to be about 260 years old at the time of his death.

I knew there were lots of bees in the UK, 250 species in fact. I also knew that they're a vital element for biodiversity and how there's been colony collapse disorder, parasites, and pesticides that have been threatening our bee population, yet despite all that, I'm sorry I've never been a big fan.

"First chance for aspiring leadership candidates to capture green hearts and minds of the Party", says Lib Dem Environmental Think Tank

Wednesday 20^th May

Leadership out of Pandemic to combat climate change...?

"From the Green Liberal Democrat perspective, the recently announced leadership election for the new Leader of the Liberal Democrats, could not have come at a better timeF", says Keith Melton, chair of the Green Liberal Democrats.

Just under 30,000 people are at serious risk of dying from toxic air quality across the Midlands over the next decade. We can no longer ignore the reality here, we must tackle pollution not only to save our environment but to save lives!

The British Heart Foundation has warned the increase in the likelihood of strokes and related heart disease could lead to untimely deaths across the region. With the worst affected area being Lincolnshire.

PRESS RELEASE ….

PRESS RELEASE ….

PRESS RELEASE ….

"Fossil Fuel based industries, such as airlines, should bear the brunt of emerging from Covid-19 pandemic", says Lib Dem Environmental Think Tank

"The Government must prioritise lower carbon footprint industries as we emerge from the Coronavirus Pandemic" urged former North West Lib Dem MEP, Jane Brophy, a leading light of the Green Liberal Democrats, the Party`s environmental `think tank".

Lib Dems say Manchester Airport money must come with green conditions

Following reports that Oldham Council is set to borrow in the region of £13 million to contribute to a Greater Manchester scheme to support Manchester Airport, Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani called on the scheme to be balanced by a requirement for the airport to introduce improved green targets.