Our "Vision for Britain: Clean, Green and Carbon Free" report can be downloaded from libdems.org.uk/climatereport
September 2017 launch fringe details are at: Sustainability Hub with Green Liberal Democrats - Low carbon economy reception
Help us create the Liberal Democrat plan to achieve a Zero Carbon Britain by 2050
What is Zero Carbon?
Zero Carbon is used as shorthand to indicate systems that do not increase the concentration of carbon dioxide (or other greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere, and thus do not contribute to climate change. See Steve Bolter's explanation here.
- See: Carbon Tax and Dividend Video from September 2020 LibDem Conference
- See Carbon Tax Video from June 2020 GLD 2020 Vision conference
- See: A Progressive Carbon Tax Motion passed 18 February 2021 at Young Liberals Conference
- See: A draft progressive carbon tax motion
- See Doughnut Economics from GLD June 2020 Vision conference
- See our 2017 Liberal Democrat Vision for Britain zero carbon document.
- See A Carbon Tax + Dividend reduces both CO2 and Poverty
- circular economy in Yorkshire: https://www.businessinspiredgrowth.com/circular-yorkshire/
- Bill Gates says "We need to lower the Green Premiums" https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/Lowering-Green-Premiums
Five Green Laws
One of the Five Green Laws policies in the 2015 LibDem manifesto (page 91) was on achieving a Zero Carbon Britain ( http://www.libdems.org.uk/policy_papers ) - This included promises on energy production decarbonisation, building and business energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy and heat incentives and a Green Investment Bank, to boost further investment in low carbon technologies. The Conservatives have rolled back on all these reforms.
Background Information:
- Zerocarbon means that after considering energy usage and production processes, there is a net zero CO2 impact on the environment for a home, business or facility/area boundary taking into account sources and sinks. More complex analysis can consider all supply chain and waste aspects with the United Nations IPCC Global Reports taking account of all of these natural and human factors. More at https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data.shtml
- A useful independent analysis of different sustainable energy approaches (with assumptions) and their practicality is available from Prof David MacKay at https://www.withouthotair.com/
- A good example of a comprehensive UK energy plan that would achieve a Zero Carbon Britain by 2030 is available from the Centre for Alternative Technology using technology available today. http://zerocarbonbritain.com/en/component/k2/item/85?Itemid=289
- Economics: The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change in 2006 showed how sensible an investment it was to progress towards a zero carbon future, More recent work has shown his results were conservative with the costs of renewables being cheaper than he predicted and the climate change effects being worse than the predictions used. The costs of the actions to avoid severe climate change is 1-2% of GDP although these are going up the longer we leave it. Report at http://www.webcitation.org/5nCeyEYJr
- Britain way off Kyoto carbon targets
- Reducing carbon emissions needs leadership from central government
- Carbon budget is good for Scotland and good for the UK - Crockart
- Tom Brake hails carbon reduction budget
- MP PROPOSES NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PAYMENT TO BOOST FARMERS AND PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT
- EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO BECOME GREENER THANKS TO LIB DEM'S
- Lib Dem Ministers signs up to ambitious green energy targets
- New report highlights essential role of renewable energy generation in achieving zero carbon homes
- Farron calls on Government to invest in the Uplands to fight climate change
- Martin backs nuclear windfall tax
- Birmingham placed among top greenhouse gas offenders
- Zero Carbon Britain is the flagship research project from the Centre for Alternative Technology, showing that a modern, zero-emissions society is possible using technology available today.
Zero Carbon Hub Carbon Compliance Target-
A good analysis of different sustainable energy approaches and their practicality is available from Prof David MacKay at https://www.withouthotair.com/
- Conservatives scrap the LibDem coalition zero carbon home target
- We are mortgaging the future by scrapping zero-carbon home rules
- Zero carbon emissions target to be enshrined in UK law
- Help create the Liberal Democrat plan to achieve a Zero Carbon Britain by 2050
- please use search box at the top right for more information (try typing in 'Carbon')
- Twitter: #CarbonFreeBy2050