EXTRACT FROM SPEECH MADE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE MADE AT THE ADOPTION MEETING
6 APRIl 2005

While I could discuss other issues such as crime and yobbish behaviour or the crippling car industry in Coventry, the main focus of my speech this evening will be on the environment in particular the impact of climate change.

If you were to ask the ordinary man in the street what is the biggest threat to our future you might get an assortments of answers including threat of terrorism, crime, drugs, and moral decline. What few people would say is climate change. Consider this: a ten year old child would have seen six of the UK's hottest years on record. Our summers are now getting hotter and our winters wetter. Some will see this at best as a mild irritation and at worst the beginning of the end of the world. I believe that our reaction should lie somewhere in between. It would be foolhardy to ignore it.

The environment is important because our planet is changing with warming winds and rising seas. Coastal towns are at threat with rising sea level, glaciers are receding and animals and creatures which would have otherwise helped preserve the environment are becoming extinct. Some scientists predict that a warmer climate will trigger more violent storms, which will cause increased rates of costal erosion. Here's another sobering thought - 35,000 people died in the European heat waves in 2003.

The reasons for the rise in global temperatures is generally thought to be the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) from human use of fossil fuels. The Kyoto agreement was therefore an important initiative that the world would reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, the USA, one of the major polluter of CO2 has not signed up to the Kyoto agreement. Furthermore, environmental concerns do not loom large in our day to day behaviour.

So, what are we to do? What difference can the people of Coventry make to the environment? Right now each one of us can play a role in dealing with and slowing climate change. Our biggest obstacles are apathy - people thinking that nothing can be done about climate change or feel they can't make a difference. One of the reasons why I am a Liberal Democrat is that we realise that the environment is central to the vision of a vibrant, thriving Britain.

Let's look at the Liberal Democrat's policy on green action for cleaner transport and environment. Transport accounts for about a quarter of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the UK. CO2 is a major source of greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. Millions suffer health problems associated with traffic fumes and the countryside is threatened by road schemes. Our green action policy will start by reforming the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) system to reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. The new system of VED based taxing more for cars that emit more CO2 than those that pollute less, will send a clear signal to vehicle manufacturers and purchasers about the environmental impact of the cars they make and use and encourage the use of more fuel efficient cars.

We will offer free off-peak local bus travel for all pensioners and disabled people which mean better use of expensive transport system, less congestion and pollution for everyone. It was the Liberal Democrats who first suggested the congestion charge and despite oppositions, it is a workable solution for congestion in central London.

The environment touches on almost every aspect of our lives - it is essential to the cleanliness and safety of our local neighbourhoods and to our health and health of our children. We would therefore tackle waste and as a first step ensure that within 7 years, 60% of all household waste is recycled, and we aim to offer every household regular kerbside recycling collections.

I fully support our policy of promoting walking & cycling, especially for children walking to school. We will have Safe Routes to School with calmed traffic, safe pavements, good lighting and grown ups on hand to conduct 'walking buses'. This initiative has already been successfully implemented at Stivichall Primary School in Coventry.

Having a Green school buildings & education policy will allow children and students to learn about caring for the environment by seeing green projects in real action.

Our children and our children's children are in danger of suffering from our inaction of preserving the environment. There is a real problem of landfill and shortage of fresh water that we should not ignore. If we adopt what appear to be small lifestyle changes, we can help protect our planet for future generations. Simple changes such as having a shower instead of a bath, using efficient energy appliances, planting more trees, buying products made from recycled materials. We can make a difference - in fact I will go as far as to say we must make a difference!"