For People, For Planet

Submitted by: Federal Policy Committee
Mover: Pippa Heylings MP (Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero).
Summation: Duncan Brack (Chair of the Policy Working Group).

Conference recognises that:

1. The world is facing climate and nature emergencies which are not under control.
2. Soaring temperatures leading to floods, droughts, wildfires and rising sea levels are already affecting millions of people directly, and billions more through falling food production and rising prices. In the UK, flooding, heatwaves, wildfires and droughts are all becoming more frequent and more severe.
3. Despite reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 54% since 1990, the UK is not on track to meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050, and both Conservative and Labour Governments have failed adequately to prepare the UK for the impacts of climate change.
4. Opinion polls consistently show that a clear majority of people across the UK are worried about climate change and want the Government to do more to tackle it.

Conference reaffirms the Liberal Democrat belief that each generation is responsible for the fate of our planet and, by safeguarding the balance of nature and the environment, for the long-term continuity of life in all its forms.

Conference believes that:

1. Urgent action is needed – in the UK and globally – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero and avert catastrophe.
2. Bold climate action can also deliver jobs and prosperity across the UK, improve energy security and help to cut energy bills.
3. It is vitally important that climate action has the full support of the public, that they are fully engaged in its development, and that their concerns are fully addressed.
4. Effective action must be embedded across every level of Government, with climate, nature and resilience treated as core priorities for decision-making, spending and legislation.
5. Local authorities are best placed to lead on community-based solutions, from retrofitting homes to building public transport infrastructure and supporting sustainable land use.

Conference therefore endorses policy paper 160 For People, For Planet, with its approach based on three key themes:

1. Putting people first: the transition must be equitable, fair and affordable, working with people rather than imposing solutions on them, and ensuring that no communities or workers are unfairly affected or left behind.
2. Tackling climate, nature and resilience together rather than treating them as unconnected issues.
3. Leading on the world stage to mobilise international cooperation, especially with the EU, to tackle these global challenges.

In particular, Conference welcomes its proposals to:

1. Cut energy bills and protect people from future energy shocks by:
   1. Strengthening energy security through investing in cheap, clean renewables.
   2. Lowering the price of electricity, improving grants and offering stamp duty rebates, to encourage decarbonisation of heat and transport.
   3. Introducing a social tariff and free home energy improvements for low-income households.
2. Ensure that no communities are left behind by:
   1. Establishing an independent Just Transition Commission to develop just transition plans and provide funding support for vulnerable communities.
   2. Providing particular just transition support to North Sea oil and gas workers to support the sector’s transition to clean energy.
3. Make sure people’s voices are heard, and support local action, by:
   1. Establishing an independent National Climate Assembly and models of local engagement.
   2. Decentralising powers and resources to local councils to enable local action, including a statutory duty to develop Climate, Nature and Resilience strategies, both for their own council’s activities and procurement and for the area they cover.
4. Prioritise climate, nature and resilience in Government by:
   1. Supplementing the current net zero framework and 2050 target by limiting consumption emissions in key sectors.
   2. Creating a clear voice and leadership on climate by appointing a Cabinet-level Chief Secretary for Sustainability in the Treasury and drawing up a Climate, Nature and Resilience Roadmap.
   3. Reforming the planning system to align with climate, nature and resilience goals.
5. Lead global action on climate change by:
   1. Working closely with the UK’s European neighbours through a new UK–EU Climate Security Pact, including linking the UK and EU emissions trading schemes and carbon border adjustment mechanisms.
   2. Organising international coalitions of the willing, working with like-minded countries on both global goals and focussed, targeted activities.
   3. Using trade policy to prioritise low-carbon goods and increase development assistance for climate action.
6. Deliver prosperity by:
   1. Placing decarbonisation at the heart of the UK’s industrial strategy.
   2. Using the National Wealth Fund to crowd in private investment and support green projects at local level.
   3. Reforming procurement rules to prioritise low-carbon goods and services, and strengthen corporate responsibility for climate and nature outcomes.
   4. Implementing a zero-carbon skills strategy, including Lifelong Training Grants and new green apprenticeships.
7. Protect communities from climate impacts by:
   1. Developing a coherent and comprehensive adaptation strategy with clear targets and monitoring, including for flooding, drought, heat and resilient infrastructure.
   2. Increasing funding for local communities, developing resilience standards for key sectors, and supporting homeowners to install adaptation measures.
8. Decarbonise energy use by:
   1. Investing in renewables to achieve 95% decarbonisation of power by 2030.
   2. Supporting the roll-out of small modular nuclear reactors if they can provide a cost-effective and safe part of a decarbonised generation mix.
   3. Expanding grid capacity and supporting local communities affected by major new energy infrastructure.
   4. Supporting community energy in delivering net zero, building local support for climate action and sharing economic benefits.
   5. Supporting major home insulation upgrades, the widespread deployment of heat pumps and similar technologies, and zero-carbon standards for new builds.
   6. Accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, including expanding charging infrastructure and reforming planning rules.
   7. Promoting walking, cycling, public transport, and electrification of buses.
   8. Supporting innovation, research and development in zero-carbon flight; but unless progress is more rapid than projected, reduce emissions by reforming air passenger duty for international flights to target the most frequent flyers and limiting airport expansion.
   9. Expanding incentives for electrification and carbon capture in industry and supporting energy and resource efficiency.
9. Ensure the agriculture, land use and forestry sector becomes a collective net carbon sink by 2050 by:
   1. Properly funding the Environmental Land Management Schemes, with an extra £1 billion a year to support profitable, sustainable and nature-friendly farming resilient to the impacts of climate change.
   2. Supporting research and innovation, in particular on alternative proteins, with a new Farming and Land Use Catapult innovation centre and a new Food and Farming Research and Innovation Fund.
   3. Taking steps to reduce food waste, and requiring public sector food and catering to meet high sustainability standards.
10. Support carbon dioxide removal measures, giving top priority to nature-based solutions for carbon removal, including expanding woodland and restoring peatlands.

Applicability: Federal except 3. b) (lines 67–71), 4. c) (lines 79–80), 6. d) (lines 99–100), 8. d–h) (lines 116–131), 9. (lines 134–146), and 10. (lines 147–149).

Mover and summation combined: 16 minutes; mover and summation of amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 6-7 of the agenda. You can submit a speaker's card online here from Monday 15 September up to 14.15 Sunday 21 September or in person.

In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 6 and 7 of the agenda for further information.

The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 8 September; you can submit amendments online here, see pages 9–10 of the agenda for more information. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Sunday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Saturday 20 September; you can request separate votes here, see page 5 of the agenda for more information.