We go to the polls on Thursday 12 December 2019 to elect new MPs for Cumbria and a new government for our country. Will it be a government that will take the transformational actions needed to cut the UK’s carbon emissions in time to halt damaging climate change? That’s up to us as voters.
Climate science demands that every country reaches zero carbon by 2030. The next government is crucial – by the time another general election comes around, it will be too late to put in place the range of actions the science demands. This is our chance to choose MPs who will prioritise tackling climate change and the ecological crisis – the two greatest threats that mankind is facing.
Here’s our guide to working out what each party will do to address the climate and ecological emergencies, and what their targets for a zero carbon Britain are.
1. Ask your candidates
Visit www.whocanivotefor.co.uk and put in your postcode to find out which MP candidates are standing in your constituency, with links to contact details. Email or phone your candidates and ask them what their party will do to address climate change. Let them know that these issues are forefront in voters’ minds.
Questions to put your MP candidates
Earlier this year, we asked young people what questions they wanted to put to Cumbria’s MPs and other senior politicians. With their futures on the line, young people came back with a fantastic range of challenging questions. Have a look below for inspiration!
2. Read the parties’ manifestos
Parties are launching their manifestos now, setting out their policies on a wide range of issues, which should all include climate change and wider environmental challenges. Here’s where to find the environment and climate change sections in the manifestos of the main national parties fielding candidates in Cumbria, along with their targets for zero carbon emissions in the UK:
| Party | Link to environment policies in manifesto | Net zero emissions target for the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative Party | https://vote.conservatives.com/our-plan | 2050
“Reaching Net Zero by 2050 with investment in clean energy solutions and green infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions and pollution.” |
| Green Party | https://campaigns.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto | 2030 |
| Labour Party | https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/a-green-industrial-revolution/ | 2030
“Our Green New Deal aims to achieve the substantial majority of our emissions reductions by 2030” |
| Liberal Democrats | https://www.libdems.org.uk/plan
Click on ‘Our Plan for a Green Society and a Green Economy’ |
2045
“We will set a new legally binding target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2045 at the latest, and implement a comprehensive climate action plan, cutting emissions across all sectors.” (See ‘Climate Action Now’ section under ‘Our Plan for a Green Society and a Green Economy’) |