Which political party is the greenest?
Ahead of tomorrow's Climate Change Bill, the main parties are battling to convince voters of their environmental credentials
GREENHOUSE GASES
Labour: Target of 60 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050 to be put into law by Climate Change Bill published tomorrow. Bill will also set up five-year "milestones" for reductions.
The Conservatives: Target of "at least" 60 per cent reduction by 2050, to be met by annual adjustments to a six-year rolling programme. Intermediate targets to be set by a body clearly independent of government.
The Liberal Democrats: Currently, they agree with the Government's target for a 60 per cent reduction by 2050 but likely to adopt more ambitious target soon. In favour of compulsory annual targets for emissions cuts.
GREEN TAXES
Labour: Main initiative was the doubling of air passenger duty last year, but this was not seen as a real behaviour-changer. Gordon Brown may reveal more in speech tonight. Considering the idea of "pay as you drive" road user pricing.
The Conservatives: Bold plans just announced to tax people according to the number of miles they fly. In favour of road user pricing in local schemes, but not as a national scheme. Still working on policy.
The Liberal Democrats: Proposed major "green tax switch" - £8n to be raised from new taxes on emissions from cars and aircraft, which would be revenue-neutral. In favour of road user pricing as a "second generation" environmental policy.
NUCLEAR POWER
Labour is in favour of building a new generation of nuclear power stations despite widespread opposition on the back benches.
The Conservatives are sitting on the fence at the moment; nuclear weapons are not yet explicitly ruled in or out. Officially, "possible as a last resort".
The Liberal Democrats are explicitly opposed to the building of new nuclear power stations. Would not build new generation of nuclear power stations under any circumstances, they say.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Labour: The party's target is to produce 10 per cent of Britain's electricity from renewable resources such as wind, wave and tidal power by 2010, and 20 per cent by 2020.
The Conservatives: Agree with EU target (20 per cent by 2020). Detail to be given after policy review. Tory local authorities likely to be most obstructive to wind power projects.
The Liberal Dmocrats:The party supports the Government's target, but disagrees about which renewable sources should be prioritised. Lib Dems want the renewables obligation to shift support from wind power to under-used wave and tidal.
RECYCLING
Labour: Has set a minimum target obliging local authorities to recycle 20 per cent of domestic waste by 2008. Later targets are currently under review.
The Conservatives: The party is still working out its policy on the recycling of waste as part of its broader policy review.
The Liberal Dmocrats: agree with the Government's target. But they would allow local authorities more powers to charge customers according to the amount of waste they generate.
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