Friends of the Earth (United Kingdom and Northern Ireland). The Printworks. 139 Clapham Rd. London. SW9 OHP. Thursday 1s
Friends of the Earth (United Kingdom and Northern Ireland) The Printworks 139 Clapham Rd London SW9 OHP Thursday 1st June 2017 Dear Friends of the Earth (UKNI), Re. Election Manifesto Comparison Thank you so much for your helpful and clear manifesto comparison. We are writing to follow-up and clarify on a number of points you have raised, and make clear our position on these vital issues. On the issue of pesticides, the Green Party has a strong record of campaigning on this, and we are clear that we need an out-right ban on all neonicotinoids in the United Kingdom. Green MPs will fight strongly to protect the precautionary principle, and continue to call for a full ban on these dangerous and damaging chemicals. On the issue of environmental refugees, we are very clear that a new legally binding multilateral instrument specifically addressing climate migration is necessary, and Green MPs would work hard to ensure that this change in made - both in UK domestic legislation and at the international level. We were pleased to work with Friends of the Earth in tabling a Parliamentary Question on this issue in October 2016 - and make a firm commitment to financially support neighbouring countries who bear the greatest cost of supporting environmental refugees in recognition of the UK’s past contribution to the factors that have forced people to flee their homes. On the Lobbying Act, we believe that a healthy democracy is one that allows charities to play an active part in political debate, and create an open and transparent lobbying process in Westminster, Holyrood, Stormont and Cardiff. The Green Party would repeal the Lobbying Act and introduce a comprehensive and open register of lobbyists. On the issue of election expenses in Northern Ireland, we have been following this issue closely since the revelations around the referendum campaign were made early this year, and, working with Friends of the Earth, we tabled several Written Questions on this issue. Green MPs will fight to abolish the special status of donors to Northern Ireland’s political parties.
The Biscuit Factory, A Block, 100 Clements Road, LONDON SE16 4DG t. 020 7549 0310 e.
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On the domestic action needed to meet our climate targets, we would publish a comprehensive plan by the end of 2017 detailing how we would meet the UK’s legally-binding carbon budgets, including a clear strategy to ensure that all electricity generation is carbon-free by 2030 at the latest, and that coal is phased-out 2023 at the latest. On food and farming, the Green Party is clear that farming in this country must not come at the expense of biodiversity, animal welfare or our climate targets - to this end, we would introduce a national food strategy that prioritises the production and consumption of locally-grown, healthy, sustainable and affordable food, as well as re-directing rural subsidies to support a sustainable, low-carbon and environmentally-friendly farming system. On the issue of waste, we would set a statutory waste-recycling target of 80% by 2022 in England, and introduce a ban on food-waste and other organic material being sent to landfill - this would come alongside measures to end single-use plastics, including a Bottle Deposit Return Scheme. On the vital issue of climate justice, we are clear that as a nation with historic responsibility of the climate crisis, we must make a fair contribution to the damage and injustice caused by that activity. We have a clear commitment to increasing the foreign aid budget to 1% of GDP - and a significant proportion of that increased spending must be ring-fenced for climate adaptation in the Global South. I hope that clarifies the position of the Green Party of England and Wales, and we look forward to working with Friends of the Earth over the coming years, to secure a healthier, fairer future for all. Yours sincerely,
Caroline Lucas
Jonathan Bartley
Co-Leaders of the Green Party of England & Wales Promoted by Steve Harris on behalf of Caroline Lucas and Brighton and Hove Green Party, all at 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton BN1 3PB
The Biscuit Factory, A Block, 100 Clements Road, LONDON SE16 4DG t. 020 7549 0310 e.
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