Are the Tories as Green as they Claim?

David Cameron has claimed to take a strong stance against climate change over the past few years in the run up to the election. He rides his bike to work every day and even installed a wind turbine on top of his home. But as the election draws nearer, are the Tories really taking climate change seriously?

Next year sees a coalition of companies and organisations have signed up to the 10:10 campaign. The aim of the campaign for those participating is to reduce emissions and impact on climate change by 10% in 2010. The Tory front bench as signed up to the campaign, but so has Labour and the Lib Dems.

However, out of the 47 councils around the UK that have joined or are thinking about joining the 10:10 campaign, only 6 are controlled by the Conservatives. Surprising is it not considering their promises to tackle climate change head on if elected.

At the top, Cameron and his front benchers appear to be on top of climate change related policies, because they know it is a major issue for the future and will play a big role in the next election, but do the Tories really care about climate change? Not according to Alexis Rowell, the 10:10 coordinator for councils:

When 10:10 was launched, David Cameron and the Tory shadow cabinet were very quick to get on board. But there’s a real disconnect between the shadow cabinet and Tory-run councils. On the ground, we’re getting the sense that the Tories don’t give two hoots about climate change.

Franny Armstrong, founder of the 10:10 campaign also expressed her concern at the lack of willingness shown by most Tories:

I’m disappointed that the Tories, who have made such positive strides on environmental policy, are acting as a roadblock to the campaign locally when their leadership has been so publicly supportive of 10:10.

More evidence suggesting that the shadow cabinet’s enthusiasm for 10:10 is not repeated at local level emerged last Wednesday, when Tory members of the London assembly walked out of a 10:10 motion brought by Lib Dem leader Mike Tuffrey.

Gordon Brown took a stand on climate change this week by claiming the world has 50 Days to prevent climate change. Of course he was referring to the Copenhagen climate change summit in December which will likely decide how seriously we tackle climate change over then next 40 years. If anything Brown’s stance on taking climate change seriously makes me wonder who has convinced him. He has only ever listened to Bankers before and thus shown little care or respect for any other people, and if anything is achieved at Copenhagen it is likely to cost Brown and his beloved bankers lots of money. Penny for your thoughts Gordon?