Conservatives urged to prioritise environment ahead of election

Conservative-minded people can wholeheartedly embrace our current environmental challenges with every confidence 

 
Peter Ainsworth MP

The Conservative Environmental Network (cen) has been formed by a group of green policy advisors and specialists who struggle with the fact that environmental politics have traditionally been thought of as left-wing and believe the Conservatives can play an important role.

Members feel that that the environment should be a priority for the Conservatives in the upcoming General Election and fear that the party could be “dithering” on this issue. It plans to support the party in the development of policy, by providing advice and views.

With regards to waste, a spokeswoman explained that cen was particularly interested in energy-from-waste, food waste collections and anaerobic digestion – something which the current government has already thrown its support behind.

She said: “We would like some clarity from the Conservatives on that and for some action to be taken”. The Conservatives are still to publish their Energy Green Paper which will set out their policies covering renewable energy and energy-from-waste and cen believes it may need a “few pushes”.

Patrons of cen include former environment secretary Peter Ainsworth MP who is also honorary president. Since its inception the organisation has also drawn support from shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change Greg Clark MP, shadow climate change minister Greg Barker MP and Ambassador for the UN's Environment Programme, Stanley Johnson.

Mr Ainsworth will host the launch event this evening at M&C Saatchi, where shadow environment secretary Nick Herbert MP will give a keynote speech.

Cllr Gavin Dick, cen spokesperson, said: “We want to ‘fight the good fight' within the conservative movement by making the case that climate change and other environmental issues are critically important and need to be tackled by effective government policy, private enterprise and Britain's entrepreneurial spirit.”

Mr Ainsworth added: “I struggle to understand why environmental politics are traditionally regarded as left-wing. They are not. Conservative-minded people can wholeheartedly embrace our current environmental challenges with every confidence in a right of centre political inheritance and vision.

“We believe in the merits of order and security, we recognise the responsibility of stewardship and the need for global action and diplomacy. We believe that local actions in our own communities, rather than Big Government initiatives, can help make changes for the better. Most of all, we understand that whilst politicians have a vital role in shaping the framework for action on green issues, only the market can deliver the results.”

Herbert

Commenting on the lauch, Mr Herbert wished cen well in their mission – claiming that, under David Cameron's leadership, concern about the environment had become “central” to modern Conservatism.

He said: “We understand that, just as we must learn to live within our economic means, so we must live within our environmental means.

“But the changes we need to make to de-carbonise our economy, drive resource efficiency and improve our quality of life will not happen without public buy-in. ‘Red greens' see environmental politics in terms of bigger government, higher taxes and more regulation – an agenda that will drive people away.

“Conservative ‘blue-green' policies should take a different approach, recognising the pivotal role of government in setting the framework for change, but focusing much more on building community support for action, incentivising people and businesses to do the right thing.

“This is the vision of a good future which Conservatives should offer. I wish cen well in helping to take forward this important agenda.”