Liberal Democrats release "dossier of shame" on Labour's climate change record

12.11.29pm GMT Fri 17th Feb 2006

Earth

To coincide with the first anniversary of the Kyoto protocol coming into force, the Liberal Democrats have released a six-point 'dossier of shame' which reveals the extent of Labour's shameful record since February 16th 2005, in tackling climate change, revealing the following failures:

· WEAKENED: The DTI has been attempting to weaken the targets for UK businesses within the Emissions Trading Scheme;

· INCREASED: Emissions of Carbon Dioxide increased over the last year;

· LATE: Their climate change review should have been published but has still not appeared - primarily due to a dispute between the DTI and DEFRA;

· FAILED: The Prime Minister failed to bring the US on board to climate change negotiations as head of the G8 group of nations;

· UNCOOPERATIVE: They have failed to join with the 'Cross Party Consensus' for tackling climate change initiated by the Liberal Democrats;

· LAISSEZ-FAIRE: The Prime Minister appears to have given up on tackling climate change emissions from aviation - the fastest growing source of emissions.

Commenting, Norman Baker MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, said "As our dossier shows, Labour's record on climate change, even in the last year since the Kyoto protocol came into force, is a shameful one. Under Labour, Carbon Dioxide emissions are rising. The Government is in reverse gear when it comes to tackling climate change with their climate change review nine months overdue already."

Mr. Baker concluded by saying "Tony Blair may have talked big on the international stage on climate change, but the record of his Labour Government over the last year appears to be one of throwing in the towel. I call on Labour again to enter into a cross-party dialogue to reach political consensus on how we can achieve the real reductions needed."