Duncan Hames challenges Conference to aim for a truly sustainable economy

5.18.00pm GMT Mon 15th Mar 2010

Duncan Hames called for action to achieve a truly sustainable economy at the recent national Liberal Democrat conference.

"Without a sustainable economy, a fairer Britain will only be built in a less fair world.

We Liberal Democrats understand a sustainable economy. But too often, we are guilty of not letting-on just how well we do understand what a sustainable economy really means. Twice in this motion we speak of "sustainable growth", but nothing physical can grow forever. Think about it!

Unlike the language, the proposals in this paper are spot-on. I particularly welcome the ambitious targets for sustainable energy generation, and measures to improve home energy efficiency.

My own experience of working on the South-West Wave Hub project, and knowledge of award-winning innovative businesses such as Checkmate Sea Energy in Melksham who have developed the Anaconda a wave energy converter, give me every confidence in the ingenuity and determination of the British people to rise to the challenge of tackling Climate Change, given sufficient investment. We have such a great renewable energy resource around our island, that to fail to take advantage of it would be an absolute scandal.

Ordinary people in communities like mine in Chippenham understand the crucial importance of home energy to our carbon footprint. I recently took Simon Hughes to visit Chippenham and Villages Environmentalists (CAVE) and Westlea Housing for a demonstration of a heat-imaging camera they are using to give free home energy efficiency survey to local residents. We need a 'Warm Homes' programme that meets the scale of this challenge, and meets the demand from so many people for help to reduce our personal heat energy needs.

Labour and the Conservatives just don't get a 'Sustainable Economy'. A sustainable economy is not declaring an end to 'Boom and Bust' only to face the deepest, sharpest recession of our lifetime. A sustainable economy isn't some kind of bolt-on extra to 'Business as Usual'.

My Conservative opponent recently told a public meeting in Bradford-on-Avon that he rejected further taxes to curb aviation because the airlines can't afford it. Our world cannot afford not to curb aviation emissions!

Decisions made in the next parliament will be critical to our response to the threat of Climate Change. We need MPs in that parliament who really do get it. Labour and the Conservatives don't get it. Labour has failed to fashion a sustainable economy. The Conservatives saw that goal as only a passing fad.

We don't inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children. So for change that works for you, for change that works for your children, and for their children, choose the Liberal Democrats."

Related Link:

[Full details of the motion discussed]