A Sustainable Economy bill, which would contain binding targets for recycling and waste management, featured in the manifesto launched today (19 November) by the Green Party.
The manifesto for the 12 December General Election was launched at the scenic London Wetland Centre by joint leaders Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry and deputy leader Amelia Womack, who delivered their speeches from a lectern overlooking a lake ringed with reeds and shrouded in mist.
At the launch the Green Party presented 10 bills which they said were “ready to go” if their candidates were elected, including the Sustainable Economy Bill.
Manifesto launch: (l-r) Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley, deputy leader Amelia Womack and co-leader Sian Berry
The Bill, it was explained by Mr Bartley, would ensure the economy functioned within environmental limits by keeping materials and products in use and regenerating natural systems.
Targets
He told letsrecycle.com: “We need to move to a circular economy. One of the ten bills we have proposed is the economic sustainability bill, which sets out binding targets for government. This would have teeth and be accountable to parliament.”
Other key policies include committing to decarbonise every sector by 2030, a bill for a ‘green new deal’ and a pledge to hold a ‘people’s vote’ on continued membership of the European Union.
Mr Bartley claimed that the Greens were the only party committed to zero carbon emissions by 2030, describing the respective targets of the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems as “not good enough”.
There were also promises to ban both the construction of nuclear power plants and fracking of gas and oil.
Grown-up
Deputy leader Amelia Womack described her party as the “strongest option” for remaining in the EU, promising “grown-up politics” in offering a so-called ‘people’s vote’ and emphasising the links between Britain and Europe.
Green Party supporters at the London Wetland Centre launch
Mr Bartley said: “We need to learn from our European neighbours. Tackling glass and plastic is crucial to decarbonising.”
He said his party was ready to remain and reform everything.
Mr Bartley is standing unopposed by the Liberal Democrats in Dulwich and West Norwood as part of the ‘Remain Alliance’, after his party formed an anti-Brexit electoral pact with the Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru.
The party’s other co-leader, Camden councillor Berry, told those gathered at the Wetland Centre: “The future won’t give us another chance to get these next two years right. This is the climate election.”
The post Greens look to circular economy in manifesto appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
