The Green Manifesto

The Green Manifesto is a coherent set of policy proposals for greating a strong green backbone in the Liberal Democrat 2015 election manifesto.

It is a collaboration between the Liberal Sustainability Network/Green Book, with the Sustainability Hub, endorsed by the Green Liberal Democrats as part of our party's ongoing policy development that maintains its position as the greenest political party in the UK, bar none.

Following on from The Green Book last year, The Green Manifesto: How to increase living standards, improve quality of life and future-proof the economy, lays out a comprehensive set of proposals for the policies the Liberal Democrats need to adopt and campaign on to retain and increase support among green-minded voters.

Written by leading parliamentarians and party activists, The Green Manifesto says putting the economy on a long term sustainable footing is the only way to deliver the improved quality of life and enhanced standards of living that voters want. It challenges the notion that the next election will just be about how to 'share the fruits of growth', arguing instead that the start made by the Liberal Democrats in government to rebuild public finances and rebalance the economy must be taken much further.

Containing over 150 detailed proposals, the authors identify three big outcomes from the 'green growth' approach:

• a better economy, for all - low carbon, resource efficient and high skill, with a better balance between industry sectors and regions of the country and with government planning for the long term;
• a 'war on waste' - to lower costs for householders, businesses and consumers and generate greater business efficiency;
• better places to live - with binding targets for clean air and fresh water, greater protection from flooding, and guaranteed green spaces in urban areas.

Detailed proposals include: construction of 1.5 million homes with near-zero energy costs, the effective eradication of fuel poverty, new life-time durability standards for consumer goods, a 'Stern-style' enquiry into resource reduction leading to legally binding efficiency targets, an expanded role for Vince Cable's new Business Bank and a big shift of power and responsibility devolved to local authorities.

Tim Farron MP, Party President said: "The Green Manifesto shows us how we need to build a green economy, because if the economy is not green it will be neither competitive nor successful. I wholeheartedly support its case that the green approach must lie at the core of the Liberal Democrat appeal at the 2015 election".

To get involved with policy making, please contact us

To comment on the Green Book or Green Manifesto, please visit the Green Book website

To get involved in shaping the Liberal Democrats 2015 manifesto and endorse specific ideas in the Green Manifesto, please visit the Party Website Manifesto consultation