Climate Change is in my view the most serious issue facing us on the Earth. As climate becomes more variable and more unpredictable and areas become unsustainable then people will simply move en-masse. We have to solve the problem and solve it fast. Unfortuneately one of the first acts of the new Tory Government was to slash and burn all the environmental achievements of the coalition government. Just as renewable energy is about to reach self sustaining level the Conservatives butcher the industry and the environmental gains it brings. Its attitude to solar power and land based wind beggar belief. And if that is not enough just of the coast of Bournemouth (well I say just but in fact 13 miles off shore) the Tories have trashed an off shore wind farm. But then we know their priority Frack at any cost. What a short sighted view on life. We should be welcoming renewable energy based on the sun, wind and tides and rejecting CO2 poluting energy sources.

This was a real priority for The Liberal Democrat administration that I lead in Bath and NESomerset from 2011 to 2015. During this time we took recycling rates from 40% to 80%, increased dramatically the amout of renewable energy produced in the area and developed a sustainable food policy.

In contrast the Green lead administration in Brighton over the same period inherited a recycling rate of about 30% and succeeded in taking it down to 25%.

The motion debated:-

F23 Securing a Global Treaty on Climate Change

Mover: Lord Purvis (Parliamentary Spokesperson on Energy and Climate
Change)
Summation: Neil Stockley
Conference notes that:
a) The 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is scheduled to
take place in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015.
b) This will be a crucial conference, as it needs to achieve a new
international agreement on the climate, applicable to all countries,
with the aim of keeping global warming within 2°C above preindustrial
levels.
Conference applauds the achievements of Liberal Democrats in
government from 2010 to 2015 in maintaining momentum towards a new
global treaty on climate change, working constructively with other EU
member states for more ambitious action on green growth and making
progress towards decarbonising the UK economy.
Conference calls on the Government to:
1. Play a leading political and diplomatic role as part of the EU
negotiating effort to secure agreement on a fair, effective and legally
binding new global climate treaty at the conference, including
commitments by all countries to reduce emissions, with the richer
countries taking the lead, supported by a well-financed Green
Climate Fund to assist poorer countries to tackle and adapt to climate
change.
2. Cooperate with other European countries to address environmental
threats and tackle climate change by securing a formal agreement
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 (from 1990
levels), as part of a global agreement, reforming the EU Emissions
Trading System and developing the EU Energy Union.
3. Continue pressing for the greater use of EU funds to support
innovative low-carbon investments.
4. Ensure that the UK meets its own targets to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and plays a leadership role within Europe and
internationally on efforts to combat climate change.
5. Pursue additional actions outside the UN climate talks, including EU
and international initiatives to reduce hydrofluorocarbons and other
‘short-lived climate forcers’.
6. Ensure that UK and EU development aid, free trade and investment
agreements support environmental goals and sustainable investment,
including maintaining the UK’s International Climate Fund and
supporting direct bilateral programmes with developing countries on
climate change.
Conference condemns the Government for its ideologically-motivated
decision to end support for onshore wind power, which can only serve
to increase the cost of the low-carbon transition while at the same
time losing jobs and investment and harming the UK’s international
competitiveness.

One of the concerns of the day expressed several times by several people and businesses was the Tory EU referendum. The Tories may well be leading the Country into economic and social disaster with its EU referndum merely as a salve to its extreme Eurosceptic wing. Building up myths and fears rather than woprking from within to improve it as an organisation that works for citizens across Europe.

In the conference hall listened to good speeches from Willie Rennie and Nick Clegg and the main debate of the morning on Climate Change . In Scotland the Independence dabate continues apace and certainly if the Tory plan for a EU referndum delivers an exit vote then surely the UK will disintegrate with Scotland for sure and possibly Wales clamouring to remain in the EU and leaving the UK thus leaving Cameron with his Little England mentality and a completely fractured country.

Lunch time Fringe  – went to the Country Side Alliance and the importance of the rural vote. Mark Williams MP for Ceredigion made several good points on the different needs of rural communities from housing to the desire for hill farmers to have small wind turbines to help with energy costs as well as using renewable energy.

In the afternoon we had the Trident debate (see separate posting) and One Member One Vote. At this conference we had a record number of attendees including a record number of first timers and new members. Up to now we have had voting delegates and non-voting delegates – with numbers assigned to constituency by membership numbers. However from now on anyone who comes to conference will be a voting delegate. I think this is a great step forward in opening up conference. Now we have to look to see how we can develop on-line participation so that members can vote from home if they cannot get the time or money to attend the conference in person.

For the evening Fringe started with Land Value Taxation and Vince Cable . Land Value Taxation was unfortuneately one of the few items in the LLoyd George budget that did not get enacted. A shame. We need something that controls the value of land and make sure it contributes to society and not just a lucky few owners. From there went to an International Fringe event – again subject of a separate posting.

Sunday started with two training sessions on websites which proved very useful and learnt lots of new techniques. The challenge is now to see if I can implement them. Back at the Confernece listened to a great speech from Sohie in t’Veld about the importance of the UK staying in Europe. She is from D66 – a Dutch Liberal party that had a traumatic election experience a few years ago and is now bouncing back.

Lunchtime Fringe event was at Trussel Trust fringe on food poverty in the UK. There is real concern that the new Conservative Govenments ruthless attacking on the working poor since its election victory in May is going to have major impacts on many families. The cutting of free school meals and DWP working tax credit penalties etc are just two examples.    John Pugh MP  also raised issues about poor diet, lack of fresh food in some communities and obesity as a sign not of overeating but poor eating.

Evening Fringe – I selected one on Gibraltar with Fabian Picardo MP and Joseph Garcia MP – the two leaders of the coalition government there one from Labour and one from the Liberals. Interesting to hear their issues with Spain and how the current economic woes in Spain had casued a raise in tension as a distraction policy by the Spanish Government. Followed this with an excellent beer and curry fringe with the RSPCA fringe on issues around pet and animal welfare with Baroness Kate Parminter and finally on to the LGA LD group AGM.

Great speech from Sophie in t’ Veld D66 MEP on Britain in Europe. UK should be in and not afraid of saying so. The reasons for staying in Europe are many and the reasons for leaving are false.

Speaking at Bournemouth sept 2015

First Day in sunny Bournemouth went well. Good training session  on raising media profile including creating video content. Excellent debate on the refugee crises and then the rally to start the conference.

great speech from new member Amy from Bristol on why she joined, great music from the London International Gospel Choir and then Tim’s first speech as Leader. Good content and good commitments and confidence about the fightback from May’s results.

First Leaders speech at Bournemouth

New member Amy from Bristol

The Curry restaurant industry is concerned about its long term future and viability due to skill shortage issues.

Good link here for more information  LINK