Conservatives have worst green policies, edie poll reveals

The party manifestos all touched upon energy and the environment in some shape or form. But behind the rhetoric, edie’s general election 2015 coverage over the past month has included a readers’ poll asking all of YOU which party has the best green policies. (Scroll down to VOTE).

Hundreds of you have voted, and the winner by far and away – with 64% of the vote so far – is the Green Party. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Natalie Bennett’s party touted the most ambitious green policies in its manifesto, underpinned by an aim to reduce the UK’s total cabon emissions by 90% over the next 15-20 years. 

The Lib Dems, whose manifesto was fronted by the ‘five green laws’ (arguably the strongest commitment to the green economy issued by any of the three major parties), is second in our poll, with 24% of the vote.

Red Ed Miliband evidently became a lot greener this year, with Labour reaffirming bold pledges on climate change and decarbonising the UK energy supply (but a conspicuous lack of waste-related policy). But just 6% of edie readers believe Labour has the best green policies of the lot.

Meanwhile, UKIP‘s controversy has continued into the environment, with Nigel Farage’s party essentially promising to end the majority of the UK’s green polices and rejuvenate the coal industry. As such, UKIP rank second-from-bottom in our poll, with just 4% of the vote. 

And at the bottom of the pile – the Conservatives. Cameron’s party pledged to “cut emissions as cost-effectively as possible” in its manifesto, but it has come under fire from green groups for essentially ignoring waste policy and threatening to end onshore wind subsidies.

YOUR CHANCE TO VOTE…  

The edie manifesto

Earlier this week, we made our own manifesto, summarising 10 of the best ideas that we’ve seen that would help the UK transition to a robust and resilient green economy. Some of the ideas have political support, while some are more fanciful. Take a look through and let us know what you think.