Aldersgate Group Manifesto calls for ‘clean industrial revolution’

As politicians plot their route to Downing Street ahead of the 2015 General Election, lobbying coaliton the Aldersgate Group has released its own 50-point manifesto, laying out its key policy recommendations to achieve a sustainable, low-carbon economy.


The Group, which represents businesses with a global turnover of more than £300bn including Asda and Sky, is calling for a long-term vision that goes ‘beyond the confines of the parliamentary cycle’.

Executive director Nick Molho said: “The outcome of the General Election in May is unpredictable, yet we know that voters are yearning for a positive vision to tackle the challenges we face as a country today.

“This report sets out how politicians, recognising the climate and resource challenges that we face, can go about creating an efficient, resilient and low carbon economy and deliver significant economic and social benefits for the UK.”

Aldersgate Group Manifesto – Key Points

Aim – Accelerate move to low-carbon economy

How: 

– The government should extend mandatory GHG reporting to all large UK-based organisations.

– Companies must be incentivised to purchase green electricity by a government requirement for energy suppliers to provide an A-G rating showing the carbon content of the electricity they have supplied.

– Provide clarity to investors, by setting a decarbonisation target for the power sector at a level of less than 100gCO2 / kWh by 2030. Also set a date to shut coal-powered stations

Aim – Increasing financial flow to a sustainable economy

How:

-Government must address the systemic risk of a “carbon bubble” and intervene to ensure markets price-in the cost of carbon through fiscal measures.

-Expand remit of the Green Investment Bank, including the power to issues bonds and ISAs.

Aim – improve resource and energy efficiency

How:

– Make energy efficiency a cross-departmental priority treated with the same level of urgency, co-ordination, public funding and goal-setting as the development of other major infrastructure projects, such as power generation, distribution schemes and development of HS2.

– Develope clear targets and trajectory to ensure all UK houses brought up to a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035

– New homes must be zero carbon by 2016 and non-domestic buildings by 2019.

– Offer green incentives such as lowering VAT on recycled products. 

Aldersgate Group Manifesto

Brad Allen

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