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Conservative Party on Environment and Energy

The environment has emerged as a significant political issue in the late 20th and early 21st century. As the debate surrounding global warming continues, and the source of future energy becomes increasingly uncertain, the importance of the environment has risen on the agenda of all political parties. Issues include the importance and relevance of climate change, the appropriate policies to address human pollution, and the source of future energy.

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The issues

Conservative Party supports the idea that human pollution is a significant cause of global warming

"We urgently need to move to a low carbon economy in order to... protect our environment for future generations."

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"Today, climate change, generated by the cumulative accumulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, through human economic activity, threatens our planet." 

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Conservative Party supports creating new nuclear power stations

"Nuclear power will be part of the energy mix if it is economically viable."

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Conservative Party is neutral on the increased levying of ‘green’ taxes on air and car travel

The opposition Conservative party is planning a range of taxes on air travel as part of a new initiative to tackle climate change which will set personal "green miles" allowances..

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George Osborne : "...families going to the supermarket and doing their weekly shopping do not need to be taxed...A flight tax that is a tax per plane looks like the best way forward."

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The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, has pledged to rebuild public trust in green taxes ...Speaking to the environmental organisation Green Alliance, George promised to use green taxes to reduce emissions.

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Conservative Party strongly opposes the creation of so-called ‘eco towns’

The conservative party was reported to have withdrawn its support for the eco-town scheme.

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Grant Shapps (Conservative MP): "Conservatives have always said that we will lend our support to genuinely environmentally friendly housing schemes. But Gordon Brown’s so-called eco-towns have become an eco-con."

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The eco-towns have been controversial and the scheme faces the prospect of a judicial review. The Conservatives oppose it.

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