Lib Dem Plan for A Greener, Fairer Future for Britain - Climate Change and Energy.

​Climate Change and Energy
​Climate change remains an existential threat. While the current government has taken initial steps to reverse years of stagnation, the scale of the crisis demands even greater urgency. To avert catastrophe and protect families from volatile energy prices, the UK must move faster toward true energy independence and a net-zero economy.

​The Liberal Democrats remain committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 at the latest, moving faster than current government targets to ensure the UK leads the global green transition.

​We will:
​National Home Retrofit: Launch a ten year emergency upgrade programme, providing free insulation and heat pumps for those on low incomes, and ensuring all new homes are built to a zero carbon standard.

​Rooftop Solar Revolution: Expand incentives for households to install solar panels, including a guaranteed fair price for electricity sold back into the grid.

​Ambitious Renewables Target: Accelerate investment to ensure 90% of the UK’s electricity is generated from renewables by 2035.

​Accountability at the Heart of Government: Appoint a Chief Secretary for Sustainability in the Treasury to ensure every pound spent aligns with a zero-carbon economy.

​Empowering Communities: Establish national and local citizens’ assemblies to give people a direct say in climate policy and hand more powers to local councils for regional net-zero strategies.


​Global Leadership: Restore the UK’s international standing by returning development spending to 0.7% of national income, with climate resilience as a core priority.


​To achieve Net Zero by 2050, we will:

​Infrastructure for the Future: Require the National Infrastructure Commission to prioritize environmental implications in all national decisions.

​Green Skills: Invest in education and training to equip the workforce for the low-carbon economy.

​Transport Revolution: Restore the requirement that every new car and small van sold from 2030 is zero-emission and accelerate the electrification of Britain’s railways.

​Nature-Based Solutions: Ensure tree planting and peatland restoration are central to the UK’s carbon sequestration strategy.

​To cut energy bills and end fuel poverty, we will:
​Heat Pump Incentives: Provide grants that cover the real costs of installation, removing the financial barrier for middle-income households.

​Rental Standards: Reintroduce requirements for landlords to upgrade properties to EPC C or above by 2028.

​Social Tariff: Introduce a targeted "social tariff" to provide deep energy discounts for the most vulnerable households.

​Market Reform: Decouple electricity prices from wholesale gas prices to ensure consumers benefit from the low cost of renewables.

​Ending Regional Inequality: Eliminate unfair regional differences in domestic standing charges and energy bills.

​To accelerate renewable power and delivery energy security, we will:

​Tidal and Wave Power: Move beyond wind and solar by providing dedicated support for investment and innovation in tidal and wave energy.

​Grid Modernisation: Rapidly build the grid infrastructure required for a decentralised energy system, guided by a new Strategic Land and Sea Use Framework.

​Storage Solutions: Massively increase investment in green hydrogen, pumped hydro, and long-term battery storage.

​European Cooperation: Re-engage with European neighbours to build a sustainable supply chain and build more electricity interconnectors to guarantee security of supply.

​To support community energy, we will:
​Right to Export: Give small low-carbon generators the right to export electricity to suppliers on fair, transparent terms.

​Local Grids: Reform the energy network to permit and encourage local energy grids, allowing communities to use the power they generate locally.

​Community Wealth: Guarantee that community benefit funds receive a fair share of the wealth generated by local renewable infrastructure.

​To hold businesses to account, we will:
​Green Duties: Introduce a general "duty of care" for the environment for all large corporations.

​Regulating Finance: Require pension funds and investment managers to demonstrate that their portfolios are consistent with the Paris Agreement.

Carbon Border Adjustment: Implement a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to protect UK industry from unfair competition from high-emission products imported from abroad.

​Industrial Innovation: Provide direct support for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and new low-carbon processes for the production of cement and steel.

Read full plan here: www.libdems.org.uk/manifesto

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