A Record of Action….A Promise of More!

• Under Liberal Democrat leadership Cornwall County Cornwall has improved its re-use and recycling from below average to above average. Our current recycling rate is 35% - an increase of 25% since 2005. We are committed to pushing that to 45% by 2015, far above the national average.
• Lib Dem led Restormel Council has already introduced weekly recycling collections to every home.
• The online car sharing system administered by Cornwall County Council has over 2000 users. Through this scheme over 715,290 miles are saved every year. This has not only cut emissions of carbon dioxide by over 220 tonnes, but also saved users a massive £71,000 in car related expenses.
• We have improved Cornwall’s footpaths through £2.1 million investment, and won £45 million pounds of investment to help make our waste management services more environmentally friendly.
• We are funding Low Carbon Cornwall to deliver a nationally leading programme to tackle climate change.
• We set up the Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership to combine the expertise and knowledge of organisations within the public, private, health and community sectors in order to deliver a more sustainable future for Cornwall - which led to all Cornish Councils winning beacon status for sustainable energy in 2005/06.

The Lib Dem Guarantee

• Liberal Democrats will make Cornwall the ‘ Green Peninsula’, leading the way nationally in sustainable policy, technology and business.
• We are committed to the Cornwall Climate Change Action plan (which we initiated, and was opposed by Conservative Councillors).
• We will initiate a programme to increase the energy efficiency of homes and public buildings and businesses across Cornwall, helping the environment and saving money.
• We will maintain weekly refuse collections and roll out weekly recycling collections to every home as soon as existing waste contracts allow.
• We will increase Cornwall’s recycling rate to at least 45% by 2013– (far above the 30% national target which we have already met and exceeded).
• We will refocus Cornwall Council transport strategy towards supporting better high speed rail links and other low carbon transport solutions.
• We will invest more than £1 million in Low Carbon Cornwall, to support Cornwall’s low carbon programme, building on Cornwall’s nationally recognised beacon status tackling climate change, with particular emphasis on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low carbon skills and businesses.
• We will work to make Cornwall a ‘Fair Trade County’ – Callington, Truro, Falmouth and St Austell have already led the way by being Fair Trade Towns selling and using fair trade goods which guarantee a better deal for farmers and the environment.
• We will reduce the carbon footprint of Cornwall Council. By 2015, our Environmental Action Plan will cut carbon emissions from council building by 40% and reduce energy costs by £3.4 million.

Compare the difference!

• Conservative councillors refused to support the Cornwall Climate Change Action Plan, and the Conservative Party have a long record of opposing action to protect our environment.
• Labour have failed to take the urgent action needed to effectively protect the environment and tackle climate change.
• Liberal Democrats have an outstanding record of championing the environment going back decades.