STUDENT MANIFESTO

ENVIRONMENT

UEA as an institution is renowned for its role in developing climate science and contributing to the work of the IPCC through the Tindall Centre. As such, environmental issues are at the forefront of many UEA students’ minds. Through consultation with the student body, the following nine points covering nuclear power, fracking and airport expansion demonstrate the environmental conscience of our students. We’ve discovered that at UEA, students are aware of the urgency of the threat of climate change, as well as the need to adapt our economy to a changing environment.

fore-word

STUDENT MANIFESTO

ENVIRONMENT

chrisjarvis campaigns & democracy officer

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

GR

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ON

LAB

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KIP

Nuclear power is neither safe, affordable nor ready to meet the need for decarbonisation. It is not insurable or viable without massive public subsidy that could be better spent.

It is vital we take action to incentivise new capacity and de-carbonise - I support the Government’s efforts to make the UK the most attractive destination for new nuclear investment.

4th Generation nuclear power should be considered. If climate change is the no.1 threat to our planet then using every safe technology available to do so should be considered. 4th gen nuclear qualifies as this.

Should be no public subsidy of new build. Provided concerns about safety, disposal of waste and cost are adequately addressed private nuclear investment can help tackle carbon emissions.

Further investment in nuclear power must cease.

LGLT

CL

SWSE

Lesley GrahameGreen Party

Lisa Townsend Conservatives

Clive LewisLabour

Simon WrightLiberal Democrats

Steve Emmens UKIP

candidate profiles

Absolutely.

I am proud that we were the first country in the world to pass a Climate Change Act but have been clear that there is more work to be done.

Labour will, decarbonise our energy grid by 2030 and creatie 1m new green jobs by 2025.

Have ensured that the EU sets an ambitious 40% greenhouse gas reduction target. Would go further by introducing a Zero Carbon Britain Act to strengthen Climate Change Act targets.

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

80% of fossils fuels need to be left in the ground, It makes no sense to extract the difficult and damaging.

I support fracking, but strongly believe fracking operations should be safe, and must not be at the expense of local communities or the environment.

Even if proved scientifically safe, the opportunity cost of pumping more carbon into the atmosphere will be at the expense of renewables research and investment.

Unsafe fracking should never be permitted, but shouldn’t rule all fracking out given the role gas has to play as we move towards a low carbon future.

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

LGLT

CL

SWSE

In order to avoid runaway climate change, the UK should follow the terms and conditions set out in the Kyoto Protocol, ensuring it meets its carbon reduction targets and, importantly, actively pressure other nations to do the same.

The government should outlaw the unsafe and unsustainable practice of fracking.

We are campaigning nationally and locally against overdevelopment , and the planning rules that keep getting weakened to make it easier.

I support the National Planning Policy Framework, which is explicit that that once established Green Belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances.

The green belt should be protected but there maybe exceptions where social housing etc may be needed.

Must protect our natural environment. Lib Dems have proposed garden cities, which can be built outside green belt, to meet need and save community green spaces from development.

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

Caroline Lucas has been campaigning on this. Rather than cruel and ineffective mass culling, restrictions on cattle movement and contact between badgers and cattle should be given high priority, in addition to far greater efforts to introduce a vaccination programme and improve testing.

Bovine TB is a terrible disease which is devastating our cattle and dairy industries and causing misery in rural communities. A combination of culling and vaccination is right.

The cull must be ended and replaced with scientifically sound alternatives.

Vaccination programme not yet deliverable, but favour a science-led, evidence-based response to bovine TB and welcome investment in vaccination research.

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

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Protection of the countryside and green spaces is of paramount importance, and we should consequently restrict building so that it cannot take place on the “green belt”.

Culling badgers is an inhumane policy that is ineffective in controlling bovine TB. Therefore, the badger cull must be brought to an end, and a policy of vaccination be embarked upon.

LGLT

CL

SWSE

Agreed, neither is the carbon case. HS2 would harm people/places near the route and further isolate those not near it.

I believe HS2 to be a vital project for the UK, one that will not only promote economic growth but also drive regional regeneration and support job creation.

There can be no blank cheque for HS2, the case for which has not been fully made. There must be significant investment in our regions rail infrastructure whatever the outcome.

HS2 is vital to provide capacity on the rail network, address decades of underinvestment, and to rebalance the economy from London. Lib Dems will develop a comprehensive rail investment plan.

Conservation agriculture would improve soils and social resilience. GM takes autonomy away from farmers, (they get into debt, can’t save seeds, change supplier etc). Alleged linked to suicides among Indian farmers.

Provided robust safeguards are in place, I believe it is important for farmers to have access to new technologies and be able to choose whether to adopt them.

Some GM crops will be essential to feeding our planet’s growing population in the 21st century, particularly with the onset of climate change. Building in food supply resilience essential. This is one part of the solution.

We should support science and research into food technology, all the more important at a time of global food scarcity, rising populations and climate change.

Continued research into Genetically Modified crops is unnecessary, and funding should be diverted elsewhere.

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

The existing business case for the expansion of High Speed rail in the UK is not convincing. Funding for the building of HS2 should be redirected towards investment in the existing rail network.

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1 million people employed for 20 years could meet climate targets and get the economy moving with new and transferable skills.www.climate-change-jobs.org

http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/tr.html. Greens would remove public subsidies to aviation. Equivalent funds invested in other sectors will provide more jobs per pound spent and offer much more benefit to people and the environment.

It is right to support young people into apprenticeships, as well as the businesses who employ them, through tax breaks and employment support.

I want to see airports that put our country at the front of global competition and allow people to get to where they want to go, balanced with the need to make them environmentally friendly.

A Labour govt would create 80,000 high quality apprenticeships a year as well as 1m green jobs by 2025, some of which will be apprenticeships.

I have not seen a credible case for the expansion of Heathrow. If essential I’d favour regional airport expansion instead.

Lib Dems have created 2m apprenticeships since 2010 and we would look to create more and improve opportunities on offer.

Opposed to Heathrow expansion, and pleased that the Coalition scrapped Labour’s plan for third runway. Should be no net increase in UK runways.

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

UKIP chose not to provide an answer for this question.

To equip the next generation of workers, we need proper investment in apprenticeships that are useful for the workplace and are well remunerated. These need to be in sustainable industries and the green jobs of the future.

Airport expansion will make it more and more difficult for us to meet our commitments around climate change. Expansion of Heathrow Airport through the building of a third runway must not take place.

STUDENT MANIFESTO

ENVIRONMENT