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What are your election candidates views on environment issues?

news release

Manchester Friends of the Earth are asking all the local council and parliamentary candidates standing for election across Greater Manchester on Thursday 7th May to let people know their views on a range of key environment issues.

We have invited all local council candidates (1) and Propsective Parliamentary Candidates (2) to take part in surveys asking them for their views on key environmental issues such as air pollution, fracking, solar energy for schools, pavement parking, rail fare costs, neonicotinoid pesticides, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and a referendum on the Devo Manc proposals

The responses received so far from each candidate and a summary by political party are available online (3).

Next week, people in Greater Manchester have the opportunity to vote for the local councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent them. The local councillors and MPs elected will have to implement solutions to meet many social and environmental challenges during the next 10 years and beyond. These include rising transport & energy costs, traffic congestion, ill health and rising obesity levels, poor air quality and the need to drastically reduce CO2 emissions.

Ali Abbas, Manchester Friends of the Earth co-ordinator said:

“We wouldn’t dream of telling people which way to vote but we believe that voters should have information from the candidates seeking election on key environment issues that will affect all our lives.”

“As yesterday’s Supreme Court decision on air pollution shows there is an urgent need for our elected representatives to tackle issues such as air pollution and climate change.” (4)

ENDS

Contact for comments:  Pete Abel, Manchester Friends of the Earth, Mobile: 07951 642858

Lyndsay Fall, Manchester Friends of the Earth media officer, email: lyndsey@manchesterfoe.org.uk

 

Notes for Editors

1) The local council candidates have been asked their views on the following 13 questions:

* Will you call for your local authority to declare itself Frack Free?

* Do you support the installation of solar power or other renewable energy technology on all schools and other public buildings in your local authority area?

* Do you think the GM Pension Fund should divest from fossil fuels?

* Will you support a mandatory landlord licensing scheme in your local authority area?

* Would you support a target to reduce food waste by 50% by 2020?

* Will you call for your town or city to become a Sustainable Fish City?

* Will you support your Local Authority implementing a borough/city wide ban on pavement parking?

* Will you support a commitment at the Greater Manchester level for continued dedicated funding for cycle infrastructure of at least £20 per head of population?

* Will you support the campaign for a reduction in rail fares in real terms?

* Would you support tougher action to reduce air pollution in the Greater Manchester region?

* Do you oppose the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)?

* Do you support a referendum on the introduction of a Greater Manchester mayor and devolved budgets and powers?

* Do you support the introduction of a default speed limit of 20mph in all residential areas for the benefit of people walking and cycling?

2)  The Parliamentary candidates have been asked their views on the following 13 questions:

* Do you support the following statement: “If my constituency is at risk of fracking, I will oppose it. If my constituency is not at risk, I will oppose fracking nationwide.” ?

* Do you back every school in the UK to be able to run on solar power within the next 3 years, by freeing them to invest in solar and by removing barriers to the installation process?

* Will you support a national programme to insulate at least 1 million homes per year over the course of the next parliament?

* Will you support a mandatory landlord licensing scheme in the UK?

* Would you support a target to reduce food waste by 50% by 2020?
* Will you support the campaign for a reduction in rail fares in real terms?

* Do you oppose the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)?

* Do you support a referendum on the introduction of a Greater Manchester mayor and devolved budgets and powers?

* Will you commit to reversing the decline of bees and other pollinators  by extending the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides?

* Will you protect the freedom to campaign by voting to repeal the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (often referred to as the Lobbying Act) ?

* Will you support the UK government developing an air quality strategy to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) air pollution standards to help protect our health?

* Do you support changing the national speed limit in towns and cities to 20mph by 2020?

* Will you call on the Treasury to commission a “Stern-for-Resources” to review of the resilience of UK supply chains and recommending policies to safeguard the economy, environment and individual wellbeing?

3) The local council candidate responses are available online

The Parliamentary candidate responses are available online.

4) See:  Supreme Court orders Government to take “immediate action” on air pollution – Manchester Friends of the Earth reaction.

5) Manchester Friends of the Earth is an award-winning environmental campaign group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on the group’s website: www.manchesterfoe.org.uk. Manchester Friends of the Earth is a Licensed Local Group of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. www.foe.co.uk

6) Manchester Friends of the Earth has endorsed Manchester: A Certain Future, an action plan for the city of Manchester to cut its carbon emissions by at least 41% by 2020. For more information, visit www.manchesterclimate.com

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