Ahead of the local elections, Manchester Friends of the Earth are asking all candidates standing for election across Greater Manchester to let voters know what they think about key environmental issues. (1)On Thursday May 5th, people have the opportunity to vote for the local councillors to represent them. The local councillors elected will have to implement solutions to meet the many urgent social and environmental challenges facing us over the next 5 years and beyond.
These include rising energy & transport costs, traffic congestion, access to green space, reducing illegal air pollution levels and the need to drastically reduce climate-wrecking emissions.
Manchester Friends of the Earth are asking all local council candidates to let voters know their views on 12 key environment issues, including if the candidates will:
* support a landlord licensing scheme to deliver warmer homes?
* ensure the council pension fund ends investment in fossil fuels and invests in a just transition to a zero-carbon economy?
* support the adoption of the new World Health Organization (WHO) air quality limits in Greater Manchester?
* support a ban on pavement parking in your council area?
* ensure that every citizen in Greater Manchester has access to green space within 300 metres of where they live ? (See note 2 for full list of questions).
Catherine Thomson, Manchester Friends of the Earth co-ordinator said: “We need candidates to make climate and the environment a priority this election. Our elected councillors need to put young people first and act now for a sustainable future. The longer we put off these tough decisions the harder it will be.”
“We wouldn’t dream of telling people which way to vote but we think voters have the right to know where candidates stand on key environmental issues that affect all our lives, such as air pollution, clean energy and climate change.”
The responses received so far from each candidate are available online (3) together with a summary chart of responses by political party and local council area (4).
ENDS
Contact for comments: Pete Abel, Manchester Friends of the Earth. Mobile: 07951 642858 email: pete@manchesterfoe.org.uk
Notes for editors
1) See www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/le2022
2) Where possible we directly contact local candidates by email, Twitter or Facebook. We also contact local political parties and ask them to circulate the survey to their local candidates.
Candidates are being asked to give their views on the following 12 questions:1. Will you support a landlord licensing scheme to deliver warmer homes?
2. Will you do all you can to ensure the council pension fund ends investment in fossil fuels and invests in a just transition to a zero-carbon economy?
3. Do you support changes to the planning rules to enable more onshore wind energy production?
4. Will you commit to taking Carbon Literacy training within one year of being elected?
5. Do you support the introduction of a zero-carbon standard for all new buildings in Greater Manchester from 2023?
6. Will you support the adoption of the new World Health Organization (WHO) air quality limits in Greater Manchester?
7. Will you support expanding the dedicated bus lane network in Greater Manchester?
8. Will you support a ban on pavement parking in your council area?
9. Do you support the introduction of a cap on emissions from flights to and from Manchester Airport?
10. Will you do all you can to ensure that every citizen in Greater Manchester has access to green space within 300 metres of where they live?
11. Do you support a ban on the use of pesticides and herbicides in your local authority area?
12. Do you agree that Greater Manchester should phase out the use of waste incineration?
See Local elections 2022: candidate survey questions and background information. https://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/local-elections-2022-candidate-survey-questions-and-background-information/
3) The local council candidate responses are published online as they come in. See https://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/election-survey-2022-candidates/ (click on the relevant local council tab)
4) See: Election Survey 2022 – Areas. https://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/election-survey-2022—areas/
Election Survey 2022 – Parties. https://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/election-survey-2022-parties/
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
