02 July 2008 - Dr Caroline Lucas MEP joins Conservative and Lib Dem leaders at LGA conference in Bournemouth

The South East Green MEP and Green Party Principal Speaker Dr Caroline Lucas will be in Bournemouth tomorrow (Thursday 3 July) to debate the role of local and central government in the fight against climate change.

Appearing at the Local Government Association Annual Conference alongside David Cameron and Nick Clegg, Dr Lucas MEP will speak in a plenary session on climate change entitled ‘Small change, big difference’.

She will say: ‘Local and national government can give people the confidence and incentives to make good lifestyle choices.

"Interventionist government may be out of fashion, but central government has a key role to play in establishing a policy framework that will enable us to make the urgent and ambitious changes fast enough to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

"Local government also has an essential role, not just in terms of delivery, but also in terms of showcasing best practice, trialling innovative new ideas, and demonstrating what can be done. In Kirklees, for example, Green Party councillors successfully proposed the UK’s first free insulation scheme for all householders, regardless of income.

"This £21 million scheme is now in its second year and will deliver up to 50,000 installations and save householders a minimum of £5 million a year off their fuel bills, thereby helping not just the environment, but the local economy as well.

Dr Lucas will conclude: "A zero carbon economy can bring very real benefits and opportunities, and the only obstruction is a chronic lack of imagination, vision, and political will from our current political leaders."

The ‘Small change, big difference’ session will be chaired by BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee. Dr Lucas MEP is to be joined by Viscount Monckton of Brenchley Cllr and Sir Jeremy Beecham in the debate.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The LGA Annual Conference is taking place on 1-3 July 2008 at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Exeter Road, Bournemouth BH2 5BH. Over 2,000 leading figures in councils, central government, partners and business will attend the three-day conference.

Dr Lucas’ panel discussion is on Thursday 3 July 2008 from 10.50am to 11.35am. For more information on the LGA annual conference, please visit http://annualconference.lga.gov.uk.