The release of the three main parties’ election manifestos and environmental policies this week has formed a central component of each. Despite the political consensus developed around the low-carbon economies, there were also crucial differences in the Parties’ philosophical approach to delivering a low-carbon economy, as they disagree over nuclear power, windfarms, Heathrow expansion, environmental taxes and the number of climate change sceptics in their ranks.

At a special debate on 21st April, Labour government’s planned expansion of Heathrow airport was opposed by the other two parties. Labour’s climate and energy secretary, Ed Miliband, argues that only an interventionist government can drive the development of low-carbon economies, but also positions Labour as pragmatic environmentalists who are still willing to support the expansion of Heathrow airport.

Labour and the Conservatives agreed on new nuclear power stations and challenged Lib Dems to explain how his party would meet their pledge to cut carbon emissions without it. Lib Dems spokesman, Simon Hughes, said that they could meet their energy targets and ensure a low-carbon economy because they would do more to make homes and businesses energy efficient.

Tory’s spokesman, Greg Clark, was also challenged at the debate about how the Conservatives could insist there would be no taxpayer subsidies for nuclear power, despite reports that new nuclear reactors could not be built and operated without public support. Clark said in response, “We’re very clear, we’re not going to subsidise it.”

Miliband and Hughes attacked the record of Conservative councils in opposing windfarms. Clark said there needed to be more incentives for local people to want wind power, such as the party’s policy to let communities share in profits. Miliband’s answer to that was to take on local councils, over wind power and other issues, such as insulation, and added that to attain a low-carbon economy it does require leadership.

An assessment by Friends of the Earth revealed this week that the Liberal Democrats have the most ambitious green manifesto policies of the three main parties, but all parties must have made the low-carbon economy a bigger election issue.

Key environmental policies for a low-carbon economy:

Labs:

• Push EU towards 30% cut in carbon emissions by 2020
• Achieving around 40% low-carbon electricity by 2020
• Creating 400,000 new green jobs by 2015
• Making greener living easier and fairer through ‘pay as you save’ home energy insulation
• Energy-bill discounts for pensioners
• Banning recyclable and biodegradable materials from landfill

Cons:

• Aim to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050
• Cut central government carbon emissions by 10% in 12 months
• Working towards zero waste
• Providing incentives to recycle
• Encouraging sustainable water management
• Offering every household a Green Deal Transforming electricity networks with ‘smart grid’ and ‘smart meter’ technology
• Expanding offshore wind and marine power

Libs:

• Aim to make the British economy carbon-neutral by 2050
• Reduce carbon emissions in UK by more than 40% of 1990 levels by 2020
• Support cap-and-trade for aviation and shipping
• Promise funds for less industrialised countries on top of existing aid commitments for a low-carbon economy
• Pledging that at least 20% of energy and 40% of electricity will come from renewable sources by 2020 rising to 100% by 2050
• Seeking to toughen limits on pollution across Europe Ensuring guaranteed fair prices for energy consumers
• Making energy suppliers ensure homes are well insulated
• Roll-out of smart metering in five years More investment in public transport to cut carbon emissions