Theresa May must not pander to Donald Trump on climate change but invest to power a “new industrial revolution” in green technology, the Liberal Democrat leader will say.
In a Westminster speech on Wednesday, Tim Farron will urge the Prime Minister to create another “Victorian“-style era of building, focused on tackling climate change.
He will call for a “sweeping programme of investment and reform on a level never seen before”, stressing that the Lib Dems want to see a zero carbon Britain by 2050, a more ambitious target than the current legal requirement to reduce emissions by 80%.
Mr Farron will tell Mrs May to ignore the new US president, who has claimed climate change is a Chinese hoax, and invest in green technology.
“The low carbon and no carbon economy will be underpinned and driven by industries which will be worth trillions globally in the next few decades,” he will say.
“It is a new industrial revolution. We can do as the Victorians did and lead it, prosper from it, and stand tall across the globe as a consequence.
“Or we can look down our noses at it and be surpassed and relegated.”
On Mr Trump, he will say: “The consensus (on climate change) is unravelling. We have a climate change denier in the White House; which provides a reason or an excuse for other countries to backslide a little too.
“We have a Tory Government that went from hugging huskies to dismissing intelligent environmental policies as ’green crap’, and a Labour Party that has no coherent vision for the environment, industry or the economy.
“The Prime Minister choosing to pander to President Trump hardly makes us any more optimistic that her next choices on climate change will be wisdom over transparent political short-termism.”
Mr Farron will say the Lib Dems are committed to limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5C rather than 2C and the party is enlisting experts to create a plan for a zero carbon UK.
“It will focus not just on energy sources, but on how all businesses can be sustainable and help meet our targets,” he will say.
“Reforming agriculture and land-use. Boosting natural protections such as peat and forestry. Electrifying transport and getting rid of diesel.
“Developing smart technology and advancing the circular economy. Addressing the need for change in our homes and heating. And using the financial sector to promote clean industry, including through better disclosure of climate risk.”
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