The Manifestos: Conservative

The mantra of "Vote Blue, Go Green" seems to have been sidelined in recent years as the Conservative Party has stabilised behind David Cameron and Tory backbenchers have increasingly felt secure enough to challenge their leader.

Again, the manifesto pledges are in red and my comments in black.

Instead of using rules and regulations to impose a centralised world view, we will go with the grain of human nature, creating new incentives and market signals which reward people for doing the right thing.

I highlight this to contrast it with the Labour Party's view of more environmental regulation.

a Conservative government will work towards an ambitious global deal that will limit emissions

we can confirm our aim of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

in government, we will lead from the front by delivering a 10 per cent cut in central government emissions within twelve months

Here's a "wow" moment. 10% in 12 months? How? Unfortunately, they don't say. This could be tied into their "efficiency savings" to tackle the financial crisis though.

create an ‘electricity internet’ – a highly interactive network, based on a new smart grid that will interact with smart meters in people’s homes

introducing an emissions Performance Standard to limit the levels of greenhouse gases our power stations produce

clearing the way for new nuclear power stations – provided they receive no public subsidy

There's not a nuclear power station in the world that doesn't require public subsidy in one way or another. Does this mean the Tories are pledging that all costs associated with nuclear plants - including the long-term storage of waste - will be met by the private sector?

creating four carbon capture and storage-equipped plants

This is the same as the Labour manifesto, 4 new coal plants.

delivering an offshore electricity grid in order to support the development of a new generation of offshore wind power, and establishing at least two marine energy Parks

giving local authorities the power to establish new district heating networks

Again, localised energy is the same as what Labour are promising.

allowing communities that host renewable energy projects like wind farms to keep the additional business rates they generate for six years

we will reform the energy regulator ofgem

we will create a ‘green Deal’, giving every home up to £6,500 worth of energy improvement measures – with more for hard-to-treat homes – paid for out of savings made on fuel bills over 25 years

Here's this paying for things out of your fuel bill savings that I talked about with the Labour manifesto. I'll say it again - one of the main reasons for people to increase their energy efficiency is to lower their bills immediately. If you remove that incentive then they'll just not bother.

We will improve the energy effciency of everyday appliances by drawing on the experience of the ‘top runner’ scheme from japan.

Does this mean an abandonment of the EU's grading scheme for appliances?

ensure that 10 per cent of the staff directly employed by ‘green Deal’ providers are apprentices

We will support the strongest protection for endangered species and work to protect vital habitats from destruction.

We will tackle the smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife through our new border Police force.

We will f ght for wholesale reform of the Common fisheries Policy to encourage sustainable practices, give communities a greater say over the future of their fishing industries, and bring an end to the scandal of fish discards.

We will work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research.

firmly oppose any resumption of commercial whaling and do all we can to ensure that the international moratorium stays in place

press for a total ban on ivory sales and the destruction of existing stockpiles

promote new green spaces and wildlife corridors to help animals adapt and thrive in the face of climate change.

The Labour manifesto doesn't mention animals at all, so it was a surprise to see this section.

We will produce a White Paper on protecting the natural environment, including a focus on restoring habitat. We will pioneer a new system of conservation credits to protect habitats.

review the governance arrangements for national Parks and aonbs to ensure that they are more accountable to local communities

in addition to ongoing woodland creation, we will launch a national tree planting campaign, planting up to one million new trees in the next Parliament.

pressing for fnancial support from within a reformed eU budget to be given to developing countries to halt deforestation

pressing for only legally-harvested timber and timber products to be made available on the market

introducing a new criminal offence under UK law for the import and possession of illegal timber.

Again, like Labour, they seem to be saying that they will halt illegally logged timber reaching these shores regardless of what the EU does.

We will prevent development on the most fertile farmland, in all but exceptional circumstances.

ensure that consumers have the right to choose non-gm foods through clear labelling

not permit any commercial planting of GM crops until and unless it has been assessed as safe for people and the environment

develop a legally-binding protocol covering the separation of GM and non-GM material, including clear industry liability

Again, the Labour manifesto makes no mention of GM crops so this is welcome, although I'd prefer a commitment to a complete ban.

We advocate the dismantling of market-distorting subsidies at a pace that allows time for british farmers and producers in developing countries to adapt

we will introduce a carefully-managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine Tuberculosis

Hmm, if it was science-led then there wouldn't be much of a badger cull.

ensure that meat labelled as ‘British’ is born and bred in Britain, and raised to our high welfare standards.

We will ensure a fair market for food suppliers – especially farmers – by reducing the burden of regulation. to ensure the grocery supply code of practice is applied fairly, we will introduce an independent supermarket ombudsman.

Aha, there he is again, the Supermarket Ombudsman. It seems this will be a reality whether Labour or Tory win the election.

We will introduce a responsibility Deal on waste – a voluntary arrangement among producers to cut back on the production of waste and improve its disposal

Because voluntary arrangements always work on industry. Don't they?

we will reward people who do the right thing by encouraging councils to pay people to recycle

prevent unnecessary building in areas of high flood risk

I have to admit I'm more impressed with the Tory manifesto than the Labour one when it comes to the environment - they just seem to have given it that bit more thought. Even if I don't agree with where that thinking has taken them!