Climate change is the "greatest challenge facing this generation", according to the Liberal Democrat party.

As part of its General Election manifesto, the party revealed a vision for a "zero-carbon" Britain in the future.

It said it aims to reduce the UK's carbon emissions by more than 40% of 1990 levels over the next decade.

And it added that by the middle of the century Britain would be "carbon neutral" and not adding to the problem of global warming.

As part of its election manifesto, the Lib Dems said a major issue is ensuring future housing stock is green and energy efficient. The party said if elected, it would offer people a £400 "eco-cash back" scheme.

Under the terms of the scheme, homeowners would get cash back if they replaced old and inefficient boilers with double glazing and renewable energy systems.

Homeowners would also be offered an energy efficiency audit of their home and then be eligible for a loan of up to £10,000 to make improvements, which they would pay back through their council tax.

Schools would get extra money loaned to them to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, which the party claimed will pay for itself with future energy savings.

The manifesto also set out plans for a "bus scrappage" scheme which would provide £140 million to replace old polluting buses with new low-carbon ones that will also improve air quality on UK streets.

New nuclear power stations would be blocked, because of the cost, and permission would only be granted for new coal-fired power stations if fitted with the "highest level" of new technology to capture and store the carbon they produce.

Copyright © Press Association 2010

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Click here for a link to Morgan Cole's at-a-glance guide to the three main political parties' manifestos on climate change, energy, water and waste.

For further information, please contact Paul Brennan, Head of Morgan Cole's Energy and Environment team.