The U.K. general election looming on May 7 signals a critical year for Britain's future. It's also a critical year for the climate, as shortly after the new government enters office, the UN will hold a summit in Paris to hammer out a binding agreement on climate change. So the question is now: which British party can deliver on the welfare of the planet?

In 2010, when the Coalition government came into power, Prime Minister David Cameron claimed he wanted his administration to be the “greenest government ever.” He pledged to cut carbon emissions by 10% in the first 12 months.

Five years later, that government is accused of failing to deliver on its climate promise. Now, as the country braces for its general election next week, all political parties are keen to express policies and agendas to tackle global warming and climate change. But it's unclear who, if anyone, can get the job done.

U.K. Falling Short on Climate

A 2013 report by a consortium of more than three dozen NGOs found that 79% of the U.K. public believes government hasn't lived up to its pledge to be the “greenest government ever.” Far from it, the report found the Coalition's environmental record had “steadily worsened” during Cameron's time in office, with more than a third of its pledges not being met – from promises to protect animal welfare and reverse declines in wildlife to enlarging the green belt and developing marine conservation zones.

In the wake of the damning report, Dr. Elaine King, director of the consortium, said:

“We’re told an economy in crisis is a higher priority than nature in crisis. Yet the Government is missing a huge opportunity – a healthy environment helps the economy and enhances people’s health and wellbeing.”

An Administration Governed by Climate Skeptics

Aside from leading a government that has failed to deliver on basic environmental promises, David Cameron has been criticized for his commitment to appointing climate skeptics in lead government roles.

During the past months, Britain has battled against unpredictable red weather warnings. Yet Cameron remains intent on surrounding himself with renowned climate deniers who have undermined efforts to tackle global warming.

Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2012 to 2014, generated controversy by downplaying the threat of climate change and saying it could even have a positive impact.

Under Paterson, the domestic climate change budget was reduced by 40%. As the Guardian notes, if Paterson had listened to advisors, flood defenses would have been increased. Instead, the Committee on Climate Change has warned Britain is almost £500 million below what is required to keep flood risks at their current levels, putting a quarter of a million more homes at risk.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is equally known for his anti-green tactics. As the Treasury fought to water down commitments to renewable energy in the Coalition’s Energy Bill, Osborne described the green lobby as the "environmental Taliban."

By deliberately appointing climate skeptics in the administration, many argue, Cameron is choosing to ignore scientific evidence related to greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global warming.

The prime minister dealt another major blow to the environment by declaring his party’s plans to phase out subsidies for new wind turbines in the next parliament – saying “enough is enough” in a speech about offshore wind farms at the end of 2014.

Yet despite doing what amounts to a U-turn on their green promises from 2010, the Conservatives, conscious of how passionate much of the public is about environmental issues, has made several green pledges ahead of next week's election.

Under a Conservative government, badger culls would be extended across the U.K. A repeal of the foxhunting ban is also likely to be on the cards, with Cameron stating he wants a “free vote on the issue.”

By calling for an extension of the controversial badger culling, aimed at controlling the spread of bovine tuberculosis, and promising a free vote to legalize fox hunting if they win this year’s election, the Conservatives' environmental policies are hardly the most sensitive to the environment.

Labour’s Environment Agenda

Reminding voters that the last Labour government was the first in the world to put carbon targets into law, the Labour leader Ed Miliband has been outspoken on Labour’s environmental agenda. In an interview in February, Miliband said tackling global warming wasn't not just a global responsibility but an economic necessity for Britain.

If he becomes Britain’s next prime minister, Miliband has pledged to set ambitious emissions targets that will be renewed every five years based on scientific assessments of the progress being made to hold global temperatures below 2C by 2020. Miliband also promises to work with world leaders to set a goal of net zero global emissions in the second half of the century. The Labour leader has pledged to adopt transparent, universal rules for “measuring, verifying and reporting emissions with all countries adopting climate change adaptation plans.”

Furthermore, Miliband claims that as prime minister he would make an equitable deal whereby richer nations would support poorer countries in their efforts to combat climate change.

Miliband appointed former deputy prime minister John Prescott as an advisor to lend support and help him deliver on his ambitious climate policies – particularly in the run-up to the climate change summit to be held in Paris in December. Miliband said Prescott’s experience in climate change policies should the party favour at the ballot box.

But the reappointment of 77-year-old Prescott – widely known as John "Two Jags" Prescott due to his penchant for expensive Jaguars – to frontline climate politics has also sparked controversy. For some, the decision to call on Lord Prescott ahead of the election is an attempt to turn back the clock to the days when Labour used to win elections.

Nonetheless, many will remember that Prescott played a major role in successfully negotiating the landmark Kyoto Protocol discussions, seen as a landmark in global climate talks. In recognition of his work helping deliver the Kyoto Treaty, in 2006 then-Prime Minister and Labour leader Tony Blair asked Prescott to work with the Environment Secretary on developing the government’s post-Kyoto agenda.

Reinstating the high-profile Prescott as his advisor on environmental issues ahead of the election and the Paris summit could, in fact, be the most climate-savvy move by Miliband.

Liberal Democrats Commitment to the Environment

Claiming to be the first major U.K. party to talk about climate change in Parliament – back in the 1980s when the environment was a less popular issue – the Liberal Democrats have also announced some bold climate change policies ahead of the election. The Lib Dems promised to plant 1 million trees in England, introduce a five pence plastic bag charge and create 200,000 new green jobs by investing in renewable energy.

Yet despite their ambitious green pledges, the party is rapidly losing support in Britain. According to polls earlier this spring, the Lib Dems could be left with fewer than 20 of their current 56 Parliamentary seats after May 7.

The Green Party

By contrast, interest and popularity in the Green Party has been surging. As Occupy.com has highlighted in an ongoing series about the resurgence of the U.K. Greens, the party's policies prioritizing investment in renewable energy and creating a sustainable economy that supports the needs of the poor as well as the environment are proving popular.

Under Natalie Bennett’s leadership, the VAT tax would be abolished and replaced by new levies based on how much environmental damage a product causes.

Late Promises

In an unusual political consensus, David Cameron, Lib Dem leader Nick Glegg and Labour's Ed Miliband have mutually agreed to seek a “fair, strong, legally binding global climate deal which limits temperature rises to below 2°C."

However, with the Coalition Government significantly falling short on its previous green promises, many fear the leaders’ sudden commitment to the environment is little more than a means of drumming up party support during the election season.

The need to adapt to climate change is unavoidable, as Britain’s months of severe weather warnings can testify. But if the next U.K. government is to take the climate crisis by the horns, rhetoric will soon need to be replaced by concrete action – something the majority in Britain have long been awaiting.