Printed by Seacourt Press Limited on recycled paper made from 75% de-inked post consumer waste and a maximum of 25% mill broke. Seacourt have EMAS and ISO14001 accreditation, are members of the waterless printing association and their carbon emissions are offset. EMAS registration number UK-5-0000073. annual report 2000/01 our mission Green Alliance exists to promote sustainable development by ensuring that the environment is at the heart of decision-making We work with senior people in government, parliament, business and the environment movement to encourage new ideas, dialogue and constructive solutions. Green Alliance has three main aims: > to make the environment a central political issue > to integrate the environment effectively in public policy and decision-making > to stimulate new thinking and advance the environmental agenda into new areas The publication of this report has been supported by Severn Trent plc and the DEFRA Environmental Action Fund chair’s report Green Alliance’s increased strategic focus over the past two years is paying dividends. Our efforts to engage the Prime Minister and his officials on the environment succeeded, with Tony Blair’s speech to a Green Alliance/CBI audience in October 2000. This was by no means the end of a process, but opened a new dialogue between the Prime Minister and environment groups. Another success was the publication of our detailed, consensual work on the role of negotiated agreements between government and business. This charts a course through opposing views, laying down a model of best practice of which government, business and NGOs can feel ownership. Two Green Alliance pamphlets received considerable attention. Charles Leadbeater, author of Living on Thin Air, examined the environmental implications of the hi-tech, knowledge- intensive economy in Mind Over Matter, and In Our Backyard by Ken Worpole offered solutions to the environmental hardships faced by our poorest communities. We worked hard to raise the profile of the environment as an issue for voters. Leading the Vote Environment 2001 initiative, we worked with other environmental NGOs and the political parties, setting out environmental priorities for the new government.We were disappointed that the environment still did not receive the political attention it deserves at election time, but the initiative provided good grounding for further work in this area. Next year Green Alliance will be working to ensure a stronger environmental dimension to the forthcoming Treasury spending round, and we will take forward the debate about handling environmental risk using the precautionary principle. A new pamphlet will look at environmental values and consumer decisions, aiming to move beyond the ‘ethical consumption’ niche. After a brief spell as director, we were sorry to lose Paul Jefferiss, who decided for personal reasons to leave Green Alliance in April 2001. However, we are delighted that Rebecca Willis has taken on the role so seamlessly.We are already benefiting from her personal drive and enthusiasm to move Green Alliance in ever more interesting directions. Finally, thanks to the staff and my fellow trustees at Green Alliance, as well as our wide network of members and colleagues, all of whom help us to achieve so much. Tony Hams Green Alliance annual report 2000/2001 > 1 Tony Blair’s first speech on the environment, as Prime Minister, was to a Green Alliance/CBI conference in October 2000.The event followed a long process of dialogue and engagement with senior government officials and advisers.The most important outcome was that the speech opened a genuine conversation between the Prime Minister and the environment movement. Prime Minister’s first environment speech The Government now seems to be developing a proactive environmental agenda and is openly addressing themes such as a greener economy and resource productivity, both currently promoted by Green Alliance. It remains to be seen, however, whether these new commitments represent the step-change needed to bring about real environmental improvement. Sarah Burton Director of Political and Business Affairs, Greenpeace “...what was important about the speech was that the Prime Minister specifically recognised the need to take urgent action on climate change, and that the cuts in greenhouse gases needed would be in line with Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommendations of 60 per cent by 2050. This is much more than current targets. He said that this would require huge investment in renewable forms of energy, and made a small step towards that by announcing more money. He also talked about the partnerships needed between government, business and NGOs and cited the Greenfreeze campaign by Greenpeace as a positive example.” Patricia Hayes Secretary to the Sustainable Development Commission “This was an important occasion for me because it was when the Prime Minister launched the Sustainable Development Commission! As a cross-sectoral organisation, we strongly welcomed the emphatic support he gave for partnership to deliver sustainability. While he clearly recognised the enormity of the issues facing us - like climate change, biodiversity, resource productivity - he also recognised the scope for competitiveness, innovation and sustainability to pull in the same direction and deliver positive solutions. SDC’s mission is to inspire sustainable development. It was great to have such high level endorsement of what we are trying to achieve right from our very first day.” Simon Lyster Chief Executive, Wildlife Trusts “Since the speech we have seen several signs that the environment is moving up the political agenda. This is encouraging, but the jury is still out as to whether his fine words result in sufficient action to reverse, for example, the decline in biodiversity on the ground. And it is against delivery that he should be judged” Bill Alexander Chief Executive, Thames Water “The environment is the heart of Thames Water’s business and it was very encouraging to hear the Prime Minister underline his commitment to environmental improvement and to have the opportunity to discuss the Government’s priorities. Progress will only be achieved through partnership between business, NGOs and the public sector and the speech was an important step in this engagement process. Tony Blair acknowledged that we face challenges on three levels: global, national and individual. I recognise the vital role of business in meeting these challenges, but also welcome the Prime Minister’s inclusive approach.” 2 < Green Alliance annual report 2000/01 During the year, Green Alliance worked with both main opposition parties to help them provide a strong voice on the environment. With the Conservatives, we held discussions on their ‘blue-green agenda’, and Charles Kennedy offered his thoughts on how the Liberal Democrats could contribute in his speech to Green Alliance in March 2001. an active opposition Charles Kennedy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, to Green Alliance, March 2001 “Increasingly, green issues are an important factor in deciding how people cast their vote... Protecting the environment and local people - that is what our ‘Green Justice’ agenda is all about... On a planet where the most precious of commodities, a stable climate, is under threat emissions could be rationed ...every citizen could in the long run have an equal emission quota. There could hardly be a more obvious application of the notion of universal human rights.” Damian Green MP Conservative spokesman on the environment (until June 2001) “During my time as environment spokesman I found Green Alliance particularly useful in allowing intelligent public and private conversation between the Conservative party and environmental groups. Its set-piece events helped, but I also appreciated the opportunities for discussion of our policy leading up to the election.” Green Alliance annual report 2000/01 > 3 In the run-up to the general election, the Vote Environment 2001 initiative asked all the political parties to put the environment as an issue into their election campaign, and to adopt three pledges on climate change, the countryside and chemicals. The initiative was steered by Green Alliance and involved a powerful coalition of environmental organisations: Greenpeace, RSPB,The Wildlife Trusts, WWF-UK, Friends of the Earth and CPRE. In February, Vote Environment 2001 challenged the environmental spokespeople of the three main parties to a hustings debate which then received exclusive coverage in The Independent. A website set up for the campaign also allowed people to contact political parties and MPs directly and ask them to adopt the pledges.This was a successful exercise in collaboration between the groups, harnessing a combined public membership of around two million people to promote the environment to politicians. Despite Vote Environment 2001, the environment hardly featured at all once the election campaign actually got underway.This sidelining of environmental themes continues to be a difficult issue for Green Alliance and other environment groups. Tony Burton Director of Policy and Planning, National Trust “...the environment is still out of the political mainstream. At the moment, it can touch a nerve - GM, greenfield housing, road building - but it does not seem able to shape a political philosophy.” The Independent reporting on Vote Environment 2001 “Only the Liberal Democrats, to give them credit where it is due, have a climate change strategy that goes beyond the first decade of