The Green Challenges to Come
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NEW GROUND AUTUMN 2017 Campaigning for environmental change & social justice THE GREEN CHALLENGES TO COME G R W O U E N N D CONFERENCE 2017 A U 7 T 0 1 U M N 2 Sadiq Khan My Vision for a Greener London Chi Onwurah MP Jacinda Ardern Growing a New Zealand’s sustainable future Climate Opportunity Welcome to our 2017 Autumn Edition NEWS ANDREW PAKES & ADAM DYSTER What a difference a few months can issues where Labour can make a real It’s BEEN A BUSY FEW MONTHS FOR make. Little did any of us expect that difference in this new political context. SERA within days of the last edition landing SERA - HERE ARE JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS on people’s doorsteps, we’d be gearing The biggest of course will continue to up to fight a snap general election. be Brexit, and both Baroness Young and NEWS OF WHAT WE’vE BEEN UP TO. Mary Creagh MP look at some of the Whilst the final result may not have been challenges of the Repeal Bill, and the the one we were fighting for - and the UK worrying threats the current Tory plans will have to continue to endure Theresa pose to our environmental protections. May’s premiership, now propped up by As part of Andy Burnham’s ‘Our policy first announced at the SERA the DUP - it was fantastic to see so many The new Fisheries and Agriculture bills ANDY BURNHAM Manifesto’ process, SERA held a manifesto event. The Summit will of Labour’s environmental champions will also be key for the future of our elected and re-elected to Parliament. farming and fishing communities, as public event in Manchester which bring organisations together to set Sustain’s Viki Hird and Melanie Onn MANIFESTO & brought together environmental a new ambitious target for carbon Particular congratulations go to Exec MP look at respectively. Expect to see organisations from across Greater neutrality for Greater Manchester. ANDREW PAKES Members Alan Whitehead MP & Daniel Parliamentary battles as well around Manchester to discuss the city- is the co-editor of GREEN SUMMIT Zeichner MP, who were re-elected with the Government’s Clean Growth Plan, region’s green economy, as well huge increases in their, and to new and which Anna McMorrin explores - if the New Ground and a member of the as key challenges such as air returning SERA Members Alex Sobel Tories ever publish the document. SERA Executive. quality and sustainable housing. MP, Luke Pollard MP, Anneliese Dodds He tweets at MP and David Drew MP. Alex has Whilst the Conservative Government @andrew4mk written for us about his experience as might try its best to avoid addressing The event fed into a number of a new MP and how he plans to use his the biggest green challenges, Labour Andy’s manifesto pledges, including position to champion climate action. authorities across the country are support for tree-planting and greater showing how to lead with ambition, ambition on climate change. With a hung Parliament, it’s clear that as Sadiq Khan shows with his piece ADAM DYSTER the political environment has shifted, on his green vision for the capital. is the co-editor Following Andy Burnham’s election, with huge opportunities for Labour of New Ground and is National SERA are delighted to be working to shape legislation and the political It’s clear that, as we enter the new on the Mayor’s Green Summit, a agenda for the better. This edition Parliamentary session proper, we are at Organiser for SERA. of New Ground looks at some of the a crucial moment for the environment He tweets at biggest environmental challenges over - but as the strength of these articles @AdamDyster the next few months and the key green show - Labour is ready for the challenge. SERA’s clean air campaign, We’ve also continued working CONTENTS A BREATH OF launched last year, called on with Labour authorities on Labour to back a new national WELCOME 2017 / Andrew Pakes & Adam Dyster 2 ABOUT their local efforts to tackle FRESH AIR – Clean Air Act. We therefore air pollution, and are looking NEWS / SERA News 3 welcomed Sue Hayman MP’s forward to continuing this FEATURE / My Vision for a Greener London - Sadiq Khan 5 New Ground is published by CAMPAIGN WIN announcement in May that conversation with our clean Labour would include this air conference event ‘Labour Chi Onwurah MP SERA, Labour’s environment FEATURE / Growing a Sustainable Future - 7 campaign www.sera.org.uk pledge in its 2017 manifesto, Leading the Way on Air Quality’. FEATURE / EVs in Southampton - Cllr Christopher Hammond 9 Email: [email protected] promising action within 30 days See back page for details. of entering government. FEATURE / Securing a Greener UK - Baroness Young 10 If you would like to contribute to future editions or join FEATURE / Taking Back Control of our Fisheries? - Melanie Onn MP 12 our mailing list, please FEATURE / Will Labour Rise to the Farming Challenge? - Vicki Hird 14 contact Adam Dyster, National Organiser at - Mary Creagh MP OPINION / A Toxic Brexit? 16 [email protected] www.sera.org.uk/join OPINION / Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon - Tonia Antoniazzi MP 18 The views expressed in New JOIN US AND Ground are those of the OPINION / On the Frontline Against Fracking - Louisa Casson 20 authors and not necessarily HELP MAKE @serauk those of the editor, SERA its VIEW FROM NEW ZEALAND / Jacinda Ardern 22 executive or its members. VIEW FROM WALES / Anna McMorrin MP 24 A DIFFERENCE serauk Printed and published Claudia Beamish MSP VIEW FROM SCOTLAND / 26 by UNP, The I.O. Centre, VIEW FROM WESTMINSTER / Alex Sobel MP 28 Unit 7, Skeffington Street, London, SE18 6SR LOCAL GOVERNMENT / Hackney’s energy revolution - Cllr Jon Burke 30 2. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 3. NEWS FEATURE GENERAL SERA was heavily involved in energy efficiency to supporting Labour’s election manifesto process, the UK’s green economy, front MY VISION FOR A ELECTION 2017 calling for environmental justice to and centre in the final manifesto. be at the heart of the party’s offer. SERA has long campaigned for Labour to show real leadership on GREENER LONDON We provided briefings for the the environment - this manifesto Shadow Cabinet teams, asked took that spirit to heart. R O U G N our members to take part in W D E public consultations, took part in As well as policy development, SERA SADIQ KHAN N Socialist Societies meetings and ran several campaigning events, SERA submitted our own manifesto to including canvassing in Cambridge the NPF, of which our Co-Chair for Daniel Zeichner and running a NEWS Melanie Smallman is a member. phonebank for Alan Whitehead. We 7 1 also produced an environmental A 0 U 2 T U M N It was great therefore to see SERA’s briefing, which we distributed to recommendations, from action on all Parliamentary candidates. Today around 55 per cent of London is the greatest city in health emergency. More than 9,000 SERA ParLIAMENTARY RecePTION & the world’s population live in the world, but I want to see it people lose their lives prematurely cities and that number is only become one of the greenest, and every year as a direct result of RELAUNCHING THE SERA PaRLIAMENTARY NETWORK set to grow in the years ahead. for us to regain our past global air pollution – and it is having a That means if we’re going to reputation for being at the forefront particularly negative impact on make strides in tackling the big of environmental action. As part children, stunting lung growth for life. environmental challenges of our of this, I recently published my The SERA Parliamentary Network The SERA Parliamentary Network time, major cities like London draft environmental strategy – Research also shows that some of was relaunched in July, with a will work with Labour members to have a crucial role to play. setting out the steps I intend to the worst pollution hotspots are reception jointly hosted with help share research, develop policy take to achieve this ambition. around schools and that London’s Shadow DEFRA and BEIS teams. ideas and coordinate campaigns on From introducing low-emission most deprived communities are With speeches from Sue Hayman environment, energy and transport vehicles to installing sustainable London’s environment and the among the hardest hit – meaning MP, Alan Whitehead MP and the related issues in Westminster. infrastructure and making public quality of our air has undoubtedly poverty and pollution are group’s new convenor Alex Sobel transport greener, big cities come a long way since our city was combining to limit the life chances MP, it was great to see so many We’re looking forward to working are already taking the lead and blighted by the Great Stink of the of countless young Londoners. Labour MPs and Peers passionate with all Labour MPs and Peers to harnessing the latest technological Victorian era or the 1952 Great about driving an ambitious green push for environmental and social solutions to protect our environment. Smog. Innovations in urban design In the 21st century – in a city agenda. Thanks to Liam Byrne MP justice at every opportunity! and the introduction of tough EU like London – this situation is for his help hosting this event. In an age when national governments regulations have helped to drastically unacceptable. When people’s health is are refusing to meet the challenge reduce industrial pollution and have at stake, we can’t shy away from doing and the US has announced made our city a cleaner, greener, the right thing.