NEW GROUND

SUMMER 2019

Campaigning for environmental change & social justice

Crisis Point Labour’s answers to the Climate & Environment Emergency

Sue Hayman MP This is a Climate & Environment Emergency MP Science tells us our Planet is Broken MP Municipal Socialism Welcome to our 2019 Summer Edition

What a difference a few months can make! largest climate mass lobby of Parliament we Our last issue of New Ground marked ten have seen in the UK with hundreds of MPs years of Labour’s Climate Change Act, which meeting and listening to their constituents was a landmark at its time, aiming to achieve concerns and fears face-to-face. We should 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, also not forget the BBC’s Climate Change The and how we can build on that . Facts programme, the Committee on Climate Fast forward to the Summer of 2019 and Change’s report, the IPCC warnings and the UK now has a new net zero target and Labour councillors and Labour/SERA members one of Labour’s key policy commitments is pushing Climate Emergency declarations to kickstart a green industrial revolution. and putting in place plans to respond.

This hasn’t happened overnight. We’ve seen Politicians can no longer ignore the environment a massive shift in public concern for the and climate emergency. It was thanks to Labour environment which is clearly illustrated in recent on the 1st May that Parliament unanimously polling. On the same day temperatures rose declared a climate emergency. The Shadow to record highs across the UK, a new ComRes Chancellor and SERA member John McDonnell survey showed 71% of the UK public believe has said the ‘existential threat to our planet the climate crisis is more important than . is the absolute priority of next Labour And other polls have shown ‘the environment’ Government’. and questioned is now above ‘immigration’, ‘housing’ and Boris Johnson extensively in their first dual in the ‘terrorism’ which was not the case until recently. House of Commons on the Government’s plans.

What has led to this welcome and rapid change We have seen some fantastic political progress in public opinion? Increased high-profile voices over the last few months with our elected and campaigns. Two are certainly Extinction representatives accepting the challenges we Rebellion protesters taking over the streets face. However, since the 1st May we have not Phillip Fenton of London and cities across the UK and the seen anything from the Government on how is National compelling and the astounding Greta Thunberg they plan to respond to the emergency. The Organiser for (who we were proud to co-host in Parliament hard work is only just beginning, we need new SERA and editor earlier this year) who has inspired hundreds creative ideas, radical plans of action and policy of New Ground. of thousands of school children across our that will rapidly decarbonise our economy Get in touch at planet to strike for the future of everything whilst creating thousands of new green jobs. phillip.fenton@ we hold dear to us. Extinction Rebellion and This issue of New Ground looks at how Labour sera.org.uk the school strikers have led to many new can provide that rapid and urgent response campaigns and campaigners including the to the environment and climate emergency.

WELCOME SUMMER EDITION 2019 / Phillip Fenton 2 About Feature / Science tells us our planet is broken / Clive Lewis MP 3 Feature / Climate Emergency Spending Review / Jake Sumner 4 New Ground is published by Feature / Divest Parliament / MP & MP 6 SERA, Labour’s environment campaign www.sera.org.uk Feature / Net zero – is it enough? / Bryn Kewley 8 Email: [email protected] Feature / A home shouldn’t cost the Earth / Alex Cunningham MP 10 If you would like to contribute to Sue Hayman MP Feature / This is a Climate & Environment Emergency / 12 future editions or join our mailing Travel / New Climate Perks Scheme / Sarah Barfield Marks 13 list, please contact Phillip Fenton, National Organiser at SERA Travel / Flight of fancy / Alex Sobel MP 14 [email protected] Renewables / Renewable energy: a key climate solution / Nathan Bennett 15 The views expressed in New Rebecca Bell Carbon capture / CCS and the Green Industrial Revolution / 17 Ground are those of the National parks / Restoring nature / Adam Barnett 19 authors and not necessarily Trade Unions / Just transition to a greener economy / Tim Page 21 those of the editor, SERA its executive or its members. Fracking / We need a fracking ban / Steve Mason 23 Food / Role of food in taking on the climate emergency / Mark Banahan 25 Printed and published Homes / Designing for nature, climate and people / Rebecca Pullinger 27 by UNP, The I.O. Centre, Unit 7, Skeffington Street, west midlands / Municipal Socialism / Liam Byrne MP 29 London, SE18 6SR / Tackling the climate crisis in Scotland / Claudia Beamish MSP 30 2. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice FEATURE Science tells us our planet is broken Fixing it requires rapid and radical change

Clive Lewis MP

Getting your head around an existential that the art of the ‘politically possible’ must and question the world around them. To threat to the entirety of human civilisation now make way for that of the ‘scientifically see through fake news, demagoguery is no easy thing. It’s why World War necessary’. Here in the UK that means and lies, and possess the confidence to Two analogies are often deployed to net zero-carbon by 2030 and zero-carbon challenge power. To resist the ever-lurking describe the sheer scale of the challenge by 2050 (on UK consumption figures, not threat of ethno-nationalism. To understand the climate crisis presents to us as a just production) if we want to remain and grasp a world of AIs and the power society. But in many ways, it’s actually in our ‘fair carbon budget’ threshold. of data. To be scientifically literate. To the post-war rebuilding that better understand that history can show us resembles the type of challenge that But the GND is so much more than just democracy’s past failings but cannot alone confronts us here in the 21st century. an economic strategy to decarbonise the predict what form future threats will take. economy. It’s an entirely new political After the War, we were confronted with a economy whose contents are being This is the challenge Labour now faces. devastated European continent, a global constantly updated and debated. It will Grappling with policies not for the 20th political and economic order in tatters, need to cover everything from health to century, not even for today, but what millions of displaced people, hunger and defence, accounting to law, food security we face tomorrow, and that is already the looming threat of further conflict to new democratic national and global here for many parts of the Global South. with the Soviet Union. In the context institutions. It will need to be a blueprint not of the here and now, much of this is just for the problems we face today but also The 2017 Labour Party manifesto was yet to happen (although I would argue the ones our children will face tomorrow. in many ways a social democratic reset. the early warning signs are here). And It was a reaffirmation of the values yet we know, according to the science, Of course, no plan survives contact with we embraced to rebuild Britain after that systemic ecological and climate reality. The future cannot be predicted a devastating war. Values which saw shocks are coming. In fact, in the global exactly. This is exactly why our watch public good trump private good. Where South they are already here. Arguably, word must be ‘resilience’ i.e. the ability the 99% were put before the one. when these shocks start to happen to endure and then quickly recover from all across the world, global civilisation difficulties. We must build it into our After 40 years of embracing neoliberal will be left in a worse state than 1945. economy, our democracy and, if we’re economic dogma, democratic socialist honest, most importantly, our people. parties across Europe paid a high What we therefore need is a pre- price for forgetting those basics. If we emptive Marshall Plan. One that can In a democracy it’s us, the people, who forget them again, if we fail to step up decarbonise and democratise our are the most important resource we have. to transformative change, unparalleled economy; reduce consumption and waste; It’s our political choices, our decisions in peacetime history, it will be much replenish natural habitats; put food and to change things, to maintain things, to more than mere elections we lose. farming on a sustainable footing and determine our values, to decide how build resilience into our democracy in to respond and how to pre-empt; it’s preparation for what we know is coming. our ingenuity, our compassion and our determination. It’s all these things and more Clive Lewis MP Enter the ‘Green New Deal’ (GND). Here that will shape and determine the future is Shadow Treasury in the UK the Labour Party has coined of our democracy in these perilous times. Minister for Sustainable Economics and Labour the term, ‘Green Industrial Revolution’. MP for Norwich South. Whichever you prefer, the key words to That means an education system fit for He tweets at note are ‘new’ and ‘revolution’, shorthand purpose. Teaching children, the skills and @labourlewis for radical, systemic change. A bold decree knowledge they will need to critically assess

SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 3. FEATURE Tests government must meet:

begin a Climate Emergency Spending Review and ‘climate conversation’ JAKE SUMNER

Could 2019 be the watershed year time? Today. A Climate Emergency transition? Special rules enable fracking for climate action, marking our Spending Review (CESR) is needed now. while other policies prevent onshore wind, awakening? For our sakes, it must. the cheapest energy. Shockingly, Ministers It tests the new Government’s seriousness want to increase VAT from 5% to 20% Greta Thunberg’s compelling voice regarding our greatest existential crisis. on home solar-battery systems but not and her fellow school protestors, the While we’ve seen announcements for coal. There are countless similar examples. activities of Extinction Rebellion, the BBC’s a rumoured election and billions for a climate film, the Committee on Climate no-deal Brexit, the climate emergency Leadership shows the way elsewhere. Change’s (CCC) report on 2050 net zero is ignored. To use a WWII analogy, it’s Around half of new car sales in Norway and Parliament’s legislating for it, local akin to not rearming as war loomed. are fully electric, for the UK it’s around councils declaring a climate emergency 2%. Norway also plans all short-haul and Labour’s pushing Parliament to do Labour representatives, unions and domestic flights to be electric by 2040. the same, have all made clear: we must environmental and civil society groups ‘tell the truth’ on the climate emergency. should push for a CESR. If there is an A CESR requires doing things differently. election it can form a centre-piece of a Shadow Treasury Minister Clive Lewis However, although awareness is greater manifesto, underpinning Labour’s ambitious has put forward departmental carbon than ever, the response is not. Climate programme. A CESR would set the country budgets while Shadow Transport Secretary, complacency is manifest. If we can look up for the global climate talks in December Andy McDonald, has said how they’ll back this year and say, ‘we got it’, we and the UK’s bid to hold these next year. work at the Department of Transport. need clear markers of action. Here are five: What would a CESR entail? A Spending As the public sector’s largest carbon • A Climate Emergency Spending Review Review assesses all spending, taxes and emitter and a huge producer of waste, • A comprehensive ‘climate conversation’ programmes and sets priorities ahead. the NHS estate can be greened with A CESR would put this through a carbon trees planted - an ‘NHS forest’ - and • Creating systemic change not reduction lens and support a rapid move renewable energy for ambulances leaving to individual choices to decarbonisation and net zero. It would to hospitals. Let’s us remember • Championing the benefits create much-needed coherence across that increasing deaths and health net zero delivers government policy. Little government conditions are attributable to toxic air. • Building the largest climate coalition spending has a climate change priority. In contrast, 25% of the proposed EU Shadow Chancellor, John McDonald, Climate Emergency Spending Review budget for 2021-27 will be climate-related. has said how the financial system can be greened. Labour’s National Education Currently, the UK won’t meet its fourth and Ministers say UK emissions have fallen service would underpin a green skills fifth carbon budgets. The fourth begins in more than elsewhere. They have but transformation. Retrofitting millions of 2023. Alongside, the Intergovernmental mainly due to the phasing out of coal. homes would boost energy efficiency Panel on Climate Change said we’ve Gas emissions are largely static, oil’s are and a Sustainable Investment Board a decade to act. The Government is rising, and transport’s haven’t reduced would support the green transformation. conducting a Spending Review and an since the 1990s. The rate of reduction is Others have good ideas too, including autumn Budget. At what point will these also slowing; last year was the smallest in the Green Alliance outlining the benefits address carbon budgets and the changes six years. Too many policies are causing of resource efficiency. A CESR would required? To cite a Chinese proverb, climate harm. Export support backs fossil cover every sector, greening transport when is the best time to plant a tree? fuels, such as funding an oil refinery in to homes, energy to agriculture, industrial Twenty years ago. The second-best Bahrain. Why is it not focused on the green production to consumer products.

4. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice FEATURE

Climate complacency is manifest. If we can look back this year and say, ‘we got it’, we need clear markers of action

It’s includes the environmental emergency The consequences of choices must also be countering the problems of capitalism too. We can re-green Britain, replanting addressed. A Bath University study showed has taken decades from the creating of forests and put people at the heart. For that the health impacts of a car driving in unions, welfare state and employment every child born and every person taking an inner-city area is £16,000 over the car’s rights. Climate change action cannot wait a citizenship ceremony, let’s plant a tree, lifetime, which is a £650m cost in London for the ‘ideologically pure’ system. The signalling a connection to our natural per annum. This excludes the carbon cost. climate battle must take place now, using world and building roots for our future. So, should a product which contributes the tools we have like a Spending Review, to climate or health costs have to factor as well as seeking to remake systems. Comprehensive Climate Conversation these in, for example should there be a premium on a home built that is not zero- It means building the widest coalition and People are at the heart of the challenges carbon instead of the other way around? Labour having the widest appeal, as my ahead. There must be ongoing public co-chair Melanie Smallman and former discussion. Change can’t be to people Champion the environment future leader have argued. Labour but with people, underpinning needs to be in government, to lead change an ongoing mandate for action. We must act to avoid the climate in the UK and internationally, and to build consequences, but a zero-carbon economy the coalition to counter climate destroyers This requires leadership. The Prime Minister, shouldn’t just be an obligation, we should from President Trump to Argentinian should lead a ‘climate conversation’, seek to secure it anyway as it brings many President Bolosanaro. By torching the bringing together the Cabinet, National benefits - lower utility bills, affordable- Amazon, he threatens all our futures. Governments, Labour and opposition to-run homes, cheaper travel, mobility, It’s a global battle to ensure this doesn’t leaders and local leaders in a landmark step. improved health, saved lives, economic happen. While 2019 could be the year It would show every administration has a resilience, new industries, skilled well- we finally awoke to the climate crisis, we role and an ongoing conversation is needed paid jobs and community investment. face some of the toughest battles ahead. in every community, as Camden has with its Climate People’s Assembly. Next year’s The benefits of the transition must Our moment must be seized. As a city-mayor elections, covering 17 million target the ‘left behind’. Labour Leader, banner at the climate protests said: “The people, can accelerate the conversation. Jeremy Corbyn, signalled this at the greatest threat the planet faces is the Durham Miners Gala, committing belief that someone else will save it.” A Systemic change to “Power Up the North” through red-green, Labour voice is needed more Labour’s Green Industrial Revolution. than ever to champion a people-based, As the CCC has outlined, moving to coalition for a sustained, at scale, rapid zero net carbon is achievable, but it Ambitious environmentalism is the response to secure a net zero economy. requires systemic change everywhere. way to tackle deep inequalities. It However, too often climate discussions, provides a national story and optimistic especially in the media, are framed future. As John McDonald said, through individual choices. This neo- it can bring the country together. liberal individualist frame lets government Jake Sumner and business off the hook and overlooks Climate coalition Co-Chair SERA the systemic change needed. Too often and former individual green choices are not easy or The changes require the broadest coalition Labour adviser affordable. Incentives and regulations and to accelerate the 2050 net zero He tweets at can change this. It’s why there’s been a target. Some say the economic system @Policy_Jake huge take-up of electric cars in Norway. requires a complete change. It does. But,

SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 5. FEATURE

Thangam Debbonaire MP & Matt Western MP

The five warmest years since records climate change since the 1970s, spends savings is only one ingredient of a just began in 1880 were the last five years. hundreds of millions yearly to buy influence economic transition, whereby workers in As the climate heats and unravels, and spread disinformation, and has no decommissioned industries are supported in our weather systems are becoming plans of changing anytime soon - with just reskilling or changing jobs, public funding into more and more volatile. Those who 1.3% of average capital expenditure being home decarbonisation and renewable energy have contributed least to the problem used to develop clean energy in 2018. rollout is maximised, and efforts are put into - located primarily in the Global South sustainability research and development. - are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Fossil fuel giants extract inexcusable subsidy from governments around the The environment is now consistently Earlier this year, South Eastern Africa faced world - $5.3tn per year. The UK is the worst amongst the nation’s top three issues, and the devastating Hurricane Idai, killing offender in the EU, funding the industry with Parliament gridlocked the public want thousands and displacing millions, and in the form of billions from government, MPs to show leadership in this area. We, India has recently endured record and fatal but also investment through our pensions, as well as calling for full divestment of the heat waves - above 50°C in many cities. university endowments and investment parliamentary pension fund, as a majority In the UK, this year we have already had funds. This fossil fuel finance must be of Labour MPs have done, we’ve written more wildfires than any year on record, stopped and instead be reinvested into to the trustees for a full disclosure of the plaguing some of our most cherished positive solutions to the climate crisis. fund’s holdings and positive action to align landscapes from Cornwall to the Highlands. investments with the Paris Agreement. Moreover, a recent paper published in Yet little progress has been made. These impacts have prompted the IPCC Nature Energy has shown that an additional to call for urgent and unprecedented $458 billion must be invested annually We believe the trustees require a resounding political action to eliminate greenhouse gas into low-carbon infrastructure and energy signal from fund members in order to fully emissions. A legally binding net zero target efficiency to contain warming to below divest. This is why we and SERA are asking is a positive step forward but achieving this 1.5°C. Public and private pension funds can those Labour MPs who have yet to sign by 2050 doesn’t speak to the urgency of the make a vital contribution to this essential add their name to the Divest Parliament impacts described above or the UK’s marked investment, resulting in positive impacts on pledge to ensure that Parliament gets historical contribution to global emissions. local homes, businesses and communities. its house in order on the climate crisis.

Such circumstances have necessitated Divestment is also a question of protecting Thangam Debbonaire a wave of urgent calls for action from peoples’ future economic security. Pensions MP is a Labour Whip demonstrators and voters across Europe. people have worked all their lives to build and Labour MP for In May, Labour led Parliament in declaring are heavily invested in the fossil fuel industry Bristol West. a Climate Emergency, a world first, and and taking action to limit global warming She tweets at now we’re actively planning and mobilising would devalue these investments rapidly. @ThangamMP for a Green Industrial Revolution. Losses incurred risk matching those of the 2008 financial crisis if our money is In these making these declarations and not aligned to a fossil free future. Shifting Matt Western MP plans it is important to recognise that investments into solutions is therefore a is Labour MP prudent move for climate, people and nature. the fossil industry is the primary driver for & of the climate crisis. Just 100 fossil fuel Leamington. companies and institutions are responsible For this very reason divestment has He tweets at for over 70% of all emissions since 1988. the support of unions (and the TUC), @MattWestern_ This is the same industry that knew about Labour councils, and voters. Shifting our 6. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice The pledge Unmitigated climate change threatens to undermine our leadership on climate action, responsible investment and the economy, shared environment and global security. Under the management of climate risk through addressing the practices UK’s Climate Change Act and the Paris Agreement, the UK is of our own pension fund. committed to limiting warming to well below 2°C and to aim As MPs past and present, and members of the Parliamentary for no more than 1.5°C. This requires leaving the vast majority Pension Fund, we call on the Trustees to uphold their fiduciary of fossil fuel reserves unburnt, creating the real possibility of duty and take the financial risks of climate change seriously. We fossil fuel assets becoming stranded – with profound implications ask they quantify, disclose and review the fund’s investments for the global economy. in carbon-intensive industries, engage in a dialogue with fund We believe Members of Parliament have a responsibility to members and managers on responsible investment, and commit to act on climate change, and a unique opportunity to show phasing out fossil fuel investments over an appropriate time-scale.

As of 16th August 2019, signed by:

Name Constituency Name Constituency Name Constituency Afzal Khan , Gorton Hiliary Benn Central Weaver Vale Alex Norris Nottingham North Halifax Mike Hill Hartlepool Alex Sobel Leeds North West Hugh Gaffney Coatbridge, Chryston Mohammed Yasin Bedford Alison McGovern Wirral South and Bellshill Bradford West Denton and Reddish Wrexham Neil Coyle Bermondsey and Andrew Slaughter Hammersmith Ian Mearns Gateshead Old Southwark Ashton-under-Lyne Ian Murray Edinburgh South Nick Thomas-Symonds Torfaen Cynon Valley Imran Hussain Bradford East Pontypridd Anna McMorrin Cardiff North Bury South Sheffield Central Oxford East Erdington Paul Farrelly Newcastle-under-Lyme Bambos Charalambous Enfield, Southgate Janet Daby Lewisham East North East Brent North Jeff Smith Manchester, Withington Paula Sherriff Dewsbury Huddersfield Jenny Chapman Darlington Hove Benjamin Bradshaw Exeter Jeremy Corbyn Islington North Preet Kaur Gill Birmingham, Edgbaston Sefton Central Newport East York Central East Jo Platt Leigh Leeds West Lancaster and Fleetwood Cardiff Central Rebecca Long-Bailey Salford and Eccles Catherine McKinnell Newcastle upon Leyton and Wanstead Leeds East Tyne North John McDonnell Hayes and Harlington Roberta City of Durham Catherine West Hornsey and Wood Green Dagenham and Rainham Blackman-Woods Ogmore Hemsworth Roger Godsiff Birmingham, Hall Green Chris Matheson City of Chester Stalybridge and Hyde West Chris Williamson Derby North Bradford South Canterbury Neath Julie Cooper Burnley Rupa Huq Ealing Central and Acton Clive Lewis Norwich South Julie Elliot Sunderland Central Bethnal Green and Bow , Walton Ellesmere Port Ruth Cadbury Brentford and Isleworth Daniel Zeichner and Neston Ruth George High Peak Danielle Rowley Midlothian Karen Buck Westminster North Newport West Darren Jones Bristol North West Karen Lee Lincoln Ruth Smeeth Stoke-on-Trent North Stroud Karin Smyth Bristol South Sandy Martin Ipswich David Hanson Delyn Karl Turner Kingston upon Hull East Sarah Jones Croydon Central Tottenham Stretford and Urmston Seema Malhorta Feltham and Heston Brent Central Kate Osamor Edmonton Birmingham, Ladywood Oldham East and Holborn and St Pancras Washington and Saddleworth Kerry McCarthy Bristol East Sunderland West Kingston upon Hull North Kevin Brennan Cardiff West Siobhain McDonagh Mitcham and Morden Hackney North and Crewe and Nantwich Sir Bolton North East Stoke Newington Lesley Laird and Stella Creasy Walthamstow Dr Southampton, Test Cowdenbeath Cardiff South and Penarth Dr Paul Williams Stockton South Liam Byrne Birmingham, Stephen Morgan Portsmouth South Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Tooting Nottingham South Stephen Pound Ealing North Edward Miliband Doncaster North Wigan East Ham Eleanor Smith Wolverhampton Lloyd Russell-Moyle Brighton, Kemptown Liverpool, West Derby South West Sheffield, Heeley Steve McCabe Birmingham, Selly Oak Ellie Reeves Lewisham West & Penge Manchester Central Croydon North Islington South Plymouth, Sutton Sue Hayman and Finsbury and Devonport Slough Emma Dent Coad Kensington Lyn Brown East Ham Teresa Pearce Erith and Thamesmead Emma Lewell-Buck South Shields Madeleine Moon Bridgend Thangam Debbonaire Bristol West Leeds North East Wirral West Thelma Walker Colne Valley Warrington South Margaret Hodge Barking Toby Perkins Chesterfield Gareth Thomas Harrow West St Helens South Gower Ged Killen and and Whiston Tracy Brabin Batley and Spen Hamilton West Alyn and Deeside Tulip Siddiq Hampstead and Kilburn Geoffrey Robinson Coventry North West Battersea Walsall South Geraint Davies Swansea West East Lothian Gedling Sheffield, Brightside Wakefield Vicky Foxcroft Lewisham, Deptford and Hillsborough Mary Glindon North Tyneside Virendra Sharma Ealing, Southall Blackpool South Matt Rodda Reading East Ilford North Camberwell and Peckham Matthew Pennycook Greenwich and Woolwich Bolton South East Bishop Auckland Matthew Western Warwick and Leamington Makerfield Dulwich and West Hackney South Norwood and Shoreditch

If your local Labour MP is not on the list send DivestParliament.org [email protected] them an email asking them to sign the pledge @MP_Divest SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 7. FEATUREFEATURE Net Zero: is it enough?

Bryn Kewley

The truth is, none of us know. Many As part of my work advising Shadow like the hostile environment, privatising fought hard to change the UK’s climate Energy and Climate Change Minister prisons or outsourcing, and we only hear change target from an 80% reduction in Alan Whitehead I meet regularly with about the adverse impacts later. The genius greenhouse gases to a 100% reduction. the excellent Chris Stark, CEO of the of modern climate campaigning is that The conceptual jump to net zero by 2050 Committee on Climate Change (CCC), who it’s both captured popular imagination still gives me quixotic daydreams – we’re would update us on Net Zero report as it and arisen at the same moment that talking about completely ending the developed. For months I held concerns over government had paused to think. UK’s contribution to climate change. how strong they could make the report, if the date would be 2050, whether a This has led rapid consensus from Labour moved early to its position of net 100% reduction could even be reached, politicians to pass what was 12 months ago zero before 2050 at its party conference and a myriad of other issues and did an ambitious piece of legislation. Yet today last year. Then, with one eye on her what I could to increase their ambition. it’s derided as not good enough. But what legacy, cleared the way for would be good? 2045 as mainstream NGOs government adoption. But is it enough? When the Labour team were briefed before Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace are that CCC report launch not only was the calling for? 2030 the Green Party position? Campaign group Extinction Rebellion (XR) important net zero by 2050 target there, 2025 the XR position? What’s realistic certainly think not. The very fact that we but they’d gone beyond what we had and plausible? And more important than get to ask this question is in part down to expected suggesting a ban on watering picking a target, how do we get there? their impactful campaigning. Between the down domestic action with carbon eye catching ‘12 years’ in the IPCC report, offsetting and unexpectedly including What do we know? last year’s scarily prolonged hot summer, international aviation and shipping as Greta Thunberg and the success of her well! I’m sure that all the campaigning Something needed to happen as the world ‘Freedom Friday’ school strikes and the and public pushing helped us arrive is currently on track for more than 3°C of ongoing efforts of David Attenborough at this unexpectedly positive result. damaging global warming around 2100. We – Overton’s window of the politically know that in 2018 the IPCC said that we possible has shifted significantly and It came as a surprise then, when this have 12 years for the countries of the world everyone is talking about climate change. CCC report was attacked so fervently. to have peaked their emissions and have embarked on a rapidly reducing pathway. It’s worth remembering that Net Zero ‘Setting a legal target to reach net-zero was on very few people’s minds early GHG emissions significantly before 2050 This is sometimes misinterpreted as saying last year, no mainstream NGO was does not currently appear credible and the countries must stop emitting in 12 years, campaigning for it, XR didn’t exist and Committee advises against it at this time.’ but this is when they should have peaked Greta was still in school. Huge progress and be on a downward trajectory. The UK has been made in little over a year with Committee on Climate Change, 2019 with its historical emissions needs to move a change in the law to greatly increase much faster than the average country. the UK’s climate ambition. We’ve come What happened? a long way in a very short period of time. We know that we are already risking It’s such a rare thing for popular pressure hitting ‘tipping points’. Melting ice in Now it’s the nature of campaigning to keep to arrive and capture our imagination just Siberia is releasing methane, a potent the pressure on, but sometimes you have as the Government about to act. Often greenhouse gas. Retreating white glaciers to celebrate a win. Most of the big NGOs events happen first, Grenfell, the Salisbury and melting polar ice are reducing the have welcomed the progress to Net Zero, poisoning or the release of the UN report earth’s ability to reflect ’s warming yet others have completely disagreed and on UK poverty, then Government reacts. rays back out into space. Each of these called it a ‘betrayal’, so what’s going on? Or Government acts first, evoking a policy feedback loops increase the terrifying

8. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice FEATURE Huge progress has been made in little over a year with a change in the law to greatly increase the UK’s climate ambition. We’ve come a long way in a very short period of time

possibility of self-sustaining, rather than It’s important not to overplay the facts. deaths, we can rapidly deploy renewable just human induced, climate change. The world won’t burn if we don’t reach energy and drive towards a clean green net zero by 2025. IPCC Report co-author energy grid but it will take a little time. We also know about the potential impacts. Prof Myles Allen has said that the UK’s One of the most serious is that fresh Net Zero by 2050 is “consistent with a Personally in a few years I would be water currently trapped as ice all over global effort to limit warming to 1.5°C.” in favour of asking the Committee on the world is rapidly running into the sea, Climate Change to look again at the diluting the salt water near the poles which We’ve been here before. In the run up to 2050 target to search for scientific way keeps the oceans circulating. Disturbing the Copenhagen climate conference NGOs forward to move faster, perhaps 2045 or this system could have catastrophic stated that it was “the last chance to maybe even sooner – but it’s science and consequences. The last time the oceans save the world”. Despite strong rhetoric, evidence that should be pointing the way. stopped circulating was during the mass policies couldn’t be agreed on, common extinction event 66 million years ago in cause wasn’t found and the talks collapsed. As David Attenborough said in which around 90% of ocean species died. parliament recently we need to move Rather than argue over targets we need as fast as the electorate will let us but The stakes are high and the scientists to argue over the hard questions of how we also need to work hard to bring at the IPCC have given us estimates to make progress. Which policies, what them with us. Otherwise what are we on these kinds of outcomes. If the regulation, which industries will be affected, beating climate change for? From the world can stick to 1.5°C as decided and how do we bring people with us? poorest of countries to the richest the in the Paris Agreement it’s estimated game is learning to create fulfilling but to be more likely than not that these “Targets are helpful, but what we sustainable lives. Climate change will events won’t take place. Clearly we need is policies that actually deliver.” damage those who can least afford it, but need to move as quickly as we can. frantic climate action creating jobs and Alex Sobel MP at PMQs in July industries might lead to the same result. Greta Thunberg mentioned these tipping points in her speech to Parliament. A bridge too far Shades of grey arguments aren’t easy to She said that the IPCC predicted they make. Greta is not wrong, the house is on could be reached in 2030, “unless [by If a 2025 target means shutting down fire and we need to act as fast as we can. 2030], permanent and unprecedented industries which will not be able to But let’s be smart about putting the fire out changes in all aspects of society have adapt fast enough, rapidly pushing up lest we accidently knock the house down. taken place, including a reduction the cost of energy, stopping people of CO2 emissions by at least 50%.” from driving and cutting into people’s life choices, will we have beaten climate Undoubtedly Extinction Rebellion and change? Or have we fallen into the trap of others calling for 100% reduction by 2025 disadvantaging and taking chances away have helped inject a sense of urgency into from the very people we mean to help? the debate. My worry is that if we end up Bryn Kewley is a in a Pyrrhic battle about who’s the most We can beat climate change without the member of the SERA green, measured by who can name the damage but it needs time. With help executive and advisor earliest date, we’ll be missing the point. and time industries can thrive in a zero- to the Shadow I have friends who have literally shut carbon future, electric vehicles will be Minister for Energy down airports who now have to justify cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives, we & Climate Change. He tweets at their green credentials because they’re can insulate millions of homes meaning @BrynKewley not sure a 2025 target makes sense. less fuel poverty and fewer winter

SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 9. FEATURE

A home shouldn’t cost the earth

Alex Cunningham MP

We are in the midst of a housing We should be ambitious in raising the local authorities – who have an interest crisis. People are being priced out of standards of the homes that people live in house building and construction, have the private rented sector, levels of in and if the housebuilding organisations raised the issue of modular housing. rough sleeping are still outrageously I speak with are anything to go by, they high, the chances of home ownership are just wanting clear instructions from The speed at which these homes can seem to be coming more and more government about the standards they be built, the relatively low cost, and unrealistic for young people, and there need to meet, and they will get on with it. versatility are just three reasons why is a dangerous lack of social housing. these could be an option for widespread The fact we’ve seen government delay after house building here in the UK. So we need to build homes but we delay in bringing forward new appropriate cannot cut corners and compromise on building regulations does a disservice to I’m told that because of these new methods quality as we build a new generation of everyone in the sector but particularly to the of construction and the ability to create affordable and social housing that meet people who will live in the new homes built. draught free, dry homes in the factory can the highest environmental and energy also drive energy efficiency and comfort standards that people can afford to live in. Getting the fabric of the homes we levels but we need to convince people. build right and reducing space heating It also means we must have bold plans requirement is a first step in the quality Whilst I recognise there is still a major job to upgrade existing homes across all challenge. We must demand the highest still to be done in existing social housing, it tenures to make them as energy efficient possible standards of construction for is the private rented sector where we find as possible and drive down costs houses made of the most efficient the most inadequate heating and insulation. particularly for households in fuel poverty. materials not just to contain energy There are over three million homes in bills – but to harness the power of new England within the private rented sector Standards of house building should technologies, which can all but remove that are below EPC band C and over 250,000 be higher than they ever were. Since households’ dependency on the national are the least efficient F/G EPC bands. 2010, the Conservative Government grids. Looking towards these technologies and the Coalition before, have is critical with solar panels, ground and Not only that, but 42% of the watered down environmental standards air source heat pumps among others occupants of these least efficient for new build homes and axed the becoming the norm, not a novelty. privately rented homes live in fuel programme Labour agreed with the poverty and find it often impossible to housebuilding industry for all new build If we are to convince people that they keep them warm and free from damp. homes to be ‘zero-carbon’ from 2016. can generate their own power, we must highlight the benefits as we move There has been some limited recent If those standards hadn’t been away from traditional, older sources of progress. Amendments to the domestic dropped, each new home owner could powering and heating the home that private rented sector regulations have saved £600 on their energy bills people have become accustomed to. introduced a requirement for private to date and, unless they are retro- landlords to contribute £3,500 towards fitted, will cost them £200 extra a year. We also need to take the people with energy efficiency improvements in us as we look to new methods of the least efficient rented homes. By contrast, as well as ensuring new build construction – including the unconventional. homes are built to a zero-carbon home Whilst this was a higher investment than standard as soon as possible, Labour Since I’ve been a Shadow Housing Minister, the UK Government originally proposed, wants to prioritise affordable homes in most organisations – from builders to only 48% of F and G-rated properties a new zero-carbon homes programme. housing associations, trade unions to covered by the regulations are expected 10. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice FEATURE As well as cutting greenhouse gas emissions and building the energy efficient homes our people can afford to live in, we would be putting more money back into the pockets of renters

to reach Band E. This means that the cost working street to street – addressing want us to drive greater value from this of heating falls on the tenant, whilst some one of the main reasons for the UK’s cash – take it directly from the energy landlords get away with not ensuring poor record on insulation to date - an companies and use local authorities to their property is fit for renting out. over-reliance on energy companies deliver the programmes where they and market mechanisms to encourage know best what needs to be done. Sadly, the scheme is failing, and little is households to insulate their properties. being done about it. Labour will also provide funding to support I well remember the first Warm Zones councils and housing associations to build The Committee on Fuel Poverty has set up around 2000 by the last Labour new homes to Passivhaus standards. recently found that current enforcement Government. I was a member of Stockton levels for the scheme in England are Borough Council and we seized on an We will tighten regulation of privately very low, and that Local Authorities do opportunity from my then employer rented homes, blocking poorly not have access to accurate data that Transco (now National Grid) to sponsor insulated homes from being rented is necessary for efficient enforcement. the first Warm Zone in the country. out and introduce new legal minimum standards to ensure properties are The committee concluded that a nationwide It’s door-to-door approach offering loft fit for human habitation and empower landlord register for England is the and cavity wall insulation, resulted in tenants to act on sub-standard homes. only means by which properties can be some 17,000 households being lifted systematically identified and bad landlords out of fuel poverty but also addressed Addressing the problems in housing and in particular can be tackled. I agree. health and other issues. It was replicated energy will have a positive impact on other across the country and needs to be again. sectors. But even if they knew who to target to drive improvements, local authorities Improved energy efficiency in buildings As well as cutting greenhouse gas must have the resource to be able to since 2004 has strengthened UK emissions and building the energy inspect and enforce the law and look energy security, reduced energy supply efficient homes our people can afford to after the interests of private renters who infrastructure costs, and now saves the live in, we would be putting more money have seen their monthly expenditure typical dual fuel household over £500 per back into the pockets of renters that are on rent continually increase over the year. But despite these massive benefits, saved from energy bills, we’d improve years with nothing to show for it. there has been a huge drop in energy the health and wellbeing of families by efficiency measures, mainly due to a 47% not forcing them to choose between But, it isn’t just private rented properties drop in the annual level of investment. ‘heating and eating and we could finally that are an issue – there are millions make fuel poverty an issue of the past. of other homes. Real decisive action is There has been a 95% reduction in needed if we are to deal with the issues. the number of insulation measures installed in homes per year between That is why Labour will upgrade four million 2012 and 2017. This is the result of the Alex Cunningham homes to Energy Performance Certificate UK government cutting the Energy MP is Shadow (EPC) band C in our first term, investing Company Obligation (ECO) in half and Housing Minister £2.3bn per year to provide financial support abandoning Labour’s flagship energy and Labour MP for for these households to insulate their homes. efficiency programme, Warm Front. Stockton North. He tweets at The take up and delivery of insulation Households are paying between £30 and @ACunninghamMP schemes will be driven by local authorities £35 a year towards eco programmes. I SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 11. FEATURE

THIS IS A CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT EMERGENCY

SUE HAYMAN MP

For too long the climate crisis and the You would think that given the state Most climate scientists agree that it is now ecological crisis have been discussed of the crisis faced by our natural too late to prevent 1.5°C or more of global in separate meetings but we know world that the Government would warming, even in the best-case scenario. that both of these disasters must be be strengthening the infrastructure Even if we reduced our emissions to zero addressed together. designed to protect and enhance the tomorrow, we are almost certain to overshoot environment, but the exact opposite is true. this crucial temperature limit. That is why it is Species decline is every bit as serious so important that we do not allow adaptation as the threat of climate change and Natural England is the body responsible to be side-lined in the debate on climate only by addressing both ecosystems for maintaining and protecting England’s change as it is so consequential to the lives and climate do we stand a chance of natural environment. It is responsible for of some of the poorest and most vulnerable safeguarding a stable planet for future protected sites such as national parks people in Britain and around the world. generations. According to a report by and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, the Government’s official advisors, the countryside stewardship, helping farmers I was proud to lead action from Labour UK will miss almost all the 2020 nature and landowners enhance the biodiversity on declaring a climate and environment targets it signed up to a decade ago. A of their lands, the marine environment and emergency in Parliament on 1st May. Our report by the Natural Capital Committee many more things that make our natural motion demanded that the Government concluded that only half of our habitats heritage what it is. Since 2010 Natural return with a fully costed, cross departmental meet minimum quality targets set by England’s core grant has been halved. plan to address the climate and environment Natural England, with bees, butterflies, Over that time, the agency has gone from emergency within six months. That means and farmland birds and bats either more than 2,500 staff in 2010 to just over that the Government has until 1st November. continuing to decline or stagnating in 1,500 staff at the financial year end 2019, This, coupled with the upcoming Budget, numbers. with the bulk of the reduction in the last will present the first major tests of whether year. The cuts to Natural England and the new Prime Minister and Environment its inability to carry out many of its basic Secretary can couple high rhetoric on the Without sufficient functions is a key example of the impact environment with the urgent, systemic action to tackle this of Tory austerity on our environment. action and funding on the scale needed. My team will be working to hold the fragmentation of our The Tories in government have not only failed Government to account in matching its to address and take seriously the causes rhetoric on the environment with meaningful landscapes, 40-70% of climate change and species decline, support and leadership from the Treasury. they are failing to prepare the country of pollinator species for the impacts of climate change too. could become extinct Sue Hayman MP The Committee on Climate Change is Shadow Secretary Adaptation Sub Committee has said of State for the that the Government is not preparing Environment, Food for climate change across a series of key & Rural Affairs Conservation charity, Buglife says areas including habitats, fires, floods and Labour MP that without sufficient action to tackle and heatwaves. This puts communities for Workington. fragmentation of our landscapes, 40 to 70% at risk and seriously undermines She tweets at @SueHayman1 of pollinator species could become extinct. our infrastructure and security. 12. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice TRAVEL

Sarah Barfield MarkS

The number of Brits concerned about flying. But we simply can’t ignore flying’s reasons, we are more likely to make the climate change has reached record levels heavy climate cost; with a single return same change ourselves. We’re also more - now at 80%. More people than ever flight to Berlin clocking up the same amount willing to support action by government are looking to take action, and here at of carbon as 13 return trips by train. As time to fairly manage overall demand for 10:10 Climate Action, we’re working is running out to stay below dangerous flying, in line with climate science. on innovative solutions to make that levels of global warming, the truth is we possible. When it comes to tackling don’t have a low carbon plane waiting We designed Climate Perks to begin a climate change, we believe there’s in the wings to zip us across the skies. cultural conversation around high-carbon no such thing as individual action, as travel, and inspire wider, and much needed, every decision each of us makes affects Climate Perks works with employers to behaviour change. It also has the exciting wider social and political changes. overcome these barriers and enables potential to unlock positive change at climate-conscious professionals and a national (or even international) scale. With flying being the fastest growing employers to act on their values. It also The more people choosing grounded source of greenhouse gases globally, makes it easier to experience the joys travel, the quicker we’ll reach the collectively reducing the amount we fly of clean travel, by rediscovering the low carbon destination we all want. is crucial. But time is a huge barrier to magic of the journey - whether that’s opting for flight-free holidays. That’s winding through stunning scenery in exactly why we came up with Climate the Alps or waking up after a night Perks; the scheme which enables employers journey in the heart of a new city. to offer paid ‘journey days’, empowering staff to choose low-carbon holiday travel. Working for a Climate Perks employer If you’re The perfect solution for those who love means you can choose clean travel interested in to travel the world and protect it too. without losing out on hard-earned leisure being a part of this time, by being offered at least two paid pioneering scheme Government data shows that within the ‘journey days’ annually to use for holiday as either a Climate UK 70% of all flights are taken by just travel without heading to the airport. As Perks employee or 15% of people, and that these ‘frequent we move into the 2020s, organisations employer, please flyers’ are more likely to be professionals will be expected to demonstrate more register your interest at with disposable income. Helping to shift and more leadership around climate https://www. these travel habits is the quickest and action. As an employer, by coming climateperks.com smartest way to keep carbon emissions onboard to Climate Perks, you’ll be a from planes in check, whilst ensuring part of getting climate conscious travel those with the most responsibility to cut off (or rather on) the ground in the UK. down are most empowered to take action Sarah Barfield The workplace is central to modern life and Marks is from We found in research we commissioned last by changing the behaviours of those with 10:10 Climate year that 50% of people are ready to reduce regular flying habits we can help initiate Action. the amount they fly in order to protect the the shift away from our jet-setting culture She tweets at environment, but only 3% of us do. This is in and towards a new carbon conscious @1010 large part because it takes longer to travel society. Research shows that if our peers on holiday by train, coach or boat instead have reduced flying for environmental SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 13. TRAVEL FLIGHT OF FANCY Alex SOBEL MP

David Attenborough named young spent years spinning a yarn about carbon from doing so. After all there are plenty of people’s attitude towards climate capture and storage without doing much lovely places in the UK to be seen, and whilst change “a source of great hope” at to implement the technology. Now they’re I’m sure some business flights are entirely a recent event in Parliament. But political pariahs with stranded assets. necessary I’m equally sure that some are not. he also delivered a stark message. Technologically there are some options By linking the tax to a passport number “We cannot be radical enough in dealing – batteries right now are too heavy, it will be easy to make sure everyone is with the issues that face us at the moment. but would be the ultimate solution if paying the right level of tax, and those The question is: what is practically energy density issues could be worked who are making the most pollution are possible? How can we take the electorate out. Hydrogen or biofuels present paying the most taxes. It’s likely that this with us in dealing with these things?” possible options but both come with new tax should also be joined with incentive challenges and early action is needed. for businesses to install internet calling He went on to pick out flights as too cheap and conferencing services to help facilitate and the need to reduce flying as a key One well considered solution proposed oversees meetings which don’t have to be. policy change. But how can we propose by the New Economics Foundation is a to take away cheap flights and still win Frequent Flier Tax. This stems from the A frequent flier tax should underpin a an election to implement the policy? realisation that 70% of flights are taken National Aviation Emissions Plan which by 15% of the richest in society. Over half reduces emissions year on year reinvesting Aviation has long been a thorn in the of the UK population doesn’t fly at all, tax receipts in R&D on new fuels and side of the climate movement. Flying predominantly because they don’t have propulsion in aviation and improved is a fact of modern life and yet it has a the economic means to. This suggests a very rail infrastructure. It would also mean greater impact on the climate than skewed system where the poorest barely fly overcoming moving emissions from one almost anything else an individual can do. at all whilst the richest fly frequently releasing airport to another and a strategy to deal It’s not just that large volumes of fossil greenhouses gasses that impact us all. with the air quality and noise pollution fuels are needed to get a plane in the problems that aviation brings. The long air, but once up many of those emissions The Frequent Flier Tax solution, which I term solution will be through science, are released high in the atmosphere endorse and I think the Labour Party should innovation and low carbon heavy industries where they do even more damage. too, would mean the removal of some current building alternative clean fuel or electrical taxes on flights and the implementation planes as well as an overall reduction in Like Trump’s view on the NHS in a US trade instead of a tax which increases for every flying through use of communications deal, no one has known whether aviation is flight you take in a 12 month period. technology for business and academia. on or off the table in climate considerations. The ambiguity on aviation, baked into the This should be a popular measure as the first The Labour Party, SERA, NEF and others original Climate Change Act, should finally flight will be untaxed, making it cheaper for who are serious about reducing aviation have been cleared up when the Committee the majority of the population who either fly emissions should be modelling a Frequent on Climate Change Net Zero report (written once or never, and makes it more likely that Flyer Tax with the intention of it being in part by experts at Leeds University) the average family will have a greater chance included in the next Labour Manifesto. stated that ‘emissions from international to travel abroad with all the opportunities to aviation and shipping cannot be ignored’. learn and explore that brings. However the It’s time for aviation to stop flying below second flight will incur a greater tax than the the radar on climate change and get it’s However, the Conservative current tax system and will keep growing low carbon ambitions off the ground. Government ignored this advice saying for each flight taken. A larger tax will apply instead that they would work with to longer flights helping keep the tax Alex Sobel MP international agencies like the ICAO. reflective of real world impact and hopefully leads SERA’s reducing the total number of flights taken. Parliamentary The aviation sector has made some Network and is efficiency improvements but much like By far the majority of flights are taken by Labour MP for Leeds the oil and gas lobby, they’ve yet to take those who fly 20, 30 or 50 times a year, and North West. He the issue seriously. They should be wary it will be them (or their businesses) who will tweets at @alexsobel – the now defunct coal power lobby pay a significant tax to disincentivise them 14. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice RENEWABLES

Renewable energy A key climate solution

NATHAN BENNETT

On the face of it, decarbonising our that will mean offshore wind provides has only fully implemented one of energy system should be the easy at least a third of UK power by 2030. 25 policies recommended by the part of moving to a net zero economy. Committee to meet our existing Renewables are the good news story. New renewables deployment is not just carbon budgets, let alone net zero. The reason we all sighed in relief at the achievable, it’s desirable. The costs of end of the Attenborough documentary onshore wind, for instance, have fallen I felt a mixed emotion of sadness and as he comfortingly told us there is hope; so far that energy bills would be £50 inspiration when I recently met an as the cost of wind and solar has fallen cheaper for every home in the country engineering graduate who is giving dramatically in recent years, and onshore if we developed onshore wind at the up on a career in renewables. She told wind is now the cheapest source of new level recommended to reach net zero. me she signed up to the course to be energy on offer to us. Renewables are a part of tackling climate change but the golden opportunity to have green Industry experts expect offshore wind to quickly realised that our problem isn’t jobs, clean energy and lower energy bills. follow this path in the 2020s, alongside technological, it’s political, and is now solar power. To put it into context, the CCC putting all her efforts into campaigning. But, shifting to an energy system powered estimates that mainstream renewables like by clean electricity is not without its solar, offshore and onshore wind – which When it comes to onshore wind, it’s hard challenges, and it’s certainly not devoid are already competitive with or cheaper to disagree with that young engineer’s of political choices. The challenge is than fossil fuel generation – will be at diagnosis of the problem. The barriers the scale of change and the speed least a third and up to half the price of thrown in the way of new onshore wind has we need to deliver it. The Committee fossil fuel and other low carbon power led to installations last year plummeting on Climate Change says we need to sources by 2025. Similarly, investing in to the lowest level since 2011. In addition quadruple the amount over power we our energy networks and developing new to planning restrictions, onshore wind get from renewables to reach net zero markets for flexible, smart energy services and solar are banned from bidding for emissions. That means a huge increase could reduce average household energy Government-backed power contracts. in our renewable energy capacity, nearly bills by £30 to £90 annually, according to There are companies and communities that trebling the amount of onshore wind the National Infrastructure Commission. want to build new low carbon infrastructure capacity and an even higher increase in in places with local support but can’t make offshore wind The CCC says 75GW of However, policy on renewables needs to that investment unless the Government offshore wind might be needed by 2050 progress rapidly in the next few months. removes the barriers and creates a level compared to just over 8GW installed today. This urgency becomes clearer when you playing field for these technologies. realise how much of the transformation in The numbers may sound enormous, the wider economy to reach net zero is The situation becomes all the more but with a long-term approach from predicated on increasing and decarbonising frustrating when you look at where government, industry is can meet the the energy sector first, particularly the the public are on climate action. The challenge. The clearest example of the electrification of transport and heating. Government’s own polling shows that potential of this kind of approach is in public concern over climate change is offshore wind where a stable, long-term The recent Progress Report from the at the highest level on record, as public policy framework is enabling over £48bn of Committee on Climate Change showed support for developing onshore wind at investment by companies in new projects that in the last year, the Government 79%. When we dig deeper into polling, SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 15. RENEWABLES

The Government’s own polling shows that public concern over climate change is at the highest level on record

we see that support for onshore wind – renewable energy capacity involves, see so much more investment like this and renewables generally – is solid across and current policy won’t change this. and thousands more jobs in onshore demographic groups, political parties wind, floating offshore wind, marine and and even across the leave-remain divide. Similarly, there is a black hole in policy to solar if the Government established a The Government is stacking the deck support the development of innovative supportive policy framework for them too. against onshore wind and as a result, renewable technologies like wave, tidal is needlessly slowing down the low stream and floating offshore wind. Each In the face of a climate catastrophe, there carbon transition and pushing up costs. of these technologies have their own are voices calling for decarbonisation to unique benefits in balancing the grid, happen much faster. Others are interested That transition to renewables also supporting our path to net zero, and, in increasing UK content requirements gives us the opportunity to do things importantly, providing thousands of for government energy contracts, differently in the energy sector. Instead green jobs and placing the UK as a world or even local or national content. Is of building large, fossil fuel power plants leader in the global market for each. there potentially some room for local next to our big cities, renewables has co-ownership too? Not everyone in brought investment across the UK and Building new renewables will require political movements or clean industries or decentralisation of the energy sector. In partnership between industry, government, environmental campaign groups will agree offshore wind, for example, 90% of the people working in the sector and the on the mix of technologies we need or how investment in the last five years has been communities where new infrastructure government should prioritise objectives. in capacity outside of the South East of will be based, and will be of benefit to all. England. Onshore wind, with development However, we know that if we want heavily focused in Scotland. People now Ed Miliband is right to say we need to energy policy to support wider have the opportunity to invest in energy change and move beyond nightmarish objectives – like creating high-value at the community and individual level, be rhetoric when we talk about climate jobs, developing new clean industries it through installing a home solar panel, change. Let’s paint the dream. Jobs in and community energy – it will require building a community turbine or investing the offshore wind sector are set to treble political decisions and investment. The in a crowd-funded renewable project. in the next decade. The high-wage, high- question for politicians is whether they wage jobs, and the investment provided see that investment as a cost or recognise Of course, the barriers that these by industry are transforming towns and the value it adds to our economy? technologies now face are also impacting cities outside London. If you want to see the development of community and the first signs of this, go to Grimsby, Hull, crowd-funded projects. And that’s Lowestoft or the Isle of Wight, where before we consider the impacts of investment in new industry is revitalising scrapping of support tariffs for small historic ports. Firms developing offshore Nathan Bennett scale renewables and the proposed VAT wind have set up a £100m fund to is Senior Public hike for solar and batteries. We know support the competitiveness of the UK Affairs Manager that smaller scale technologies aren’t supply chain, increased the UK content at RenewableUK able to match the lowest prices we target for new offshore wind farms, He tweets at see for large-scale renewables and the are investing in innovation, increasing @nathansbennett community-led schemes can struggle with exports, and setting targets for women the financing and risks that developing and BAME in the workforce. We could 16. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice CARBON CAPTURE CCS is crucial for a green industrial revolution REBECCA BELL

I feel I need to get this out of the way: CO2 is then compressed and transported zero-carbon world – and the party’s goal carbon capture and storage (CCS) isn’t to a storage site. This can be done by of increasing the UK’s manufacturing base popular, and a lot of people think it isn’t pipeline (in much the same way that and ending reliance on imports would necessary. I used to think the same way – North Sea gas is brought ashore), or, for only exacerbate the problem, if a way that it was just a way to keep fossil fuel smaller amounts, by ship or rail. The CO2 of deeply cutting emissions isn’t used. power going, that all we needed was is finally injected into porous, permeable more renewables, and that CCS is too rocks, over a kilometre below the seabed, expensive and not technically proven. where it is held in place, permanently, Industry accounts by a combination of surrounding, As with many things, it’s a bit more impermeable rocks and chemical reactions. for around 20% of complicated than that. The turning point for me was when someone explained all Much research has been done, and the UK’s greenhouse the ways that CCS can open the door to continues to be done, to prove the gas emissions a zero-carbon future. For a start, CCS security of geological CO2 storage and isn’t just about power; in fact, it’s barely to enable leaks to be detected. The UK has about power at all. CCS is primarily some of the best understood geology in about industry. Greenhouse gases are an Europe, and a very clear idea of how CO2 Industry accounts for around 20% of unavoidable result of industrial activity, behaves in the subsurface, so we can be the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, and CCS enables factories to manufacture confident that storage will be permanent. and industrial emissions of CO2 can be goods without emitting CO2. It also has a categorised in two groups: emissions from role to play in producing hydrogen from Part of CCS’s image problem is due to fossil fuels, and process emissions. Fossil methane, which has the effect of providing the reasons the Conservative government fuels are used where high temperatures an energy vector that can power cars and gave for cancelling CCS funding in 2015. are needed, for example in glass furnaces: heat homes, without giving off any CO2 CCS is expensive, yes – in the sense they are burned to provide this heat, when it’s used. Finally, CCS will enable that it is cheaper to just pollute the and emit CO2 (and other gases). With ‘negative emissions’, either by removing atmosphere with carbon dioxide than fossil fuel emissions, energy efficiency CO2 from directly from the air, or it is prevent that pollution happening; is an obvious first step, but it can only removing it indirectly from the atmosphere it certainly isn’t more expensive than marginally reduce emissions, unless the by capturing CO2 that has been stored cleaning up the environmental and social factory was very inefficient to start with. in plants through photosynthesis, damage caused by climate change. It’s There are also options to use a different which are then used for things such also expensive in the sense that any energy source, such as electricity, which as fermenting, distilling or bioenergy. new endeavour will be expensive when would provide the heat with the CO2 it is done for the first time. As CCS is emissions, as long as the electricity was CCS describes a set of technologies for put in place, costs will come down. from renewable – and this could mean capturing, transporting and securely conflicts with other growing electricity storing carbon dioxide. Capture involves Carbon capture and storage has to be uses, such as for cars and home heating. removing the CO2 from a stream of gases, central to Labour’s plans for a Green Electrification – and the factory redesign using chemicals, membranes or solid Industrial Revolution, otherwise the UK that would have to come with it – would materials that separate the CO2 from won’t have any industry. Industry as it be expensive, and it might not even be the other gases that are present. The pure is today simply cannot operate in a net possible for very high temperatures. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 17. CARBON CAPTURE

As well as being an enormously high-emitter, cement is an essential product: without it we can’t have homes, infrastructure or renewable energy

CCS, on the other hand, would enable kind of economy we want to see. This Storing CO2 in offshore geological an existing factory to use its existing means making decisions about which formations, including depleted oil and processes, with additional plant industries we retain, and which we allow gas fields, will need broadly the same to capture the CO2 they give off. to decline – accompanied with a clear skills and people as exploring and taking plan and action to help workers transition out the oil and gas in the first place. This Process emissions – such as the CO2 to low-carbon, well-paid, unionised jobs. means that rather than losing their jobs that is given off as part of the process as production winds down, and having of converting limestone to lime for The UK simultaneously needs rapid roll- to retrain in a new field, offshore oil and cement – are harder to deal with, as out of CCS to decarbonise its industries, gas workers can transition from extraction they are integral to manufacturing and to enable new industrial production to storage. Likewise, workers in high- operation. In the case of cement, to be low-carbon from the start. CCS emitting industries, and the supply chains around 50% of emissions are from infrastructure – to take the CO2 away from that depend on them, can be secure that the calcination process and cement the factory gate to be stored securely their jobs will be able to continue in a accounts for around 8% of greenhouse and permanently – needs to be available net zero future. New jobs will be created gas emissions globally. The only option for all industrial plants to connect to, in the global CCS supply chain, and in for decarbonising process emissions is just like waste collection and sewerage. industries - whether privately or publicly to use CCS to prevent the CO2 reaching owned – that locate in the UK in order the atmosphere or ceasing production. Fortunately, Labour is ideologically in to take advantage of the infrastructure the right place to develop this: experts that allows low-carbon production. As well as being an enormously high- have shown that public investment in, emitter, cement is an essential product: and public ownership of, the transport There is so much to be gained without it we can’t have homes, and storage infrastructure is the from investing in CCS, and in our infrastructure or renewable energy, most effective way to get it in place. manufacturing future. The sooner we and it makes sense to make it in the UK Unfortunately, the party in government is get started with CCS, the sooner we rather than import it. Steel is similarly unwilling to take on the public investment will reap the benefits. The longer we essential, and also high-emitting: that is needed, and is instead wasting wait, the harder it will be to meet the another product where low-carbon, time searching for a different business global climate goals. A green industrial UK manufacture would be preferable model that might work. In the meantime, revolution and a just transition need to to potentially high-carbon imports. greenhouse gas emissions are rising, start now. I hope to see CCS at its heart. and our chances of limiting global Another major industry with process temperature rise to 1.5°C are shrinking. CO2 emissions is petrochemicals – and protecting this industry with CCS butts The UK has an opportunity with CCS up against issues around single-use that governments have failed to grasp plastic and throwaway products. This is with renewables – to build a supply where difficult decisions need to be made chain and a body of expertise that Rebecca Bell about the kinds of industry we prioritise can be exported around the world. is Vice-Chair of – and for the sake of the planet, those Every country with industry or fossil SERA Scotland. decisions can’t be left up to the market. fuel power generation is going to She tweets at need CCS in order to comply with the @MissBecsBell The UK needs an industrial strategy – Paris Agreement, and UK engineers, it needs a clear direction, and a clear geologists, chemists and manufacturers vision of the kind of industry, and the can be the people to provide it. 18. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice NATIONAL PARKS

Restoring nature to tackle the climate crisis

ADAM BARNETT

Our environment and climate are incorrectly, these landscapes degrade landscapes are vulnerable and in many locked in twin crises. The rate of and turn from being vital carbon sinks cases their condition is ever worsening. species extinctions is accelerating to sources of emissions, as their carbon The result? The huge stores of carbon and we’re on track to miss our stores are released into the atmosphere. they have accumulated over several emissions targets by a huge margin centuries is rapidly leaking into our (including our shiny new 2050 target). The RSPB recently undertook a piece atmosphere and wildlife is being lost. It’s undeniable that urgent action is of research to map these carbon-rich needed so the next step must be to and ‘best for wildlife’ landscapes across The story gets worse. Even when a take Labour’s enthusiasm and the the UK. We found that the total carbon landscape does possess some form of current political consensus, and drive stored in these landscapes amounted specific legal protection, it’s condition through the immediate implementation to two gigatons of CO2 (2000 million (whether it is healthy or not) is still a of a suite of radical policies. tonnes). This is equivalent to the annual huge cause for concern, to the extent carbon footprint of 275 million EU that carbon is being routinely lost When thinking about woolly ‘future’ citizens, or alternatively four years of from these protected sites due to the problems, it’s easy to attribute woolly the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. rate of soil and vegetation damage. solutions. Instead of relying on the vague Though even this gargantuan figure is a The Government’s own data shows potential for technology-driven ‘negative vast underestimation due to the realistic that only 40% of protected areas are emission’ fixes or geo-engineering, we limitations of the data available. One in good condition. We therefore can need to be looking closer to home for example of these limitations is the fact only assume that the condition of the inspiration. As close as your back garden that we can only assess data on the unprotected land is even worse but or local park, in fact. There’s a handy top 30 centimetres of soil – but some we can’t prove this as they don’t even ‘negative emissions technology’ that’s peat bogs reach a depth of 10 meters. receive any monitoring or assessment! been around for quite a while now. It’s called photosynthesis. The best way to Our research identified sites across all Perhaps the most shocking finding is suck carbon out of the atmosphere is corners of the four countries – from that SSSIs (Site of Special Scientific by restoring nature – like planting trees large uplands in Scotland and the north Interest) inside England’s National Parks or expanding wetlands. No need to rely of England to countless smaller areas, and AONBs are, on average, in a worse on Jurassic Park-style genetic hoarding. such as patches of ancient woodland condition than the SSSIs outside of these Nature already contains all the solutions and wetlands in and Northern protected landscapes. For example, and more that are needed to tackle Ireland. However, of the two gigatons 12% of SSSI’s in the North Yorkshire the twin climate and ecological crises. of carbon that we found stored in these Moors and 16% in the Peak District landscapes, 66% lies outside of areas are in good condition compared to We call these ‘Natural Climate Solutions’. that are protected for nature (such as 43% SSSI’s being in good condition It might just sound like more jargon, but National Parks or Areas of Outstanding that are outside of National Parks it describes the umbrella of tools that Natural Beauty – AONB’s). This means and AONBs. This is despite National nature can wield to fight climate change. that they are receiving no specific, Parks and AONB’s having statutory These ‘solutions’ include landscapes additional support or legal protections purposes to protect and enhance nature such as peat bogs, ancient woodland, against damage. These vital landscapes (though their condition is often due wetlands and permanent grasslands, are being degraded in a number of to over-tourism and lack of funding). all of which provide valuable habitats ways including through over or under- for wildlife whilst sucking carbon out grazing, invasive species, commercial Not all SSSI’s in protected areas are of the atmosphere when managed forestry, intensive agriculture and equally bad however. SSSI condition in correctly. However, when managed management for grouse moors. These the three lowland National Parks – the SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 19. NATIONAL PARKS

To restore nature and mitigate climate change, Labour must be bold and propose a radical manifesto for nature’s recovery and the protection of the UK’s vital carbon and wildlife-rich landscapes

Broads, New Forest and the South Downs well as revert more land back to this state. Labour also has to play a leadership – and some AONBs is better although National Parks and AONB’s should have role to align these bills with the other significant improvement in these areas a statutory duty to manage the land for countries around the UK as they replace is nonetheless needed. Dragging the carbon and nature, with the associated their agricultural and environmental laws average down considerably are several agencies (such as Natural England) being too - so nature, farmers and communities upland areas where the cumulative effect much better resourced and having improved get the best deal no matter where they are. of decades of intensive agriculture and governance structures to deliver this. grouse moor management practices is Earlier this year, figures including Greta eroding the ability of habitats to store Carbon and nature rich areas should be Thunberg, Naomi Klein and Rowan Williams carbon and support wildlife. Damaged included in the ‘Nature Recovery Network’, signed a powerful joint letter stating that peatland in England’s uplands releases a set of spatial maps that will inform local ‘by defending, restoring and re-establishing the equivalent carbon of 140 thousand planning decisions, alongside the mandatory crucial ecosystems, a very large amount of cars annually, and 75% of this is the direct implementation of the ‘biodiversity net carbon can be removed from the air and result of the vegetation on the peatland gain’ principle for all new developments. stored. At the same time, the protection being burnt. This is done to encourage and restoration of these ecosystems can new heather growth to support increasingly help to minimise a sixth great extinction’. large populations of grouse for shooting. To restore nature Never has the urgency to act been greater But all is not lost! To restore nature and mitigate climate – nor the route that’s needed to be taken and mitigate climate change, Labour more obvious. Natural climate solutions must be bold and propose a radical change, Labour must wrap up countless win-wins and offer manifesto for nature’s recovery a unique opportunity to fight both the and the protection of the UK’s vital be bold and propose environmental and climate crises, at the carbon and wildlife-rich landscapes. a radical manifesto same time presenting a positive vision for the preservation of our precious landscapes For peatlands, this must include a ban on and the wildlife that call it home. Securing the burning of blanket bogs (replacing nature’s recovery requires brave and the current ineffective system of voluntary visionary leadership and Natural Climate agreements) and the planting of trees on We need to see a UK Agriculture Bill that Solutions must play a key role in this. peat, halting the use and sale of peat- prioritises the preservation of nature, based products in horticulture, and rapidly accompanied by a new Environmental increasing funding for peatland restoration. Land Management Scheme that funds the restoration, creation and maintenance Areas of ancient and semi-natural woodland of nature and carbon-rich habitats. And must be protected and restored, and tree above all else Labour must continue to Adam Barnett planting expanded drastically (abiding by a push for a genuinely ambitious Environment is Senior ‘right tree in the right place’ approach, with Bill that includes legally binding targets Parliamentary an emphasis on creating nature-rich habitats for nature’s recovery, with five year Officer at RSPB. using native tree species). We should avoid milestones outlining how to get there, He tweets at further conversion and ‘improvement’ of including targets for the restoration of @admpbntt our remaining permanent grassland, as upland and lowland bogs and wetlands. 20. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice TRADE UNIONS The trade union case for a just transition to a cleaner, greener economy

TIM PAGE

Over the past 12 months, the scale of responsibility to champion the cause front line, those in the power stations the climate emergency that we face has of a just transition to a new economy. and energy companies who, as we become clear. move towards a net zero economy, can In June, the former Labour Leader and expect to see their industries transition. Was there one defining moment? Was it last former Environment Secretary, Ed Miliband They offered valuable insights and October’s report by the Intergovernmental – now co-chair of the IPPR Environmental recommendations, but none tried to Conference on Climate Change (IPCC), Justice Commission - noted that many deny the importance of the move to warning us that we have just 12 years progressives had previously separated a greener economy. In turn, we must to limit global warming to 1.5°C above climate change and inequality. He was right not let them down. It is essential that, pre-industrial levels, the ambition of the about that. The best way to tackle poverty as the TUC report says, we develop “a 2015 Paris Agreement? Perhaps it was the and inequality is to create good jobs. The different approach to the failed neoliberal inspirational actions of Greta Thunberg, task before us, then, is simple enough approach of the 1980s, which left workers whose school strikes for climate began to understand: we need a just transition behind, and communities devastated”. in Sweden but have inspired children so that those workers in highly skilled, across the world? Could it have been well paid, unionised jobs in high carbon So how to bring about a just the young Democratic Congresswoman sectors get the chance for great new jobs transition? The TUC’s report Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has in the greener economy of tomorrow. makes four recommendations. captured the imagination of progressives with her call for a ‘Green New Deal’. First, we need a clear and funded path The best and most to a low carbon economy. UK unions Maybe it was a combination of all three. have long supported a balanced energy Whatever it was that has woken us up, obvious way to engage policy and an affordable energy supply there is a general consensus that we need with workers is through for the whole country. In the context of to act – and quickly – if we are to save a move to net zero, this means we need our planet. In May, the UK’s Committee their trade unions. As a cross party commission on long term on Climate Change (CCC) argued that we energy use, involving affected workers, must adopt a policy of achieving a net zero- well as being fair, this unions, industries and consumers. As carbon economy by 2050. In June, in one of makes business sense part of its remit, this commission should her last acts as Prime Minister, Theresa May carry out a study of the social impacts committed the government to this target. of such a transition, its regional impacts and necessary mitigation measures. We need, of course, government investment, The TUC is a strong supporter of action In pursuit of this end, we at the TUC to end global warming. Along with the published our report, ‘A just transition delivered through progressive taxation, wider international trade union movement, to a greener, fairer economy’ in July. to deliver new forms of energy. But we we fully endorse the aims of the Paris This report was a year in the making, also need government investment in Agreement. We accept the fact that beginning with a set of principles around infrastructure and to support transition the whole economy will need to adapt which unions coalesced, and developing in affected sectors including automotive, if net zero is to be achieved. And we into clearer asks of government. We then aerospace, steel and construction, as are, of course, the voice of working took our report to workplaces around the well as household energy efficiency people. This means we have a particular country, meeting with the workers in the programmes and better public transport. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 21. TRADE UNIONS

The TUC is a strong supporter of action to end global warming. Along with the wider international trade union movement, we fully endorse the aims of the Paris Agreement

Second, and crucially, workers and so that everyone has a personalised generated benefit workers in the local communities across the UK who are budget for training, as well as introduce community and throughout the supply most affected by the move towards low a right to career reviews and face-to- chain. A robust industrial strategy must carbon industries, must have a central face guidance on training to help them focus on creating jobs where they are voice in how this is brought about. access it. Those who have left work need needed most – in the regions and nations This is obvious, but bears repeating. the support of a decent social security of the UK. The UK must retain a strong Workers’ attitudes towards change is system to ensure their living costs are manufacturing base and must not simply very different if it is something done met while they train for new roles. export carbon-intensive jobs overseas. with them, rather than something done to them. The best and most obvious Fourth, new jobs must be good jobs. This is a challenging agenda. Halting way to engage with workers is through Decarbonising the economy will create climate change, transforming our their trade unions. As well as being fair, massive employment opportunities, so this industries and creating great new jobs this makes business sense. Workers should be a good news story. Our ambition across the UK, will not be easy or cheap. have transition-related knowledge; is that every new job created is just as Some will say that we can’t afford to do a company transitioning to cleaner good as those which it will replace. That it. The TUC says that we can’t afford not technologies will have to adapt specific means trade union recognition, decent to do it. processes and workers are most likely pay, terms and conditions, high standards to understand how to do this effectively. of health and safety, and a fair pension. The CCC is right to say that the UK, as Anything less does not meet the test of a the cradle of the industrial revolution, Companies should put in place just transition. Good employers know this, started the process of industrial pollution Transition Agreements – agreed but government has a role to play too. and we have a particular responsibility to with unions – covering issues such as be at the forefront of ending it. We have numbers of jobs, pay and conditions, other responsibilities too: to the workers job security, training and skills, health Halting climate change, who need and deserve great jobs; to the and safety and equal opportunities. Just populations of the Global South, who transition arrangements should also be ... will not be easy or suffer most from rising temperatures; covered in bargaining at sectoral level. cheap. Some will say and to our young people, in the UK and across the world, who simply and rightly Third, workers need the skills and will not take ‘no’ for an answer. expertise to help their companies that we can’t afford transition to lower carbon models. We to do it. The TUC will also need to develop new skills across the workforce for new types of roles. This says that we can’t means that government must dramatically increase its investment in skills. afford not to do it Tim Page is a Senior Policy Apprenticeships are vital and the trade Officer leading on union role in safeguarding the quality industrial policy, energy and climate of apprenticeships has been crucially When ministers invest taxpayers’ money in change at the TUC. important. Government should establish new infrastructure, they should use their lifelong learning accounts for all adults procurement powers to ensure that jobs 22. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice FRACKING

For the sake of our planet we need a fracking ban

STEVE MASON

“Ban Fracking”. These are the words In the current climate emergency, fracked This comes at a time where we see fast that should be on the lips of every gas has no place as a bridging fuel in the developing change to both the climate environmental activist, campaigner country’s much-needed transition to a low change agenda and all that feeds into and politician in the UK because carbon economy and the industry is far it. The UK will need to invest heavily in if fracking gets a foothold, our from ever going to meet the three tests set the national energy infrastructure, the commitment to a fossil fuel dependent out by the Committee for Climate Change. distribution network, energy storage, economy will be sealed for decades. These points must be raised at every level, whilst at the same time reducing gas use. If that happens, the UK can kiss all especially now as the Government’s own The UK will need to continue ensuring climate change targets goodbye. national planning policy on this issue emissions keep falling to arrive at net has now been found to be unlawful. zero, whatever direction that the current It is clear that developing any disjointed national policy takes us. unconventional oil and gas industry In May 2019, High Court judge Mr Justice in the UK will result in unacceptable Dove, issued a judgment which declared The shale gas industry is not in any negative impacts on the environment, that a newly-added paragraph of the position to significantly contribute to local communities and democracy, National Planning Policy Framework relating the UK’s energy mix without significant energy security, health and existing to onshore oil and gas development, expansion in either the near or medium economies. This is especially at a time including fracking was in fact, unlawful. term. Its development, irrespective of how that the Government should instead This key paragraph has now been optimistic the industry projections are, just be urgently developing policies and quashed by the judge and subsequently isn’t viable without intensive lobbying, infrastructure to provide a clean and removed from the planning framework. favourable policy and regulation changes. sustainable carbon free vision for Britain that is so desperately needed. Local authorities and policy makers now The record to date in the UK does do not have to specifically ‘recognise the not bode well. Actions include taking Over the past few years, the campaign benefits of on-shore oil and gas development, out an injunction against any protests against fracking has continually rebuffed including unconventional hydrocarbons and threatening to pass costs to industry claims and projections in every for the security of energy supplies and individual local residents, sidestepping arena possible. It has systematically taken to support the transition to a low-carbon local decision makers, threatening apart the Government policy piece by economy’. Crucially now, authorities do legal action against landowners who piece, but the fossil fuel lobby will never not have to facilitate the exploration and refuse to allow access to their land give up until we have secured a ban in extraction of unconventional hydrocarbons - including against the National Trust. the UK. The latest ‘hard sell’ from the as directed before. Furthermore, the industry is in response to the growing ministerial statements relating to this issue By stating their intention to frack in or awareness of the climate emergency. This are to be seen as only advisory and can under some of the most protected areas new level of focus on climate change has be deviated from if sufficiently justified. of England, such as the North Yorkshire given the frackers a headache as it is fast Moors National Park, and position multi becoming obvious that society must keep Therefore, any and all public bodies should well sites as close as possible around fossil fuels in the ground. Their answer listen to and consider all the evidence the perimeter of such areas is a clear to this headache is to greenwash fossil before creating policy and making plans. indicator of the disregard and intention fuels, with a narrative that fracking is They can take a position against fracking of the companies to frack wherever they needed to tackle climate change and to in any plans, investments and policies and want, even in the face of opposition help the UK reach net zero. I kid you not! question the logic of backing fracking. from the National Park Authorities. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 23. FRACKING

Local communities up and down the UK will never be persuaded to welcome fracking in their area, despite repeated efforts to entice them

The fracking companies have also been come out in favour of having fracking At every level our politicians must continue key in lobbying government ministers on their doorstep. On the contrary, to try to put as many blocks in place as to relax environmental protections wherever fracking is proposed, local people possible. We must use motions at local including around waste water treatment mobilise to do whatever they can to stop level to encourage local authorities to take such as reinjection into wells, disposal this industry in its tracks. Every planning a presumption against fracking. At national in rivers and seas to reduce costs and application related to fracking results in level, we must with MPs and ask them to the earthquake regulations. These hundreds, if not thousands of objections. lobby hard for a change of direction on earthquake regulations were created in this foolhardy pursuit of fossil fuels, and collaboration with the companies and Furthermore, the Government’s attempts to sign the Frack Free United pledge. have proved to be extremely effective to fast-track fracking by subverting the in protecting communities from tremors, democratic planning process through With over 30 constituencies impacted but the inability of the companies to permitted development has created a huge by fracking licenses, constituencies control the frack safely is apparent and backlash, alienating residents, communities, that could be decided by a swing it is these regulations in particular that councils and Conservative MPs alike. of a just over a couple of thousand are now the subject of intense lobbying votes, it leaves me in no doubt that by the industry with the aim to obtain It may seem to many that fracking fracking will be a major influence in deregulation of their own safe limits. has simply gone away, beaten back, any forthcoming general election. never to return and the industry has been repelled repeatedly to the credit We are ready… are you? The fracking companies of campaigners across the country. But we cannot be complacent, as have also been key in fracking is still in the spotlight.

lobbying government In Lancashire, near Blackpool, Cuadrilla For more info about ministers to relax are intent on continuing to frack despite the latest council motion an earthquake of magnitude 2.9 being campaign, the Frack Free environmental protections recorded in August. Third Energy in United pledge and how North Yorkshire are applying to extend fracking affects your including around waste their licences by 17 years to 2035. area please go to And INEOS, the plastics giant and www.frackfreeunited.co.uk water treatment the biggest fracking licence holder is involved in courtroom battles and public inquiries in an attempt to start fracking.

Local communities up and down the UK If we are to be serious about tackling Steve Mason is will never be persuaded to welcome climate change then it is an imperative Lead Campaigner fracking in their area, despite repeated that every method at our disposal is used at Frack Free efforts to entice them with ‘shale gas to halt fracking and to ensure it does United. He tweets at dividends’ and promised pay-outs from not gain a foothold in the UK. Climate @steveason2111 speculative industry profits. Not a single Change needs to be tackled urgently community threated by this industry has and fracking is environmental danger. 24. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice FOOD

The role of food in taking on the Climate Emergency

MARK BANAHAN

There are deep cracks in our food system. for survival. If all the current crops fed commitments to limit global heating. It generates an unequitable distribution of to farm animals were repurposed for The first scenario models widespread resources, with many in rural communities human consumption, we could feed an reforesting of current pasture land with struggling to derive sufficient income additional three billion humans globally. the new trees helping to sequester from their work. It does not enable large amounts of carbon from the healthy diets, leaving us with many If we look at other environmental atmosphere. This is essential, as CO2 has diet-related public health crises. Global metrics, like the amount of agricultural an atmospheric lifespan of approximately livestock populations are at historic land and water required to produce 100 years. Methane, by contrast, has a far highs and still rising. The food system’s food, plant-based produce is also far shorter lifespan of approximately 25 years. potential in contributing to ending the more sustainable. Oxford University climate emergency remains untapped. researchers concluded that switching to Reductions in methane-producing cattle a plant-based diet is the single biggest and other ruminant livestock will result There are many potential improvements to way that an individual can reduce their in a reduction of methane released into our food system but one of the key ways that environmental impact on the planet, our atmosphere. As existing methane cannot be ignored is an increase in plant- even bigger than switching to an electric in the atmosphere breaks down in a based food production and consumption. vehicle or reducing the amounts of flights shorter amount of time than CO2, this gives us potential for a global cooling taken each year. This is in part because Plant-based food, i.e. food that does not impact in the timescales we need to there are so many other environmental contain any animal products, is far better be reducing greenhouse gases. The factors that food production affects, for the environment on any sustainability research finds that if all UK pastureland such as soil erosion and water pollution. metric. If we take greenhouse gas emissions were reforested this would enable the - one of the most important metrics we use UK to meet its emissions obligations. to measure our environmental impact - a If we look at other fully plant-based diet can have up to 50% Part of the solution less emissions compared to an average environmental metrics, like The second piece of modelling meat-eating diet. This is a massive reduction, looks at our ability to meet all of our which over time makes a huge cumulative the amount of agricultural nutritional requirements here in the UK, difference to your carbon footprint, if we repurposed cropland currently especially when you are lucky enough to land and water required growing animal feed to growing crops be able to eat three times a day, every day. to produce food, plant- for human consumption instead. The research shows that this is possible. We Single biggest way based produce is also could grow a diverse array of different One of the reasons for plant-based food crops, ensuring that we have enough faring so much better on this metric, is the far more sustainable varied foods to meet all our nutritional inherent inefficiency in producing animal targets. We could be food secure, in the products. On average, only 12% of the sense that we wouldn’t need to be so calories in crops grown and fed to animals reliant on imported food post-Brexit. are retained in the animal products when Dr Helen Harwatt, an academic at eaten. This is because living animals need Harvard University, has modelled a couple If we are to take meaningful action calories for warmth, respiration, movement of scenarios for UK land use in order to tackle the multiple environmental and everything else biologically required to help us meet our Paris Agreement crises facing us, plant-based food SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 25. FOOD

On an individual level, the single biggest thing you can do is to go vegan and eat a fully plant-based diet

must be part of the solution. But what protection issues. In contrast, pulses are In the UK, poor diet has an estimated can we do to ensure this happens? among the most environmentally friendly cost of £6 billion a year on NHS budgets crops, fixing nitrogen, improving soil health, due to preventable ill-health. This can On an individual level, the single biggest and providing healthy, accessible food. be addressed through the promotion of thing you can do is to go vegan and eat healthier, plant-based foods. However, a fully plant-based diet. Our Plate Up for Real opportunity healthy food remains inaccessible for the Planet campaign can help you take The package of support should also be many, particularly those on low incomes. the first step by supporting you through available for farmers interested in reforesting the first week. We provide lots of new their land. Our uplands provide a real The right to food should instead be a recipes and tips to make it as easy as opportunity here; a national reforestation right to sustainable, nutritious food. This possible, whilst reminding you of the programme could lock up nine years’ puts food sovereignty at the heart of positive impact on the environment you worth of UK greenhouse gas emissions, the creation of a sustainable food policy. are having. If you are already vegan or Dr Harwatt’s Harvard study found. Just improving access to healthy foods is eating a plant-based diet, you can encourage not enough; we must also tackle factors your friends, family and colleagues to do Secondly, a simple, complementary policy, such as poverty and inequality, which the same, by sharing our resources and which connects changes in production contribute to negative health outcomes. having positive conversations with them. to consumption, is to legislate for a Studies have shown that even just a 10% You can sign up or access the resources guaranteed plant-based meal on every fruit and vegetable subsidy would enable here: www.vegansociety.com/plateup. public sector canteen menu. This would citizens to make healthier choices, helping mean that plant-based meals are available to uphold the state’s duty to provide food Tools to protect to all without making a special request. that supports the wellbeing of its citizens. At institutional level, there are simple policies This ensures that everyone, including for the Labour Party to adopt and Labour the most vulnerable (e.g. schoolchildren, Together, these policies would begin to Party members to support that would help hospital patients and prisoners), has heal the cracks in our food system. They to shift diets and agricultural practices. access to nutritious, sustainable food. would move us towards being a carbon neutral country, whilst protecting vulnerable Firstly, we need the Government to support This policy already has public groups, animals, and all our citizens. farm transitions away from animal farming. backing from around a dozen Labour We can hand farmers the tools to protect parliamentarians and the Committee the planet themselves by properly aligning on Climate Change recently stated that For more the financial support system with public ‘the public sector should take a strong information about goods, to tackle the steep economic barriers lead by offering more plant-based food’. the Plate Up for the in the way of sustainable land use. One Planet campaign, go to policy to help achieve this involves offering Plant-based food is typically high in www.vegansociety. a package of support for farmers who fruit and vegetables, meaning less com/plateup are interested in transitioning away from saturated fat and plenty of fibre. livestock farming towards pulse production Building familiarity with plant-based or reforesting. The specific support on food could help to address the many offer can be decided upon by consulting Mark Banahan is diet-related public health crises putting with farmers, but the initial start-up capital a Campaigns and strain on the NHS. Plant-based food is costs should be included at a minimum. Policy Officer at The inclusive and can be enjoyed by almost Vegan Society. Rising livestock numbers are contributing to everyone. It is also straightforward to He tweets at the climate emergency, resource inefficiency, make these dishes suitable for people @MarkBanahan anti-microbial resistance, and animal with religious dietary requirements. 26. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice HFOOOMESD

Designing development to deliver on nature, climate and housing

Rebecca Pullinger

We are in a world full of crises. Here are a few ways how: On the other hand, greenfield land is There have been a host of reports most likely to have green habitat, such showing us the dire straits we 1. Selecting sites as trees, grasses, and hedgerows. The are now in and the imperative removal of these would mean the removal that we act now. These include: The location of development should be of key carbon sinks from an area. The role evaluated through planning processes. of soil should also not be overlooked; • The Intergovernmental science- This should seek to site new developments concreting over soil means that it cannot policy Platform on Biodiversity so that harm to existing nature is reduced. do its vital job in sequestering carbon. and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) found that up to one million Sites should also be selected to avoid Whilst some brownfield land does have high species are at risk of extinction; land that has the highest potential for environmental value (6 to 8% of the total) mitigating and adapting to climate change. much of it is suitable for redevelopment. • The recent report from the Committee In fact, we now know, thanks to the on Climate Change showed how Careful selection of development sites brownfield registers published by all 338 the Government has delivered just should minimise the need for new Local Planning Authorities in England as a one of 25 critical policies needed infrastructure, and maximise use of existing result of CPRE’s campaigning, that there to meet net zero by 2050; and, infrastructure. This is particularly important are over 18,000 suitable brownfield sites with regard to the type and amount of with space for over one million homes. The • CPRE analysis of government figures energy used and emissions generated by majority of these homes are on shovel- found that it would take 130 years to transport. This can be achieved both by the ready sites, and the registers also prove house those on the waiting list, given strategic location of such developments, that brownfield land is a renewable resource the current rate at which new social and their internal arrangements. with new sites coming forward all the time. housing is being built in rural areas. Recycling land is as important as recycling 2. Designing places We must look for solutions that enable our waste. Reusing suitable brownfield land, us to address all of these and avoid or land which has already been developed, Planning policies should seek to unintended impacts on each – we must avoids harm to existing nature and reduces the ensure sustainable design of new not build affordable houses that destroy need for new infrastructure. Many brownfield development, supporting new habitat, or provide environmental net sites are located near jobs and amenities, communities to live happy, healthy gain that pushes up prices beyond the reducing the need to travel. They also enable and environmentally-friendly lives. reach of ordinary families. We must look the use of existing infrastructure meaning less at ways we can reduce, mitigate and energy is required for homes’ construction As noted earlier, the delivery of more adapt to bring about the changes needed. and maintenance. This reduces the costs compact forms of development with a associated with infrastructure and is perhaps mix of uses, as found in many European Development can be sustainable and the reason why brownfield sites are delivered towns and cities, can help to reduce the we can deliver homes that meet the much quicker than greenfield sites once they need for new infrastructure, or promote needs of today’s generation and future have been granted planning permission. the increased use of existing facilities. generations to come. At a recent UK Housing Delivery Conference, I was Cleaning up brownfield land removes In terms of energy consumption, this can pleased to see acknowledgement contamination and local eyesores, be achieved through the layout, form from across the sector, from planners, attracting investment into urban areas and and massing of buildings, for example councils and developers, that we need regenerating our towns and cities. Doing aligning buildings to make best use of to do more to match housebuilding more to build on brownfield land is the passive solar heating and reducing heat- aspirations with the climate emergency. most popular solution to the housing crisis. loss through wind-chill. New development SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 27. HOMES

Development can be sustainable and we can deliver homes that meet the needs of today’s generation and future generations to come

can be energy-positive by including reduce energy use. UK building standards mitigation, since demand for water will renewable energy generation, such as on energy and emissions lag far behind inevitably increase at the same time as solar panels on the roofs of buildings what is required to address climate climate potentially resulting in fresh water and other forms of microgeneration. change, especially since the government becoming scarcer. Simple measures in These can also help bring down costs withdrew from commitments on zero- building design and technology can help for those living in new developments. carbon homes. Buildings, especially homes, to reduce water use and water loss, and designed to higher standards can help maximise the recycling of water, including its Increasing the density of development to meet other objectives, including safe and clean return into the environment. can also help create more sustainable reducing both energy demand and fuel places. For example, research suggests poverty. Building regulations should 4. Sustainable development that housing density upwards of 60 set and enforce appropriate minimum homes per hectare is required to support standards for the energy and emissions Through careful design, we must address public transport services, and yet current performance of individual buildings. the contribution of development to average development densities are half the climate emergency and ecological this. Designing new development to reduce Building regulations and planning can work crisis while building the homes that car-dependency, achieved through higher together to provide minimum standards we need. This includes through siting density and designing a mix of uses, for the performance of materials used development in the right places, means that those who do not own a car in buildings. Again practice in the UK designing communities to reduce are more able to thrive in new communities lags behind many other countries. The consumption and infrastructure needs including both young and elderly people performance of materials can be considered and building homes that are sustainable. as well as socially deprived families. in a number of different ways, including: The introduction of an environmental net Transport for New Homes have shown • thermal characteristics, from simple gain as part of the development process how higher density development, in insulation to passive solar heating could help to bring these different levels reducing the need for cars, leaves more of good design together. Done well it space for nature within and outside of • longevity, reducing the need to can help us go from a no net loss mind- developments. Urban greenery, such as replace buildings over time set to delivering more positive outcomes street trees and wild verges can help through an integrated approach to create places and communities where • recyclability, whether the material is planning and development. Only by people want to live, help address air itself recycled, as can be the case building homes that help us to address pollution and support the health and in brownfield redevelopment, or the climate crisis can we create thriving well-being of current and future residents. after the lifetime of the building communities to the benefit of us all.

If you double the density, you can halve • potential for long-term carbon the amount of land needed to deliver the storage, for example wood same number of homes. This can leave and straw bale construction more open countryside, with accessible Rebecca Pullinger green spaces near where people live, • local provenance and distinctiveness, Land Use Campaigns while providing more space for nature. reducing transportation of materials, and Policy and supporting local character Officer, CPRE. 3. Building homes She tweets at Water conservation and management is @beckyjpullinger The design of homes themselves can also an essential component of climate change 28. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice WEST MIDLANDS

How our New Model of Municipal Socialism will help lead the Zero- Carbon Revolution

LIAM BYRNE MP

Exhausted governments make for Commitment to the 1.5°C goal was This is our task once again - for we cannot exasperating politics. So, thank heavens unwavering, but voices were united that lead the Green Industrial Revolution without for the young climate strikers prepared we need to be fair in achieving it. We a 21st century municipal socialism; a new to take to the streets to protest against need a culture shift to ensure destroying West Midlands Model. It means for instance a politics that is frozen while the planet the planet is no longer incentivised and that we need a Regional Investment Bank to inexorably warms. In the wake of the the movement to a green economy needs provide strategic stakes in green industry protests something profoundly important to work with trade unions to ensure and a Green Development Corporation has begun: local politicians are starting job creation in new industries as work to help us build green homes. We need to take the steps we need to replace in carbon-heavy industries dries up. a municipal green energy company to the Tories’ muddle with a credible zero- help us roll out renewables. We need an carbon model - that’s what I hope to We agreed that the burden of this shift Office of Nature to help us replant the do as Labour’s Metro-mayor next year. needs to be placed on the polluters ancient forest of Arden and re-wild our and those who have benefitted most green spaces, an Office of Community The West Midlands has a special role from the carbon revolution. Making Wealth Building to help us maximise the – and a special responsibility – to help the necessary changes will require contribution of public procurement and a lead our national effort. It was after all, significant political will, and the ability National Education service to help equip in the Black Country – christened for its to move beyond party politics. We us with the skills we need. Without these atmosphere, ‘black by day and red by night’ must not underestimate how big these changes it will be simply impossible to make - where the first practical steam engine was changes will be, so it is critical that are the leap at the speed we need to make it. demonstrated, back in 1712. In the years movement is inclusive and representative that followed, from Matthew Boulton to Sir of the communities affected. Writing on Dawson, the historian Ewan Frank Whittle, we led the world into first the Fernie reflected: “Though Dawson steam age and then the jet age. Today, we Our task now as ‘green’ Labour is to was something of a firebrand, what he are the epicentre of the UK’s electric vehicle translate those ideas into action. There’s ultimately wanted and espoused was industry. So: the region that pioneered nowhere better than the West Midlands the kind of revolution which the leader the carbon revolution is now determined to help lead the charge. Because we of the German student movement, to lead the zero-carbon revolution. cannot leave change to the market, Rudi Dutschke, called ‘the long march we will need to build new institutions through institutions’”. That is precisely the But, that will take all hands on deck. to help us. Here again we look to our approach we need today. So let’s start now. Which is why within 48 hours of declaring history to help us build the future. a climate emergency we convened the region’s first citizens’ assembly to debate Back in the 1860s Birmingham was the principles we need to guide us. home to the emergence of one of the Liam Byrne MP is Shadow Digital most powerful new ideas in politics: the Minister and Labour It was, quite literally, one of the most civic gospel. Preached by the radical MP for Hodge Hill. He inspiring meetings I’ve ever helped to George Dawson, it inspired the municipal is standing for West host. Here were people of all ages socialism of Joseph Chamberlain who Midlands Metro Mayor. and all backgrounds coming together created in Birmingham what was lauded He tweets at to discuss how we had to change. The as the ‘best governed city in the world’. @LiamByrneMP principals that emerged were clear. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 29. SCOTLAND

Scottish action on the Environment & Climate Emergency

Claudia Beamish MSP

The declaration of the climate and campaigning. Many of my colleagues have target of net zero emissions, where the SNP environment emergency shows joined the school strikes and seen the Government were too timid. Originally, we us the reality of what we face, a power of young people demanding we set a target for net zero emissions by 2050 significant but necessary challenge, protect the future. And I was delighted at the latest, but we are unafraid to listen but one that could hold inordinate to share a platform with Extinction to experts, and the developing science positivity for our collective future. Rebellion, and to visit their peaceful and research published since has shifted protest outside the Parliament along with us on to 2045, which I am delighted to It is becoming ever clearer that this Leader . say will be set in the Climate Change Bill. emergency requires a role of all of us – government, parliament, the We support their call for a Citizen’s My amendments on climate justice have had public and private sectors, trade Assembly on climate change, which a positive reception, and I am encouraged unions, communities, and citizens. could be especially useful when the that the SNP Government may concede on Scottish Government revisits the Climate these areas. We know that those who did the Our response must be driven by a Change Plan to better align policy with least to cause global temperature rise are the red-green perspective, locking in our renewed ambition on long term people that will feel its effects first and worst, social justice to a green revolution targets. However, in our parliamentary and we must do all we can to limit that damage for our economy and society. democracy, I am clear elected politicians and support the global south in their own must be inspired and focussed by transformation. I want to see the principles A change has come. on climate this, not bound its recommendations. of climate justice set into our legislation, change action has grown exponentially, protecting human rights, international becoming the defining spirit of this period I am proud to say that development goals, democratic decision of humanity’s story. In fact, Sir David making, gender equality, the just transition, Attenborough recently stated people now Scottish Labour has future generations, and acting proportionately view chucking plastic into the ocean as an to Scotland’s historic contribution to global insult, after his 20 years of campaigning. been ahead of the curve, emissions. This is a long and fundamentally as over a year ago we important list for Labour movement action. The door for ideas on sustainability, climate change action and whole system change for committed to a setting I also want better recognition of international the sake of our planet has swung wide open. development, including explicit reference a target of net zero to Sustainable Development Goals, a Scottish Labour is playing a vital role in commitment to sharing technology and the Scottish Parliament, ensuring climate emissions, where the SNP knowledge with the global south, and justice, inter-generational justice and the Government were too timid calculating Scotland’s fair and safe carbon just transition are at the heart of everything budget with all these factors accounted for. the Bill sets out to achieve and at the core of our long term action on climate change. We also absolutely need climate justice I am proud to say that Scottish Labour in Scotland. From the beginning of This is in part thanks to engaging with has been ahead of the curve, as over a considering my party’s response to the inspiring activists and their tirelessly year ago we committed to a setting a Climate Change Bill, I knew a Just Transition 30. SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice SCOTLAND

Commission would be a vital accompaniment on this issue to put it into the forthcoming destiny. It is about the public interest. to any ambitious long term target. Scottish policy planning framework that It is also about the balance of power there will not be onshore fracking in shifting from the few to the many, and I have been working together with the Scotland. This is right for our climate the opportunity and wealth that can Just Transition Partnership, formed by and our environment and to protect our flow from ownership of one of our most Friends of the Earth Scotland and the communities. It is imperative that there is fundamental assets, our land, being STUC in 2016, whose membership now not a new, dirty, transition fuel, when we are shared more equally among our people. also includes Unite Scotland, developing the green jobs revolution which Scotland, UCU Scotland, CWU Scotland, will bring real sustainable jobs in energy Better land justice will bring a raft of PCS Scotland and WWF Scotland. and energy efficiency across Scotland. opportunities for more sustainable land management. This could vastly improve the It is quite hard for me to understand There is also, of course, an environment protection of our peatlands, which remain the SNP reluctance to support emergency. Changes in our environment at risk with a lack of data held on them my amendments to on this. are so often interlinked and need a and a confused system not fit for purpose, holistic approach, and our biodiversity and despite my efforts in the recent Planning Bill. Environmental and social policies should ecosystems are also in a state of crisis. In be mutually reinforcing, and Labour has Scotland, one in 11 species are threatened Different patterns of land ownership could a major role to play in ensuring the right with extinction. The Scottish Government’s also help the shift away from the overly vast balance between its internationalist and record is shameful – meeting only seven driven grouse moors and the irresponsible moral responsibility, and the appropriate out of 20 of our biodiversity targets with action by some land managers, which leads route for Scottish workers and communities. just over a year to go until the 2020 target to serious environmental harm in some Ultimately, we need this shift to be guided deadline. of Scotland’s most beautiful wild spaces. by those in the industry, those in the Community ownership has been proven to unions, and those with the expertise. It is disappointing given the scale of this bring sustainable development in the public issue that the First Minister couldn’t offer interest and Scottish Labour is supportive The SNP Just Transition Commission, any commitment to plan for accelerated of radical action enabling local communities established after significant pressure from action on biodiversity beyond 2020. An and biodiversity to to thrive together instead my party, is a step in the right direction, example I have been contacted about by a of a fifth of Scotland being managed as a but it simply does not go far enough. number of constituents is concern over the playground for the rich to pay big money to It is not statutory, it is not independent record low number of salmon in our rivers. It come and shot for fun! Driven grouse moors from Government, but most droll of all is shocking to think that we are jeopardising must be bound by robust criteria and I await – it has a lifespan of three years. This one of Scotland most iconic species. the findings of the Scottish Government shows a complete misunderstanding of commissioned Wherrity Report with interest. the concerns of our affected communities Biodiversity deserves the same and workers. We need the just transition collective action and energy as we It is thrilling and a challenge to us to be at the forefront of decision making have recently seen on climate change. all that the climate and environment for as long as our economy is shifting. emergency has come to receive There are many challenges, and I am due recognition here in Scotland. When most think of the just transition, certainly kept busy as Scottish Labour’s it is the North Sea issue that comes to Spokesperson on Climate Change, In Labour’s vision, this means opportunity mind. This is fundamental, and those Environment, and Land Reform. We have to offer a credible strategy and positive, workers and communities deserve a proper had successes; from protecting kelp from radical change, and it is to our advantage industrial strategy. But, the just transition commercial extraction, preserving this to work with Labour colleagues on this must be for all sectors – supporting our source of blue carbon and enhancing our vision across the whole of the UK. agriculture industry, reinvigorating Scottish wider marine environment; to keeping manufacturing and remanufacturing, the forestry as an arms-length body, As Richard Leonard said in a recent speech and bringing everyone along with us. preserving the valuable knowledge and in Motherwell, “when we are calling for expertise of existing staff and protecting a Green Industrial Revolution, we are I will not ease up pressure on the Scottish it from misgivings about the centralisation calling for a decisive social revolution too.” Government to reconsider this ahead of and even possible future privatisation of the final stage of the Bill this Autumn. forestry under the SNP Government. Claudia Scottish Labour is also robustly committed Looking to the future, so many of these Beamish MSP to banning onshore fracking in Scotland. I issues need the Labour movement is the Scottish Labour have a private members bill proposal which perspective. We need a more just approach Spokesperson on will be used if appropriate to enshrined this to Scottish land ownership. For Labour, Climate Change. in legislation. The best way forward may well land reform is about community and She tweets at be in policy and the Scottish government empowerment to take more control over @Claudiabeamish has agreed to my amendment in a debate their economic, social and environmental SERA Campaigning for environmental change & social justice 31. SERA’s fringe programme Climate Emergency: at Labour Conference The Dome Room, Hotel du Vin, 2 Ship St, BN1 1AD RAPID RESPONSE Just a 4 min walk from the Conference Centre

Taking On Brexit And The SERA and Remain Labour’s Menu For Change: The Role of SERA with The Vegan Climate Emergency and Reform Food In Tackling The Climate Emergency Society and Sustain 11:00 – 12:00. Sunday 22nd 12:45 – 14:00. Sunday 22nd

CHAIR: Melanie Smallman, Co-Chair, SERA CHAIR: Darren Jones MP MP, Chair, Exiting the EU Select Committee Sue Hayman MP, Shadow Secretary for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Seb Dance MEP, Deputy Leader of European Parliamentary Labour Party Louise Davies, The Vegan Society Mike Buckley, Director, Remain and Reform Ben Reynolds, Deputy Chief Executive, Sustain Anna McMorrin MP, Environment Audit Committee Dr Helen Harwatt, Animal Law & Policy Fellow, Hansard Law School

Ending Fracking And The SERA with Frack The Green Industrial Revolution Reception SERA with Prospect Climate Emergency Free United 19:00 – 20:30. Sunday 22nd and the Offshore Wind Industry Council 17:00 – 18:15. Sunday 22nd

CHAIR: Tom Anderton, SERA CHAIR: Jake Sumner, Co-Chair, SERA Barry Gardiner MP, Shadow Secretary for International Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Shadow Secretary for Trade and Minister for International Climate Change Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Andy Gheorghiu, Food & Water Watch Europe Mike Clancy, General Secretary, Prospect Katie de Kauwe, Lawyer, Friends of The Earth Benj Sykes, Co-Chair, OWIC

Uplands, National Parks and SERA and RSPB Green Revolution: How Will The SERA and Climate Change: Supporting Treasury Tackle The Environment Greener UK Nature for the Many And Climate Emergency? 12:45 – 14:00. Monday 23rd 15:00 – 16:15. Monday 23rd CHAIR: Daniel Zeichner MP, SERA Sue Hayman MP, Shadow Secretary for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs CHAIR: Jake Sumner, Co-Chair, SERA Hilary Benn MP, Chair, Exiting the EU Select Committee Clive Lewis MP, Shadow Treasury Minister Helen Goodman MP, Shadow Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Minister Lisa Nandy MP, Former Shadow Energy & Climate Change Minister Beccy Speight, Chief Executive, RSPB Fanny Calder, Director of Campaigns & Public Affairs, WWF-UK Uplands Farmer (invited) Martha McPherson, Head of Green Economy & Sustainable Growth at IIPP, UCL

Labour Cities Cleaning Up Our Air SERA and UK100 The SERA Rally – Climate SERA with Calor 16:30 – 17:30. Monday 23rd Emergency: Rapid Response 18:00 – 19:15. Monday 23rd CHAIR: Melanie Smallman Andy McDonald MP (invited) CHAIR: Melanie Smallman, Co-Chair, SERA & Jake Sumner, SERA John McDonnell MP (invited) Polly Billington, Director, UK100 Diane Abbott MP Frances O’Grady Local Government Leaders Q&A including Jon Ashworth MP Laura Parker, Momentum , Mayor of Greater Manchester (Invited) Liam Byrne MP Luke Pollard MP Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol (Invited) Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP MP Emily Thornberry Sue Hayman MP And other speakers Climate SOS: Net Zero Reception SERA and Clive Lewis MP to be confirmed 19:45 – 21:15. Monday 23rd Sustainability Hub SERA and Labour A Home Shouldn’t Cost The Earth: How Labour Housing Group, Can Address The Housing And Climate Crises CPRE and FMB 12:45 – 14:00. Tuesday 24th CHAIR: Alex Sobel MP, SERA’s Parliamentary Network Danielle Rowley MP, Shadow Minister for Climate Justice & Green Jobs CHAIR: Jake Sumner, Co-Chair, SERA Karen Potter, Sustainability Hub Alex Cunningham MP, Shadow Minister for Housing Helen Hayes MP, Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Nicky Gavron AM, Deputy Chair of the London Planning Committee Lois Lane, Housing Campaigns Officer, CPRE Plastic Crisis: Time To Tidy Up Our Act SERA and Viridor Brian Berry, Chief Executive, Federation of Master Builders 17:45 – 19:00. Tuesday 24th Developing Our Horizons – Fighting for Christians on the Social And Environment Justice Abroad Left and SERA CHAIR: Leonie Cooper AM, SERA 12:30 – 14:00. Tuesday 24th Sandy Martin MP, Shadow Waste & Recycling Minister St Pauls Church, 60 West St, Brighton, BN1 2RS Anna McMorrin MP, Environment Audit Committee Paul Ringham, Commercial Director, Viridor CHAIR: Hannah Rich, Julian Kirby, Plastics Campaign, Friends of The Earth Jonathan Reynolds MP, Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Shadow City Minister Bill Esterson MP, Shadow Business & International Trade Minister For our full listings and speakers visit Paul Cook, Advocacy & Media Director, Tearfund SERA.org.uk/Labourconference19 Rachael Maskell MP, Shadow Transport Minister (invited)

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