“green alliance... issue summer 035 “the UK's experience “how to assess the “the wider positive of producer potential risks and planning agenda responsibility has benefits of new needs to be prioritised been driven by technology ... will alongside the new European Legislation” be preoccupying ... planning guidance the progressive for renewables” TRACK governance summit” INSIDE 3 4 6 TO BOLDLY GO Peter Mandelson MP Mark Ballard MSP TRACK INSIDE The quarterly magazine of Green Alliance Edited by Sarah Flood Designed by Carruthers and Hobbs comment Printed by Seacourt Press Ltd  July 2003 Green Alliance All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Green Alliance. Within the UK, exceptions are allowed Rebecca Willis in respect of any fair dealing for the purposes of private research or study, or criticism or review, Director as permitted under the Copyright, Design and Patent Act, 1988, or in the case of reprographic It is commonplace for environmental organisations like ours to call for bold reproduction in accordance with the terms of the licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. policies, leadership and political bravery. But we rarely explain why we think bold is best. This is the theme of this edition of Inside Track. It’s not just an excuse to quote Star Trek - we wanted to look at what change could Green Alliance receives funding from the Esmée happen if you decide, in the immortal words of Captain Kirk, “to boldy Fairbairn Foundation and Defra's Environmental go where no man has gone before”. Action Fund. The congestion charge was certainly a bold move. It’s hard to think back, now, to January this year when all were prophesying chaos, disaster and rebellion on the streets of London. Now, Ken is basking in the knowledge that his policy has reduced traffic levels within the zone by 16 per cent - figures that must make the DfT green with envy (if not actually green).

It’s not just that things happen faster if we go for more radical solutions. It’s also that bold policies promote step-change solutions, like new technologies, or new ways of doing things. Small, incremental policies mean that people instead make small, incremental changes – end-of-pipe solutions, not system innovation. Incremental policy may actually reduce the chances of reaching our end-goal, if they keep us wedded to the status quo.

So, in this edition, we look at what else we could do if we boldly go. contents Peter Mandelson, patron of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy, offers us a vision of a bold energy future – and points out that comment 2 much needs to be done to turn White Paper aspirations into reality. green alliance news Mark Ballard, a green member of the , criticises the return to sender 3 Scottish Executive for their timidity – and paints a picture of how Scotland from biotech to nanotech 4 could lead the way. And opposite, Ben Shaw talks about one possible a green bill of health 4 bold step forward for waste policy – making producers responsible for spending to save the environment 5 the environmental impacts of their products. energy entrepreneurs 6 must try harder 7 In a bold move closer to home, Green Alliance is, this year, hosting a grass roots to green shoots 7 web-based photography competition, in association with the London the Energy White Paper - Photographic Agency. We hope that the theme of ‘grass roots to green a step change in policy delivery? shoots’ will inspire people not to search for solutions in outer space, but Peter Mandelson MP 8 take inspiration from the environment around them. A lesson for Captain more green power for Scotland Kirk, perhaps? Mark Ballard MSP 10 members’ news 12

The views of contributors are not necessarily those of Green Alliance. • What are the objectives that should be set for new producer return to responsibility initiatives? • What are the lessons to be learnt from existing types of schemes in Europe and how do these affect different actors in the production sender and consumption chain? • What products or materials are suitable for new initiatives and producer responsibility how should they be complemented by other policy measures?

that works A scoping seminar was held at the end of March to discuss these issues and a background paper was produced Recent developments in UK waste has been driven by European legislation that outlined existing producer policy have focused on getting to grips with directives on packaging, end of responsibility schemes in Sweden, with household waste. However, the life vehicles and waste electrical and the Netherlands, Switzerland and need to also develop a better set of electronic equipment (WEEE). These Flanders. The write up of the seminar polices to deal with business and have got progressively more ambitious and background paper are available industrial waste is acknowledged. with the recent WEEE directive being from Green Alliance’s website. For example, the Strategy Unit report the most rigorous implementation of The write up summarises the ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ highlighted the producer responsibility concept. presentations and discussion that the need to achieve waste reduction covered the principles and objectives through the policy tools such as Yet Europe doesn’t have to be the only of producer responsibility, the role producer responsibility. Green Alliance driver of new producer responsibility and relationships between consumers has been looking at the role that initiatives. Member states can develop and producers and practical issues producer responsibility could play in their own schemes that tackle a whole of implementation. Green Alliance delivering more ambitious waste and range of products and materials. will be taking forward this work by resource policy objectives. This was one of the findings of Green revisiting these issues in more detail Alliance’s Creative Policy Packages for with the objective of developing Producer responsibility is a simple Waste project. Sweden, for example, a set of guidelines for the design and enough concept – if you make a has used producer responsibility as the implementation of future producer product you should be responsible for basis of its municipal waste recycling responsibility initiatives. the impacts it has during its life. It is strategy. The Netherlands, Switzerland normally associated with the idea of and Flanders in Belgium also have For more information on this work producers being made to take back schemes in place. The UK government please contact Ben Shaw their products at the end of their life for is moving slowly towards adoption [email protected] recycling, repair or disposal. However, of more ambitious objectives on To download the Creative Policy the concept also extends to reducing waste and resource policy with, for Packages for Waste report go to the impacts of products throughout example, its current work to produce www.green-alliance.org.uk/Programme_ their lifecycle. This is important as for a sustainable consumption and CreativePolicyPackagesWaste.htm some products the in-life impacts will production strategy and in its response far exceed the production or disposal to the Strategy Unit’s waste report. impacts and vice versa. Implementing these objectives will require more radical application of a While the concept may be simple, range of existing policy tools including turning it into practice is more producer responsibility. problematic. For example, the packaging directive has been hailed by Green Alliance’s work on producer one commentator as “the most heavily responsibility has been looking at lobbied dossier in the history of the how this might be done. Some of the European institutions”. To date, except questions we have been addressing are: for a few voluntary schemes, the UK’s experience of producer responsibility “3 from biotech to nanotech? a progressive agenda for science and technology

Green Alliance’s director “Humanity, get down on your knees!” serious concerns about the new So screamed the billboards for Michael technology, sparking a fresh wave Rebecca Willis, author of a Crichton’s latest novel Prey. Crichton, of media interest. paper on technology, risk who did much to popularise concerns about biotechnology in Jurassic Park, Nanotechnology should not be seen in and environment for the has now turned his attention to a new isolation. It is just the latest of a series Progressive Governance generation of technologies. In Prey, of technologies that have caused he describes an experiment at the controversy – think nuclear power, Summit in July, asks frontiers of nanoscience, which goes GM crops and mobile phone masts. whether nanotech will be badly wrong, causing clouds of self- The problem is that we can’t ignore replicating nanobots to swarm out of the potential benefits of this sort of the new GM – and how control. And to Crichton, this is not just innovation. Nanotechnology is based governments should harmless science fiction – in interviews, on the ability to measure, manipulate he stresses his genuine concerns about and organise material on the nanoscale be handling it the risks of nanotechnology. He is not – 1 to 100 billionths of a metre, alone. NGOs are beginning to wake up sparking a radically new approach to the challenge – and in May, the to engineering and materials science. Prince of Wales was reported to have Potential breakthroughs include

a green bill of health: a new agenda for health and environment policy Health is a key political issue, and life agenda to the next stage, exploring thinkers, community project leaders there are some potentially strong the role of environmental protection and public health experts. connections to the environmental in public health promotion. The project debate. It is widely accepted that a will consider how the opportunities Regular project updates will be healthy environment is a prerequisite provided by the new focus on public posted on www.green-alliance.org.uk to healthy living, yet government health can be harnessed to In the meantime if you would like policy to date has rather neglected simultaneously achieve the goals of more details on the project or to these links. a better environment and a healthier contribute your insights, please population. The project will begin with contact Charlotte Marples Green Alliance’s new project, A Green a publication to be launched in the [email protected] Bill of Health, will take the quality of autumn with contributions from green “4 medical applications like biocompatible This debate couldn’t be more relevant But there’s also a need to move this materials that will change the way that to the UK – we are, after all, in the debate to the international level – given we repair nerves and tissues; middle of an official ‘public debate’ the current EU/US spat over GM, telecommunications advances such about GM crops. A brave initiative – it’s not a moment too soon. Could the as sensors allowing ubiquitous but, arguably, ten years too late. In my Swedish proposal for an International monitoring; and pollution control at the paper for the Progressive Governance Convention for Socio-economic and nano-level. But concerns have already Summit, I argue that the debate about Environmental Evaluation of New been voiced about the potential for nanotech should start now. It is at an Technologies be one solution? self-replicating nano-machines to equivalent stage in R&D terms to The Progressive Governance Summit smother the world in ‘grey goo’. biotechnology in the late 1970s. may be the start of a more honest Scientists have also expressed worries This means that we still have the debate between governments about about the potentially carcinogenic opportunity to intervene and improve how we can can learn from past effects of nanoparticles. And the the social sensitivity of innovation mistakes, cope more readily with battle-lines between supporter and processes at the design-stage – complexity and uncertainty, and opponents of this technology are to avoid the mistakes that were harness the drivers of technological already being drawn up. made over GM and other technologies. change for the common good.

This tricky issue – how to assess the There are lots of practical steps that For more information on the potential risks and benefits of new government could take to improve the Progressive Governance Summit, and technology, like nanotechnology or GM way we handle new technologies. a copy of the paper, From Bio to Nano – will be preoccupying politicians from There is a need for new fora in which and Beyond: A progressive agenda for all over the world, when they descend the scientists and companies involved technology, risk and the environment, on London in July for the Progressive in R&D can get together with citizens’ by Rebecca Willis and James Wilsdon, Governance Summit, a meeting of groups and politicians, to debate the see www.progressive-governance.net centre-left leaders from as far afield direction of the technology. Social as Brazil, Bulgaria and South Korea. engagement of this sort should be Convened by Peter Mandelson, a requirement for all publicly-funded participants at the summit will ‘rethink research, and a condition of regulatory how the enduring values of social approval. The recent announcement of democracy can be applied in new a government-backed inquiry into the circumstances’. Alongside more wider impacts of nanotech (being led traditional centre-left preoccupations by the Royal Society and the Royal like the future of the welfare state, one Academy of Engineering) is an of the summit’s themes is how to steer important and welcome first step, but technological progress in a more this should mark the start rather than sustainable direction. the end of the dialogue process. spending to save the environment

This Autumn, Ministers will be flexing overlook the power of green spending. the case for green spending. We will their muscles in preparation for another The availability of more modest levels commission research, to estimate the spending review. Each department of government funding can make funding required to meet a range of bargains with the Treasury for a slice of or break key environmental aims like environmental targets, and we will use public expenditure, in return promising waste recycling, energy efficiency the findings to persuade government to achieve specific aims, set out in or landscape management. And that if you see green, you should public service agreements. some spending – on unnecessary spend green. roads, or nuclear power – can be Of course, the real money goes positively harmful. Watch out for updates on this work on education and health spending. in future editions of Inside Track Protecting and improving the This is why Green Alliance, together or on www.green-alliance.org.uk environment does not require the huge with other green groups, will be For further details, contact injections of public cash that go into working with the Treasury and other Rebecca Willis schools or hospitals. Yet we shouldn’t government departments, to make [email protected] “5 energy entrepreneurs

In the Energy White Paper’s vision for The London Borough of Merton is the same price as they currently sell ‘the energy system in 2020’ we find an requiring developers to generate at them more gas or electricity. ESCOs ambition that goes to the heart of a least ten per cent of the energy needs would promote micro-renewable sustainable energy future: of all new factories and offices bigger technologies alongside efficiency than 1,000 square metres on-site, measures as ways of achieving desired “New homes will be designed to need meaning the inclusion of solar water warmth and utility with less energy. very little energy and will perhaps even heaters, photovoltaic panels and other If customers could pay for such achieve zero carbon emissions ... There micro-renewable generation. measures gradually through their bills will be much more micro-generation, then the cost would be simultaneously for example from CHP plant, fuel cells But the legal status of such positive offset by the energy savings. There are in buildings, or photovoltaics …” interventions is uncertain. The Office currently policy and organisational of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) barriers to these contracts which It’s always good to have some vision. has not yet made clear its position on must be urgently addressed if energy But for those working closer to the ‘positive planning’: using the planning demand reduction is to fulfil its ground - the entrepreneurs, planners system to promote goals owned acknowledged potential as the most and developers struggling to by other departments, such as cost-effective route to cutting carbon. implement micro-renewable energy energy policy. projects – it is a tantalising vision. Energy services and positive planning They need the supportive policy However the Energy White Paper did are two agendas that Green Alliance measures that would make their announce that: will be working on with representatives projects viable, and put micro-power “ODPM will be examining how to bring from across the micro-renewables at the heart of achieving mainstream consideration of the use of renewables sector and other stakeholders to energy demand reduction. and energy efficiency in developments ensure that opportunities to move more within the scope of the planning towards the Government’s 2020 vision So what have we got to work with system, in the context of the review for micro-generation are not neglected. so far? The White Paper did announce of PPG22 and the Government’s wider that the next revision of Part L of planning reforms and in a way that Energy Entrepreneurs is a new the Building Regulations, relating to does not impose undue burdens Green Alliance project, in association energy use in buildings, will be brought on developers.” with The Ashden Trust, which will forward to 2005. Micro-renewables seek to promote a shared voice should be promoted by more stringent The wider positive planning agenda on key policy challenges across the requirements for developers to reduce needs to be prioritised alongside the micro-renewables sector. For more energy demand from new properties. new planning guidance for renewables, details, contact Joanna Collins at PPS22, due out for consultation in [email protected] The planning system could give the late summer. or visit www.green-alliance.org.uk/ same results. Regional and local Programmes_EnergyEntrepreneurs.htm authorities are starting to develop Of course new build, although renewable energy targets and potentially significant in driving strategies to play their part in carbon micro-power markets, only represents reduction across the UK. The Mayor a fraction of housing stock – for the of London has announced in his draft existing 99 per cent there must be energy strategy that he will ask new incentives to retrofit. This is where developments to generate a proportion energy services could be crucial. of their energy needs from renewable Through energy service contracts sources on-site. or ‘ESCOs’ suppliers can reduce a customer’s demand on the grid for “6 must try harder: why the fight for a sustainable Europe is not over yet

Last month the Convention on the reinstated. The status quo was work on these specific policies, but Future of Europe finally hit the maintained. It is a measure of how time will tell whether the Convention headlines. Giscard’s Convention had dismal the process has been that has the will to address these issues a grand name and grander ambitions. we must consider this a success. properly. But did the draft Constitution presented in June live up to expectations? We cannot afford to rest on our green So we can’t quite uncross our fingers For environmentalists the first reaction laurels. The Convention is only a yet. Only when the Constitution is to the draft Constitution presented by recommendation to Council and will presented in its final draft format to the Convention was a relief, but as ever be debated, amended and adopted the IGC will we be able to judge how the devil is in the detail. at the Inter Governmental Conference successful we have been. What is clear (IGC) in October. is that the Convention is the best You could be forgiven for not making chance we have to set out a vision for any connections between the The specific policy areas remain largely an enlarged Europe. Unless we can Convention and the environment at all. untouched. This is a major flaw as it truly put sustainable development at However whilst the tricky discussions risks outdated policies, such as the heart of Europe, Giscard’s grand on institutional reform occupied transport, agriculture and economic project will miss the opportunity to Convention members and dominated and social cohesion, being adopted meet the challenges the Union faces the press, the environment was under into the new Constitution without in the next half century. Its citizens threat. The first draft of the Constitution reflection and revision. In short this deserve better. presented in October had significantly means that unless substantially weakened commitments to sustainable reviewed and modernised, these For details of Green Alliance's work development and environmental policies will be inconsistent with the on Europe please contact Charlotte protection enshrined in the current overall messages on sustainable Marples. Breaking With Convention: Treaty, a move which threatened years development maintained in the first Towards a new European future of progress on environmental policy. part of the Constitution. is available to download from www.green-alliance.org.uk Thanks to the tireless efforts of the In response to overwhelming pleas NGOs and supportive Convention from civil society, the Convention has members these commitments were received a brief extension to continue grass roots to green shoots

How many words does it take For the next four months, Green The collection of images will be an an environmentalist to describe Alliance in conjunction with London inspiration to decision-makers by sustainable development? And that’s Photographic Awards, is asking helping them visualise a greener, if the person you are talking to hasn’t photographers to cast their eyes over fairer society for all. switched off after the first twenty. the places where they live or work and to identify images that demonstrate To enter the competition or to vote Being able to visualise what that sustainable development is now. on-line for your favourite image please sustainable development looks like Grass Roots to Green Shoots challenges go to www.lpa-environmental.com is key in determining the pathway photographers to demonstrate to our For further information contact and polices that will lead us there. leaders that politics is literally about Sarah Flood the air that we breathe, the food that [email protected] we eat and the places we live. “7 the Energy White Paper – Peter Mandelson MP sets out what must a step change in happen to deliver the Energy White Paper's policy delivery? vision of the future After two years of debate, review and existing measures. However, given the consultation the Government’s Energy uncertainty in the ability of the existing White Paper placed emission reduction policies and measures to reach the at the heart of UK energy policy for the current targets, their ability to achieve first time. There is no doubt that the the even greater reductions required White Paper is ground-breaking in its is by no means assured. vision of the future, the question is whether the same thinking will be Instead, if the UK is really determined applied to its implementation? to fulfil the White Paper’s vision of reduced emissions then small The UK’s existing climate change incremental changes will not be programme was published in 2000. enough. Rather we require a radical It contained a range of measures aimed shift in energy policy alongside at meeting our Kyoto commitments to new thinking determined to bring reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about a long-term shift to a low 12.5 per cent by 2008-2012. So far the carbon economy. UK is on track to meet this and the policies have been broadly successful. Let’s look at the area of improving The climate change programme was energy efficiency which the White also aimed at meeting the Government’s Paper identifies as the key to delivering commitment to reduce CO2 emissions long-term emission reductions. In stark by a fifth by 2010. terms energy However, unlike efficiency has the Kyoto promises, “Delivering the potential it is less clear that energy efficiency to cut 15 million the current package tonnes of carbon – of measures will improvements is ... substantially more be enough. crucial to the whole than the level of savings to be The White Paper strategy of the achieved under the builds on and White Paper.” current Climate significantly expands Change Programme. the current targets This is important in towards a 60 per cent cut in carbon itself, but the White Paper’s supporting emissions by 2050, with significant analysis also indicates that without the progress expected by 2020. It outlines dramatic increase in energy efficiency the policies and measures that will be then it would be harder and more needed to reach these targets and expensive to meet our targets. suggests an expansion of many Delivering energy efficiency “8 “we require a radical shift in energy policy alongside new thinking ... to bring about a long-term shift to a low carbon economy” improvements is therefore crucial to delivering energy efficiency investment to find ways of integrating existing the whole strategy of the White Paper. in the domestic sector, the EEC is seen policy measures with the emerging as an obligation that costs money to market in carbon trading. Decisions There are currently a number of deliver and something companies look made on increasing energy efficiency measures aimed at delivering energy to meet with the minimum amount must ensure that our policy solutions efficiency improvement as part of of effort. Contrast this to views on the are compatible with emissions trading, the UK’s Climate Change Programme. Renewables Obligation (RO). Suppliers and it is important that there is now These include fiscal incentives such like the RO mechanism because it has a specific commitment to look at as the Climate Change Levy, building a clear end point; allows flexibility in how the EEC can dovetail with the regulations and an Energy Efficiency how the target is met; and it provides emissions trading scheme. Commitment (EEC) in the domestic a mechanism to get a substantial sector. The White Paper indicates that return on investments which can Getting energy efficiency policy right the additional savings possible from be further exploited. Companies are is going to be crucial for both our energy efficiency could be made therefore investing considerable sums current and future generations. by expanding a number of these of money into the development of Many different parts still need to programmes. Therefore, it proposes renewables. I’m not saying that the be brought together into a coherent doubling the EEC in the domestic EEC needs an identical mechanism but and integrated package that delivers sector, the introduction of an EEC in the if we can find a way to make investing substantial emission reductions, gives business sector, and further revisions in renewables attractive, then with industry the necessary framework to of the Building Regulations by 2005. some new thinking we can do it to make investments in energy efficiency, generate greater energy efficiency. and incentivises consumers to take However, simply expanding existing a more active role in reducing their programmes may not be enough to There are further ways we can help own energy use. achieve the White Paper’s emission reduce demand. As consumers we all reduction targets which is why new need to become more aware of the It is certainly going to be a challenge thinking is required. Perhaps what we impact of our energy use. Implementing but I hope the White Paper signifies not should start talking about is reducing easy and straight forward methods to only a step-change for the development actual demand as well as energy reduce consumption involves raising of sustainable technologies but also efficiency. This will not only make awareness as well as fiscal measures to how we go about developing energy emission reductions easier to achieve provide users with a financial incentive policy and, along with the UK Business but will also benefit our trade balance to consume energy in a different way Council for Sustainable Energy, and give us greater security in energy and invest in more efficient appliances. I look forward to playing my part. supply by reducing our reliance on imports. Running through both the issues Peter Mandelson MP is patron of the of energy efficiency and reducing our UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy. For further details see At the same time investing in energy consumption is the issue of introducing www.bcse.org.uk efficiency needs to become more emissions trading. The White Paper commercially attractive for industry. highlights this as central to the future As the current mechanism for of energy policy and points to the need “9 for Scotland for powergreen more May 2003 saw the election of six more Greens to the Scottish Parliament. Mark Ballard MSP, the Greens’ spokesperson on parliamentary business, was one of them. Here, he assesses the potential power of this new force in Scottish politics

DEVOLUTION, we were promised, threat from the Greens. According to would bring new politics to Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, all the Wales and Northern Ireland. There parties’ 2003 manifestos (apart from would be space for bold and creative the Tories’) showed substantial policymaking. improvements in their environmental commitments compared with the Unfortunately, the first term of 1999 election. The ’ the Scottish Parliament was a manifesto remained out in front, but disappointment to many people. Jack the Liberal Democrats doubled their McConnell declared, on his election rating from a poor four out of ten in as Scotland’s third First Minister, that 1999 to a much better eight out of “it is time for this executive to do less, ten in 2003. better”, which was typical of Scottish Labour’s desire for a very safe and The coalition agreement between conservative programme of work Labour and the Liberals after the for the first session of the new election reflected this higher Scottish Parliament. prominence for environmental issues. Environmental polices in the coalition One of the chief innovations of the document Partnership for a better Scottish Parliament (and of the Welsh Scotland were marked with a tree Assembly) was the use of proportional symbol (though this might have been, representation. This means that smaller as Green MSP said, parties and independents have more to help those members of the of a chance to be elected. In 1999 this coalition who didn’t know what led to the election of as an environmental policy looked like). the UK’s first Green Parliamentarian. Robin quickly gained a reputation Several of these polices were bold as ‘the green conscience of the initiatives and welcomed by the parliament’, and, at the election in Scottish Greens, including: May of this year, the Greens achieved a huge breakthrough, with six new • a target for 40 per cent of Scottish Green MSPs elected to join him. electricity generation to be from renewable sources by 2020; Environmental issues were much more prominent in the second Scottish • four new railway lines in the Borders, Parliament election campaign than in Fife, Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire, the first, largely due to a perceived and a tram system for ; “10 • a reduction of 30 per cent in the environmental issues with poverty, incineration ‘renewable’, for example, number of households living in fuel pointing out that it is Scotland’s but at least the policies are heading in poverty by 2006; poorest communities who often the right direction. So the bold policy face the most serious problems promises must be matched with bold • targets for local authorities to recycle from pollution, congestion, opencast implementation. 25 per cent of their waste by 2006 mining and so on – has the potential and 55 per cent by 2020 through to transcend the traditional policy One of the main criticisms of increasing use of doorstep collection priorities of Scottish government. proportional representation is that and through provision of recycling Sustainable development has very it will lead to government by lowest facilities in every community. much played second fiddle to social common denominator – leaving no inclusion as room for bold policy But between all the ‘green trees’ in an overarching development. the partnership agreement, there were philosophy – many “The task of the Much of the hope other commitments that were not so hope that Jack Greens in the new invested in the environmentally sound. For example, McConnell’s interest Scottish Parliament the new Liberal Democrat transport in environmental Scottish Parliament was that it would minister will be working to: justice may allow is to make sure break the logjam these priorities of politics and allow • complete the central Scotland to be reconciled. that the Scottish creative policy motorway network, including the Executive exceeds development. M74 in (which is costing However, actually So far, it appears much more, but receiving less media achieving the the environmental that PR has lead attention than the Scottish targets set by the targets set” to a stronger voice Parliament building); Scottish Executive for those who is the immediate recognise the • extend direct air routes to Scotland challenge. Unfortunately, the record importance of environmental issues through the £6m Air Route of the Government achieving in Scottish politics. Development Fund; environmental targets in Scotland is not good. For example, in 1991, the The Scottish Green Party, as a new • complete the Aberdeen western Government set a target for the UK to party in the parliament, will seek peripheral road. recycle 25 per cent of household waste to transcend the tribalism that has by 2000. Scotland only managed 6.9 historically bedevilled British policies – These are all projects that the Greens per cent. The task of the Greens in the we will support the executive when it will continue to oppose. The Greens new Scottish Parliament is to make proposes good policies, oppose it when were also very disappointed that the sure that the Scottish Executive it puts forward bad ones. But the really executive chose to abolish the powerful exceeds the targets set, making sure bold policy step for Scotland will be transport and environment committee, that promises are matched by political to see the current promises turned splitting its work between the rural will and financial support. into achievements. development committee and the local government committee. Mr McConnell No-one should underestimate the Mark Ballard MSP represents Lothians had spoken a great deal about difficulty of the task – to increase the region. For further information on the environmental justice, a cause proportion of renewable energy from Scottish Green Party please visit championed by Friends of the Earth about 10 per cent to 40 per cent in 16 www.scottishgreens.org.uk Scotland, but despite a mention in the years will require a transformation of preamble to the document, there is a the energy market and energy supply concern that it has not been put at the industry in Scotland. Not least is the heart of the new Scottish Executive’s need for a huge increase in the extent agenda as he promised. and capacity of the national grid to reach those areas which are rich in Nevertheless, there is a great deal for renewable resources. environmentalists to take heart at in the partnership agreements. Scotland But these are the kind of targets that has historically lagged behind in we need to seize the potential for environmental policy, so the new economic development and reduce focus on environmental issues CO2 emissions. There are many battles is very important. The concept of along the way – the Scottish Executive environmental justice – which links still considers energy from waste “11 Green Alliance is an independent charity. Its mission is to promote members’ sustainable development by ensuring that the environment is at the heart news of decision-making. It works New staff with senior people in government, Paula Hollings joined Green Alliance to improve our communications business and the environmental as the new office manager/PA to generally. the director in May. Paula worked movement to encourage new ideas, We are currently transferring data previously at the Contemporary Arts dialogue and constructive solutions. to the new system and are hoping Society. Complementing her work for minimum teething problems. here she also teaches Alexander Please bear with us through this Technique two days a week. process. If you have changed any staff of your details recently, please send New members up-to-date contact information to director Rebecca Willis [email protected] Green Alliance welcomes the Thank you for your patience. policy co-ordinator Charlotte Marples following new individual members: senior policy officer Ben Shaw Susanne Baker Summer reception policy officer Jennie Oldham Stella Bland policy officer Joanna Collins Julie Cator Green Alliance's ever-popular summer development co-ordinator Karen Crane Paul Chambers reception was, this year, combined environment and Barbara Herridge with a major speech by Patricia website manager Rachel Butterworth Katherine Isbester Hewitt, secretary of state for trade Marie Rajaonavah and industry, at the Royal Society on membership officer Catherine Pamplin Nona Schulte-Roemer July 14. Our members and supporters office manager/ heard Patricia Hewitt set out the DTI’s PA to the director Paula Hollings Our new record collection plans on climate change and publications & finance sustainable production, followed by officer/GGN assistant Over the past few months Green a lively panel discussion. Afterwards, convenor Sarah Flood Alliance has been developing a new the debate continued informally, over GGN convenor Kate Hampton contacts management database. drinks and music. Many thanks to The new database will enable us ERM, our co-hosts for the event. Contact each staff member at: to manage membership information Patricia Hewitt's speech is available [email protected] more efficiently and will help us from www.green-alliance.org.uk programmes adviser to Green Alliance Julie Hill “green alliance... office stay ahead of the game

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