Annual Review 2007 2008 Annual Review 2007 2008 Annual Review 1
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AnnuAl Review 2007_2008annualreview 2007_2008annualreview 1 The well-being of our economy and society depends Contents on a healthy environment. Green Alliance was founded Vision 1 in 1979 to ensure that politicians recognised this and acted on it. we have been instrumental in the progress Chair’sintroduction 2 of the environment as a political issue ever since. Director’smessage 3 Green Alliance is unique. Bridging the worlds of Politics 4 government, business and nGOs, we work to make Climate 6 environmental solutions a priority in British politics. Wasteandresources 8 Greenliving 10 Our aims Greenwave 12 To make the environment a central political issue To integrate the environment into public policy GreenAllianceevaluated 14 and decision-making Finance 15 To stimulate new thinking and advance the environmental agenda into new areas Support 18 Projectpartners 18 Our work themes Businesscircle 18 Politics: challenging our leaders Members 19 Staffandtrustees 20 Climate change: blueprinting future policy Waste and resources: designing out waste Green living: shifting lifestyles and behaviour Greenwave: strategic thinking on the environment Green Alliance 36 Buckingham Palace Road london Sw1w 0Re T. 020 7233 7433 [email protected] www.green-alliance.org.uk Registered charity no. 1045395 Company limited by guarantee (england and wales) 3037633 2 2007_2008annualreview 2007_2008annualreview 3 Chair’s introduction Director’s message Dorothy Mackenzie, chair of trustees Stephen Hale, director we are in interesting times. There is great uncertainty Green Alliance has made excellent progress over the past about the future but a real opportunity to influence major year. But the scale of current environmental challenges change for the better. Green Alliance is at the heart of means we have to increase our impact, and fast. Our strategy this debate. for 2009-11 aims to do just that. This year we have urged our political This year we launched a new work theme, Our aspirations to make a difference influencing politicians will remain our leaders to rise to the environmental called Greenwave, as a space for much remain far greater than the progress we distinctive focus. This was a strength that challenge through our continuing work needed strategic thinking on the have made. The level of political action on many of our stakeholders highlighted in on The Green Standard. we hosted major environment. involving all sectors, beyond climate change and other environmental Firetail ‘s review (see page 14). But we events involving senior politicians at key the environment movement, we want problems is still far from sufficient.w e can will be changing the way we work. we are moments. nick Clegg spoke at our annual to generate new ideas to take on this and must do better. The level of ambition going to work more with the wider third debate shortly after becoming liberal enormous challenge. we ran a successful and commitment of all the parties needs to sector and engage more actively with Democrat leader and the london mayoral set of masterclasses this year to kick it off. be higher and the economic crisis makes business. we will increase our capacity candidates competed on the green agenda this challenge even more pressing. to influencee uropean policy in the uK The wide range of issues we cover draws at our hustings event. we presented and in Brussels; and directly address the on a tremendous breadth of expertise Green Alliance is in a pivotal position Gordon Brown with our view of his challenges and opportunities thrown up at Green Alliance. we are pleased to add to take this challenge on. we are environmental priorities as he became by the economic crisis. to this experience with the recent developing an approach that will enable prime minister, and published a pamphlet appointment of Thomas lingard to the us to achieve much more. Our strategy we are very grateful for the financial on new Conservative environmental post of deputy director. He brings with him for 2009-11 will set out a new set of and other support we have received “ The importance ideology, with contributions from both “ The next three years an impressive track record in business, goals for Green Alliance. Drawing on over the past year from many different of Green Alliance’s David Cameron and George Osborne. will be a time of CSR and community involvement. Our conversations within and beyond the organisations and individuals. it has been mission has never we also began new work addressing new trustees, Dame Julie Mellor and change and growth” Green Alliance family, we will outline our essential to our success. The next three been greater” waste at its source, looking at how to Benet northcote, are also contributing vision of where we want to be in 2011, years will be a time of change and growth. design it out altogether. we analysed new perspectives to our strategic our role in accelerating the changes we look forward to working with our and proposed policies on climate change, decision-making. needed, and our priorities. we will existing and many new friends in this transport, EU spending and food and the publicise this strategy early in 2009. exciting phase. i am delighted to be chair at a point when environment. we looked at why some the importance of Green Alliance’s mission Green Alliance’s track record and excellent local councils are greener than others and has never been greater. i would like to take network give us a terrific foundation for the raised awareness of nutrient pollution this opportunity to thank all our members, direction we plan to take. i look forward to and of the potential for smart technology funders and colleagues for joining us and reporting next year on our progress. solutions in the home. supporting our work. This annual review reflects Green Alliance’s achievements in 2007-08, and it is all work to be very proud of. But we are acutely aware of the need for new approaches in the face of climate change. 4 2007_2008annualreview 2007_2008annualreview 5 What we wanted to do in 2007-08: What we did in 2007-08 work with major environment groups on a collective challenge to the three main parties we raised the bar for nick Clegg’s turn on the environmental leadership Green Alliance platform initiate debate with key political figures People are demanding more from their elected The first Green Standard report in 2007 last year David Cameron and Gordon Brown Press for high level commitments to act on the environment representatives on the environment. in a 2007 scored the parties on their record since the delivered keynote speeches to Green Alliance. MORi poll 70 per cent agreed the government 2005 general election and set the bar for This year nick Clegg was invited to speak at should take the lead in combating climate future assessment. our annual debate just after he took on the change and, in a separate government survey, leadership of the liberal Democrats. “Despite demands from business and the the environment was the fourth most commonly voting public, the environmental beauty contest “i can assure you that under my leadership, mentioned of the issues people think between the parties has, to there will be no backsliding on our green government should be dealing with, date, been characterised by commitment. everyone’s talking about it. after crime, health and education. too much spin and too little Churches are, trade unions are, charities are. Yet no party has developed an substance. The Green And of course, businesses are. … the truth is approach to environmental issues that Standard tests can be met that we will never win the battle to protect our matches the breadth or the urgency of but our political leaders natural heritage until we see it as the joint these challenges. Political debate and must show greater courage responsibility of each and every one of us – action must get ahead of the game. Politics and commitment.” politicians, business people, individuals The Green Standard is an initiative Green Alliance press working together for the future of our planet.” steered by Green Alliance involving eight statement, September 2007 nick Clegg MP, leader of the liberal Democrats, other leading uK environment groups. addressing Green Alliance’s annual debate, it sets out six main challenges that Challenging our March 2008 political parties have to grasp to be leaders credible on the environment. A greener shade electing to combat Dear Gordon… of blue? climate change As environmental concerns have entered Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow chaired our Across a spectrum of interests, the political mainstream, many have been hustings event How green is London’s future?. from business to football, particularly surprised by the apparent greening it gave the main candidates for london Mayor they asked for more action of the Conservative party under David Cameron. the chance to outdo each other on green policy on the environment. At the same time as the party was calling people in front of an audience of national and local Right at the start of to ‘vote blue, go green’ during the May 2007 government representatives, business leaders Gordon Brown’s premiership, local elections, we published a collection of and nGOs. They gave their visions and plans Christian Aid and unison views, of senior Conservatives including David for shaping london’s environment and building jointly sponsored Green Cameron and George Osborne, and of top on the capital’s reputation as a leader in Alliance’s publication of open environmental commentators, on current combating climate change. letters to the prime minister Conservative ideology and the environment. from prominent individuals. “The next mayor of london will be among “ …the environmental case should not be seen the most powerful green politicians in Britain.