Not even the beginning of the end

Editorial - New Ground 53 - Winter 97/98

After mounting tension, ferocious bargaining and cruel levels of sleep depravation, a legally binding settlement was achieved at Kyoto.

The key outcome is an overall 6 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions for the developed world by 2008-2012. This is well below the 15 per cent proposed by the EU and disappointing in that this target will not be enough to halt or reverse the climate change which prompted the summit.

However, we must take hope from the fact that a legally-binding agreement has been made, and that the treaty has a built-in review mechanism. The proposals are far from perfect but there is the opportunity to revise and strengthen these initial figures - much as happened with the Toronto agreement on CFCs.

We can also feel pleased with our own Government’s contribution. John Prescott immediately announced that the UK would keep its own target of a 20% reduction by 2010, and would push the European Union to stick with its 15% figure.

As evidence for climate change grows, and even the most immoral of lobbyists finds it hard to argue against curbing emissions, the strength of this Government position will grow. When the Kyoto agreement is reviewed, the targets can only be revised upwards. Setting strong targets now will help develop new skills and greener technologies, which can then be exported to latecomers struggling to meet their eventual commitments. Far from being a noble sacrifice, Britain’s stand on climate change could prove to be a far sighted investment in the UK’s future prosperity - an argument which should help win the support of business and trade unions.Tony Blair’s recent Downing St. summit was a welcome first step, for which SERA can take some credit.

At an international level the effects of climate change, on agriculture, rainfall and storm occurrence, will increasingly be a cause of conflict and insecurity and may help to focus the minds of the developed nations.

The first follow on meeting will take place in Argentina next November. That campaign must start now.

The future of transport

The Government will publish its long-awaited transport strategy in the Spring.

A growing consensus accepts that we cannot base our transport system on the private car, yet an alternative strategy, which protects mobility and does not outrage voters has been hard to come by.

SERA’s recent conference brought together representatives of all the main interest groups to try to flesh out a solution. Two conclusions were obvious:

for a host of reasons, not least our commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the new transport strategy will have to reduce traffic levels - no amount of green cars will deliver sufficient emissions reductions, reduce congestion or make our streets safer;
without getting the finances right, a key plank of Labour’s first term in office could come unstuck. This need not mean a huge bill for the Treasury - although developing an integrated transport system could be very expensive there are also many ways of paying for it, such as parking or congestion charges.

If the new policy is to succeed, Brown, Prescott and co. must give serious consideration to new ways of finding the money.