A Manifesto For The Future

New Ground 59
Summer 2000

As the political parties start to draw up their general election manifestoes, Chris Hewett, Chair of SERA, sets out SERA’s vision for the environment over the next 5 years.

It’s hard to believe, but we are probably less than a year away from the next general election. The smart money is on May 2001, although the Prime Minister could call an election at any time up to May 2002. This means that there is a great deal of thinking going on behind the scenes as to what should go into the next manifesto, and SERA is taking an active part in that debate.

The formal debate in the Labour Party is being taken forward as the 'Partnership in Power' process, with eight policy commissions producing consultation papers on new policies. The latest consultation paper on environment, transport and the regions from this process was extremely disappointing. It was essentially an exercise in political education in what the government has done over the last three years. There was little vision of where we were going and virtually no new policy ideas for the next term. Millbank officials have acknowledged that it needs to be sharpened up and given a much more forward-looking vision.

SERA has set out its own priority policies for the next term in a briefing which we are promoting to Millbank, the Parliamentary Labour Party, trade unions, Ministers and advisors. All New Ground readers should already have received a copy of A Manifesto For The Future.
SERA believes there are five key themes on which Labour must focus in a second term of office: greening economic policy; tackling climate change; improving our transport system; ensuring public health through environmental improvements; delivering an urban and rural renaissance.

We have also put forward five headline proposals which we feel should be explicit in the manifesto. These reflect our priorities and illustrate the level of ambition with which we would like to see the next Labour government address sustainable development.

End fuel poverty by 2010

Fuel poverty is a scandal. Eight million households live in homes they cannot afford to heat. The Government has made some progress in this area: increasing direct grants for insulation in low income homes; giving more money to organisations like the Energy Saving Trust; and increasing the Winter Fuel Payments.

But the problem will still take decades to solve. It could, and should, be dealt with more quickly. By setting a target, the Government will be pledging to all pensioners and low income families that the quality of their housing will increase. Of course it will cost more money, but the benefits to society in terms of reduced illness, saved energy and emissions, jobs created and lives improved far out-weigh the investment required.

Link every town in Britain with 25,000 people to the rail system within 10 years

Public transport is crying out for a vision, and a funded strategy, that will be able to compete with the attractions of the car. John Prescott is due to unveil his ten-year strategy for public transport in July. We welcome this and have many suggestions for what should be delivered through the strategy. An increased role for the bus will be vital. More restraint on speed in urban areas will encourage many to walk and cycle. However, the government needs to generate excitement in the field of public transport and pledging to reconnect smaller communities to the rail system could do just that. The infrastructure is already there. A programme of re-opening disused lines and stations could usher in a revival for Britain's railways and make the whole system more inclusive.

Year on year improvements in the environmental productivity of the UK economy

This pledge goes to the heart of making the UK's economy more sustainable. Economic success is increasingly based on knowledge rather than physical resources. Growth and prosperity is being decoupled from resource use and its consequent pollution. In the 20th century, huge improvements were made in Labour productivity i.e. output per worker. In this century environmental productivity will be one of the key drivers of economic growth. New technologies and patterns of activity could mean ten-fold increases in economic output per unit of energy, land or material. There is a historic opportunity for Britain to lead the way in what could become the next industrial revolution.

But this does not mean an end to manufacturing. A crucial part of a green economy will be the development and manufacture of the appropriate technologies. The UK has offshore engineering skills in shipbuilding and oil industries which could go to waste unless they are harnessed for the new economy in the offshore wind sector, for example.

Set up a Citizens’ Commission on Environmental Risk

The furores over BSE and GM food illustrated that the public do not trust the institutions currently in place to regulate the rapid development of technologies in genetics, food production and chemicals, where there may be risk to individual health. Issues similar to these will continue to occur as technology develops further and faster. A Citizens’ Commission should not be just another Royal Commission of dusty experts but a genuine attempt to gather informed public opinion. By using innovative public involvement techniques, such as citizens’ juries, the Commission should get a real understanding of public fears and expectations of such technologies as GM, before recommending action to the Government. Future decisions on GM food or certain chemicals used in the home should await the deliberations of the Commission.

Annual increases to support farmers to convert to environmentally beneficial farming

Agriculture is in crisis and there will continue to be a need for Government support. Much of the priorities are determined by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), but, even without CAP reform, the Government could do much more to ensure that farm subsidies protect the environment rather than harm it. Currently, only 4% of farm subsidies go to agri-environment schemes. One obvious example is the paucity of money going to organic conversion. UK demand for organic food is increasing so rapidly that we have to import most of it. Meanwhile, the grants for UK farmers to convert have been oversubscribed and the money has run out. The rural economy depends on a healthy environment. Government money should be directed to support both.

This is just a flavour of the policy ideas SERA is putting forward for the next term. There are many more suggestions in the full briefing. At the last election, Labour offered a strong package of environmental policies. It is SERA's objective to make sure this happens next time around.

Copies of ‘A Manifesto for the Future’ are available from SERA Office.