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Birthday Greetings from Michael Meacher

New Ground 64
Spring 2003

Congratulations to SERA on its 30th birthday. I have been a supporter of SERA, a recipient of SERA’s lobbying in public and private, and a speaker at countless SERA meetings and events during those 30 years. SERA has achieved a great deal in that time, not least as a result of its strength in the parliamentary Labour Party. But we will need to intensify our efforts and support throughout the Labour Party and movement over the next 30 years if we are to achieve our long-term goal: truly sustainable development.

There were certainly fewer people present at meetings I attended in the 1970s and 1980s than there have been since 1997. Those meetings were often stimulating, but did not compare with the 1998 SERA conference, at which there were almost 1,000 people. Labour was of course not in government for much of that period, and so unable to address the concerns of SERA and other environmental groups. I would like to pay tribute to all those who were active in SERA during those years of opposition, as well as those involved in more recent years.

I also appreciate the contribution SERA has made since 1997, through its lobbying activities and the presence of SERA supporters in parliament and in ministerial posts. The parliamentary membership of SERA has been one of its great strengths in recent years. More than 100 Labour MPs are members. Many of my ministerial colleagues have been active in SERA over the past 30 years. Leader of the House Robin Cook is a former SERA president and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has been a member for more than 25 years.

Labour’s environmental record since 1997 contains much to be proud of. The UK has been a world leader on climate change, at Kyoto and since through international follow-up conferences. We are matching this with domestic action. We are on track to meet our commitment to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases 12.5% by 2010 (agreed at Kyoto), and to reduce carbon emissions 20% from 1990 levels by 2010.

There has been excellent progress in other areas of policy. We have achieved major improvements in water quality, and a 30% reduction in leakage since 1997. We are on course to meet our fuel poverty targets to provide improved heating and insulation to 600,000 people during 2001-04, and to eliminate fuel poverty in all vulnerable households by 2010. I also piloted through the Countryside Rights of Way Act.

There is of course far more to do. Our ultimate aim is truly sustainable development, which has no link between economic growth and environmental degradation and respects environmental limits. This is a goal that we signed up to at the World Summit in Johannesburg, where it was agreed that developed countries would take the lead in 10-year framework programmes to meet these objectives. The UK government will play its part in achieving these goals through domestic action and through leadership in the European Union and internationally.

These are, by definition, long-term objectives. We need to identify steps along this path. The SERA Charter for Sustainability sets out 10 clear proposals that would make the second term of a Labour government one that delivered real progress towards our ultimate goals. I know that you will continue to press the case for action to meet these targets; in energy, waste, transport, food and farming and elsewhere.

I hope too that you will continue to work, not just with central government but also at regional and local level, and with all groups within the Labour movement. We need to deepen the understanding of and support for environmental issues throughout the Labour movement, in order to meet our long-term goals.

For instance, I have been concerned by the poor performance to date of some Labour local authorities in relation to targets for increasing recycling. SERA activists can help to ensure that authorities do meet these targets. Is your local council on track to achieve 25% recycling by 2006? It should be.

SERA’s activity is welcome because it demonstrates that support for strong environmental action comes from within the Labour movement, as well as from elsewhere. I particularly welcome SERA’s emphasis on the links between the environmental and social agendas. There remains a perception in some quarters that we must choose between environmental and social goals. But there are many examples of environmental commitments with social benefits. Our fuel poverty strategy, for instance, is helping to reduce emissions and to improve the health and finances of those living in fuel poverty. It also supports the government’s ultimate objective of sustainable development which benefits the environment and delivers social progress.