Editorial

New Ground 67
Autumn 2004

Next year will be an important year for environmental issues in both the national and international political arenas. The general election will expose all the political parties’ environmental agendas and although SERA has played an influential role in shaping the Labour Party manifesto, the extent to which the party has been receptive to policy initiatives on local environment, waste and transport remains to be seen.

With the UK hosting the G8 and holding the EU presidency, Tony Blair has made clear his intention to reinvigorate the debate on climate change and Third World poverty. In anticipation of this, the Department for International Development has published a scoping document to emphasise the link between the two. SERA is also planning its annual lecture around this theme.

The EU presidency will provide a platform for the UK government to push for the inclusion of aviation emissions within the EU emissions trading scheme. The government has consistently stated that the issue should be tackled on a global scale and that it will ensure this happens when the UK holds the presidency.

If there will ever be a time for the UK government to show inspirational leadership on the environment and social justice, it is 2005.