Parliamentary News

New Ground 69
Spring 2005

Parliamentary Sub Groups Relaunched

In May SERA re-launched its monthly parliamentary subgroup meetings, focussing on waste, energy and transport. The groups provide the opportunity for Labour MPs to meet informally with key representatives from industry and NGOs to discuss policy areas that are both politically relevant and strategically aligned with SERAs campaign aims. Although in their infancy, the groups are already supporting the wider expansion of SERA parliamentarian relations, and serving to initiate further parliamentary actions through EDMs, adjournment debates, written questions etc.

The first two sub-group meetings focussed on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the National Allocation Plan. Representative's from Green Alliance, CHPA, Environment Agency, Defra and RWE Npower met with MPs to consider issues varying from the methodology for determining allocations and the potential of EU ETS to meet emissions reductions targets, to the Fluidity of the market, and barriers to long-term investment.

Building on SERAs work on sustainable aviation, the transport sub-group met with representatives from RSPB and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to discuss mechanisms for controlling growth in the aviation sector, and the impact of this sector on the feasibility of achieving emissions reductions targets.

Following the DTI review of the current renewables obligations scheme, which requires licensed electricity suppliers to source a set percentage of their supply from renewable resources, the waste sub-group met to discuss the possible inclusion of energy from waste for ROCs.

Future meetings in October were scheduled to discuss micro-renewable generation and two Private Members' Bills being introduced by Alan Whitehead MP and Mark Lazarowicz.

Further information can be obtained at www.sera.org.uk/events or by email to jessica.sherlock@sera.org.uk or telephone 0207 263 7389