Tony Blair made his first major domestic speech on environmental issues almost one year ago, on 24 October 2000. It was an important step. There were some impressive achievements in environmental policy during Labour’s first term. But the crucial limiting factor was the failure to integrate environmental issues into the government’s overall message and priorities. SERA, the environmental pressure group affiliated to the Labour Party, was therefore delighted when the Prime Minister declared: ‘It is time to re-awaken the environmental challenge as part of the core of British and international politics.’ Almost one year on, has this pledge been fulfilled?
There have been some important accomplishments, in particular on climate change. The Prime Minister rightly identified this as the greatest environmental threat facing the planet. The UK played an important role in securing an international agreement on climate change, resisting pressure from the US and others to abandon the Kyoto Protocol. The government has also acted at home, introducing the Climate Change Levy despite vigorous pressure from business. Important progress has also been made in renewable energy. Blair announced in early 2001 that the government would provide up to £260 million to support renewable energy over three years.
But unfortunately, these examples are the exception rather than the norm. In key policy areas, Labour’s commitment to the environment is actually declining.
In transport for instance, Labour has retreated steadily from the commitment to integrated transport in the first white paper. Investment remains biased towards large schemes, with insufficient priority given to the small-scale links that will deliver an effective public transport system to those who need it most. And the general election manifesto showed a dramatic shift back to the discredited ‘predict and provide’ approach to roads policy, with a pledge to build 100 new by-passes. Waste policy is similarly disappointing.
Labour has failed to set sufficiently ambitious targets for recycling and has not backed the existing targets with enough public money. As a result, local authorities are turning to dirty and discredited incineration to tackle their waste problems.
These failures matter. They matter because they are affecting the quality of the environment and the quality of life. A green transport policy, for instance, would improve public health and benefit millions who depend on local public transport networks. In food and agricultural policy, a sustainable economic recovery will only be possible if environmental sustainability is at the heart of the government’s new strategy.
Our concerns in these areas have been reinforced by the low profile given to environmental issues in the party’s general election manifesto and their virtual invisibility in the general election campaign. The new structure of government could also diminish the priority given to environmental issues, with 500 environmental officials surrounded by thousands of ex-MAFF officials in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
But structures do not dictate outcomes – politicians do. The Prime Minister said last year: ‘I want to push green issues back up the political agenda.’ SERA continues to share that goal. Party polling tells us voters want more conviction from Labour. Environmental policy offers an opportunity to demonstrate that leadership, to show that Labour does not offer ‘government by focus group’. Labour’s theme for the election was ‘the work goes on’. Environmental issues must be central to that programme of work, if Labour is to deliver the improvements to the quality of life in Britain to which we all aspire.