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Globalisation:Green Alliance: Lobbying activities and influence on policy

2010-11-18T11:15:45Z

Marie-Louise Apostolescu:

Green Alliance presents itself as one of the most powerful environment groups in the UK. Indeed, it has won the title of “Think Tank of the Year” in the Public Affairs Awards 2009 <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea.aspx?id=4142 Think Tank of the Year ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>. This award is based on how much GA influenced policy and what impact it had on public affairs in 2009. Some of their achievements are listed below.
Their lobbying activities have strong links with the globalisation process because they use the new means of pressure that are currently used around the world.
However, Green Alliance is not very active at an international level as their main targets focus on the British policy.

== Coordinating the recruitment for the ministerial and third sector task force in April 2009 <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea1.aspx?id=3702 Task Force 2009]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref> ==

A new task force was created in spring 2009, for nine months, in order to analyse what opportunities tackling climate change can offer. Ministerial and third sector actors gathered for the debate. In their view, the third sector "shapes the future by mobilising and inspiring others to tackle climate change and maximising the social, economic and environmental opportunities of action." <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea1.aspx?id=3702 ] , Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>.
The report was released during an event, chaired by Stephen Hale then GA's director, in March 2010. At the end, they edited a report, Shaping our Future <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea_p.aspx?id=4721 Shaping our Future]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref> , where they bring out the positive role of the third sector in a sustainable economy: they provide green public services, advise and support citizens to choose environmental friendly products and create green jobs.
GA's principal role here was to recruit new members for this task force and together with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations they were in charge with the secretariat.

== Promoting Carbon Caption and Storage (CCS) ==

Green Alliance has been lobbying for a long time on the carbon caption and storage issues. Its biggest achievement was the creation, by the Labour government in March 2010, of the Office of Carbon Caption and Storage (OCCS) <ref> “[http://www.carboncapturejournal.com/displaynews.php?NewsID=543 OCCS]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref> within the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
As Chris Littlecott explains <ref> “[http://www.carboncapturejournal.com/displaynews.php?NewsID=616 CCS Article]" , Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>
“Green Alliance has argued strongly during the past year that, despite its flaws, the CCS competition should be maintained as the fastest way to getting an early demonstration project underway in the UK. “ . Conservative politicians agreed to include this in the coalition agreement. However, they still have to protect this from the Treasury's pressures.
The aim of OCCS is to make UK the first destination for investors in CCS technology and according to GA, if it fails under Treasury's pressures, its credibility abroad will collapse and the target will not be attained.

== Influencing EU budget ==

The NGO has been very active at the European level too <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/uploadedFiles/Publications/reports/InvestingInOurFuture.pdf EU report]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>
For instance, Stephen Hale, the former director of GA, made a speech at the European conference “Reforming the Budget, Changing Europe” in 2008. He recommends that:
“The European Union should:
Auction 90 per cent of emissions trading permits in phase three of the EU emissions trading scheme, from 2013 onwards;
Use this revenue to drive European de-carbonisation, and to support mitigation and adaptation internationally from 2013 onwards; and
Establish an EU energy and climate change fund that draws income from both auctioning and the current EU budget. “ <ref> "[http://ec.europa.eu/budget/reform/library/conference/session6_hale.pdf Stephen Hale's discourse ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>
A video of Stephen Hale's discourse is available at the following link: http://webcast.ec.europa.eu/eutv/portal//_vi_wm_300_fr/player/index_player.html?id=5661&pId=5648

A year later, along with other quangos and associations, GA wrote an open letter to José Manuel Barroso where they support EU's budget reform and ask for a stronger focus on climate change issues : “ We thus urge the Commission to act on the basis of the results of the public consultation and to push strongly for a substantive reform of the EU budget “ <ref> “[http://www.svensktnaringsliv.se/multimedia/archive/00019/Strong_support_for_E_19819a.pdf Open letter 2009 ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>.

Then, in June 2010, it created the Coalition for Sustainable EU Funds along with nine other quangos ([[Friends of the Earth]], [[Bankwatch Network]], [[Bird Life International]], [[Green Budget Europe]], [[Transport and Environment]], [[INFORSE Europe]], [[Energy Cities]], [[CECODHAS Housing Europe]] and [[E3G]] ). Under this coalition, they wrote a letter to José Manuel Barroso. They demand the review of the EU budget as soon as possible – climate change issue becoming extremely urgent it cannot wait for another delay: “The EU cannot afford to enter the 2020s with a budget designed for the problems of 50 years ago.” <ref> “[http://lowcarbonbudget.eu/news/barroso-urged-to-kick-start-eu-budget-review/ Letter to J.M.Barroso]” , Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>. The coalition calls also for “a clear and transparent EU budget reform process that builds on the outcomes of the previous consultation” <ref> “[http://lowcarbonbudget.eu/news/barroso-urged-to-kick-start-eu-budget-review/ Ibid]” , Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>.

== Encouraging private sector to diminish waste <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea1.aspx?id=958 Reducing Waste ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref> ==

In 2006, Green Alliance in cooperation with the [[Institute of Public Policy Research]] (IPPR), released a report called A Zero Waste UK <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea_p.aspx?id=956 A Zero Waste UK report ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref> . Inside, they called for new taxes on products that use too much packaging and a reduction of the waste in UK, which reaches 300 million tonnes per year and gave hints about how to do it. A lot of private sector firms engaged to do so. For example, ASDA engaged to reduce landfill waste to zero until 2010 <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea1.aspx?id=950 Press release on pollution tax ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>. Indeed, ASDA made real efforts to diminish waste, along with other supermarkets: between 2005 and 2009, they reduced waste by 1.2 million tonnes <ref> “[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-22/tesco-asda-cut-u-k-food-packing-waste-by-1-2-million-tons.html Waste cuts ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>.

== Creation of the Green Standard ==

Since 2007, Green Alliance and seven other quangos ([[CPRE]], [[Friends of the Earth]], [[Greenpeace]], [[RSPB]], [[The Wildlife Trusts]], [[Woodland Trust]] and [[WWF]] ) meet together to launch debates on new environmental issues at a higher standard than before and to assess British parties during their campaign and political actions.
For instance, during the 2010 general elections, the Green Standard examined each party's manifesto about environment and asked the “Climate Question” <ref> “[http://www.youtube.com/user/askaclimatequestion#p/c/F8BC387BAE0E75E3 The Climate Question ], Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>.
Moreover, in September 2009, they released a report called “Common Cause: the Green Standard manifesto on climate change and the natural environment” <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/uploadedFiles/Publications/reports/green_standard_web.pdf Common Cause report ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref> , in which they demand the future Parliament to act immediately on environment issues – a topic discussed also in Last Parliament report.

== Calling for a strategy on sustainable heat ==

In 2007, around thirty NGO's and associations gathered in a coalition asked for a better policy on sustainable heat. The then-director of GA – Stephen Hale, pronounced a speech at the Parliament - A Manifesto for Sustainable Heat – in which he stated: “Despite the government's aspirations for a low carbon economy, the heating market is dominated by gas and oil. This is an unsustainable contradiction. A new coalition of businesses and environmental groups has been established to push for government action to tackle heat. We must use establish efficient, renewable, and low-carbon supplies. The forthcoming Energy White Paper must commit to achieving this. “ <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea_p.aspx?id=1662 A Manifesto for Sustainable Heat ]”, Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>. Then, in April 2008, GA held a conference where it presented solutions for a good management of sustainable heat and gave real examples of technology in this sector.

== The first White Paper on Environment ==

The think tank is very proud to be at the origins of the first environmental White Paper in the UK.

== Notes ==
<references/>

Globalisation:Green Alliance

2010-11-18T11:07:26Z

Marie-Louise Apostolescu:

Marie-Louise Apostolescu
Rebecca Hogg
Barry Strain

== Videos ==

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<youtube size="small" align="right" caption="S.Hale's speech">nhcAde9IEGw</youtube>

<youtube size="small" align="right" caption="The Last Parliament">KQtzaURPkio</youtube>

== History <ref> "[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/uploadedFiles/Our_Work/LookingBackThinkingForward.pdf 25 years of Green Alliance]", Accessed 08.11.10 </ref>==

Green Alliance was created in 1979 and Mr Maurice Ash, its then chairman, said: “We’re a bunch of optimists. We’re not the doomsters. We believe in the possibilities of the future...”. At the beginning it was a small group of people but very soon they started lobbying on new issues. In effect, GA has achieved many “firsts” as they say in their 25th anniversary report <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/uploadedFiles/Our_Work/LookingBackThinkingForward.pdf 25 years of GA]” , Accessed 16/11/10 </ref>

In 1983 Green Alliance lobbied for the Environmental Impact Assessment which was adopted in the 1990s. In 1984, they made political parties to present their first environmental policy statements. Three years later, GA raised for the first time the issue of Genetically Modified organisms (GM). In the same period, they combined businesses’ with environmental groups’ agendas. In the 1990s they gathered Eastern and Western European NGOs and lobbied for the first White Paper on environment in UK. Then, in 1992 the government promised GA to ratify the Rio Convention on Biodiversity. Two years later they lobbied for a more powerful Environment Agency in the UK. Furthermore, they hosted Tony Blair’s first “green speech” in 1995 then in 2000 as PM. In 1997 GA launched Green Globe Task Force as an independent group focusing on international environment issues.

== People ==
Green Alliance gathers three types of members <ref> "[http://greenalliance.org.uk/ Staff]", Accessed 07.11.10 </ref>. It has a permanent staff (director, paymaster, etc.) that is in charge with administrative and communication tasks. Twelve trustees meet quarterly to supervise the programmes and eight associates (professors and consultants in specific areas) who work on an ad-hoc basis but have strong links with GA.

For more details, see following page: [[Globalisation:Green Alliance: Staff]]

== GA and Neo-liberalism ==

The creation of Green Alliance has a lot to do with neo-liberalism. Indeed, it was created in 1979 – the year when [[Margaret Thatcher]] came into power at the Whitehall. Her policy encouraged the emergence of quangos and GA is one of those numerous groups.
It is difficult to say if GA is really impartial in its lobbying activities. Many of them were focusing on protecting the environment and have usually succeeded. Some of its partners started to go green (especially supermarkets) but the problem comes from funders, like [[BP]] for instance, who do not seem ready for a greener development.

Moreover, GA describes itself as independent but it is funded by a large range of corporations that actually should be advised by GA itself. The example of BP is again very interesting and it is developed in the “Funding and Connections” sub-page. Their definition of independence is thus questionable and occurs several times in GA's activities. In the report called “Firetail review of GA” <ref> “[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Firetail%20review%20of%20Green%20Alliance%20Feb08.pdf Firetail on GA]”, Accessed 17.11.10 </ref> the think tank presents it as an independent review of its activity in the past two years. However, the report was commissioned by GA itself.

Another aspect of GA is its great influence at the Whitehall and in Westminster. The relationship that the think tank has created with the official institutions is a very close and a very influencing one. In this era of globalisation where governments are more and more advised by quangos, GA is not an exception. In their reports it can be read exactly what achievements they have succeeded.

==Sub-pages==

[[Globalisation: Green Alliance: Ideology and aims]]

[[Globalisation: Green Alliance: Funding and connections]]

[[Globalisation: Green Alliance: Lobbying activities and influence on policy]]

[[Globalisation: Green Alliance: Views on climate change]]

== Contact Information ==

http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/

Green Alliance

36 Buckingham Palace Road

London SW1W 0RE

Tel (44) 0 20 7233 7433

Fax (44) 0 20 7233 9033

== Notes ==
<references/>

2010-11-16T15:33:06Z

2010-10-11T11:33:21Z

Marie-Louise Apostolescu: /* People */

Marie-Louise Apostolescu
Rebecca Hogg

== History ==
[[Globalisation: APPC]]

== People ==
=== Directors ===
Matthew Spencer is the director of the Green Alliance. <ref> Matthew Spencer, "[http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea1.aspx?id=310]" , accesed 05.10.10 </ref>

=== Trustees ===
Robin Bidwell (Chair)
Philip Parker (Hon. Treasurer)

Tom Burke
Ben Caldecott
Zac Goldsmith
Alistair Keddie
Dorothy Mackenzie
Deborah Mattinson
Dame Julie Mellor
Derek Osborn
Dame Fiona Reynolds
Sophia Tickell

=== Associates ===

Ian Christie
Chris Church
Julie Hill
Jiggy Lloyd
Stuart Singleton-White
Derek Smith
Sheila Watson
Rebecca Willis

== Funding ==

==Suggestions for sub-pages==

Just suggestions - feel free to change/add to this - although it is recommended that you create several main pages linked to from this main project page so group members can edit simultaneously.

[[Globalisation:Green Alliance: Ideology and aims]]

[[Globalisation:Green Alliance: Funding and connections]]

[[Globalisation:Green Alliance: Lobbying activities and influence on policy]]

[[Globalisation:Green Alliance: Views on climate change]]

== Web site ==
http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/

== Notes ==