Globalisation:Green Alliance: Funding and connections
Contents
Funding and Connections
The Green Alliance is a non governmental think tank which communicates between government and corporations with regards to economic policy. The group relies on funding from other bodies both from the private sector and government. Companies such as ASDA Sainsbury’s, BP and Shell all support the Green Alliance financially. In 2008, the partners of the Green Alliance within the business sector accounted for 46% of the groups funding. 17% was financed by government groups whilst the rest was paid by funds, other NGO’s and individuals [1]. The Green Alliances connections between government and business do not end financially with MPs and former employees of the said corporations occupying positions within the Green Alliance.
BP
The Green Alliance is a business associate of BP. The Green Alliance strategy on lobbying is to be associates of both the private sector and government. This way they can communicate and negotiate between the two entities. Sir John Browne (Chief Executive of BP) was selected to attend the House of Lords as a “People’s Peer”. This wasn’t decided on an electoral basis, rather by pressure from lobbying groups supported by BP. [2]
However action isn’t always forthcoming in times of crisis. In the wake of the BP oil spill earlier this year the Green Alliance has done little to address the subject. In such an episode of mass environmental destruction, which the White House has described as “probably the greatest environmental disaster the U.S has ever faced” [3] you would expect an environmental lobbying group from the same country as the said perpetrators, to have a strong opinion on culpability and alternatives. However this has not proved to be the case. Instead, little change seems to have taken place in the relationship between BP and the Green Alliance.
In recent news it has been revealed that the American Republican political group Tea Party are being funded by BP [4]. This group have denied that climate change is occurring. This in essence shows one degree of separation between an environmental lobbying group which prides itself on “green living” and a group which denies the existence of climate change. This is a massive contradiction and one which throws into question the validity of the Green Alliance’s environmental policies.
Shell
In 2005 the Green Alliance had a meeting with Shell to discuss “global scenarios”. Other non governmental environmental groups attended this meeting with the chair of Shell.[5] The Green Alliance receives funding from Shell and counts it as a business associate. In March 2010 Vince Cable (Liberal Democrat MP and ex Shell employee) delivered a speech to the Green Alliance advocating the beliefs of his former boss Mark-Moody Stuart with regards to more eco friendly cars. [6]
In spite of Shell reportedly polluting the river Niger with mass amounts of oil this issue hasn't been raised by the Green Alliance as worthy of environmental debate. The issue was extremely controversial with nine Nigerian civilians being hanged by the Nigerian Government for staging a peaceful uprising against Shell. However the Green Alliance hasn’t found it worthy of environmental debate or from a humanitarian level. Whilst this isn't affecting Britain in a direct way the silence is undoubtedly due to the funding they receive from Shell. Recently, Shell had a lawsuit against them reversed by the UN with regards to the situation in the River Niger. Their report said that Shell was only responsible for 10% of the pollution in the river, the rest caused by gangs[7]. This along with the oppression of Nigerian civilians shows the power this corporation have in the political arena, and with this, the influence they hold in environmental debate.
Tarmac
A benefactor of the Green Alliance in the past. Mass building of roads led to destruction of the green belt around parts of United Kingdom. However this didn't prevent the company from funding the “Green Business” evening in which was hosted by the Labour Party in 1998. The Green Alliance was represented there as were other non government environmental groups. The Green Alliance also holds a fairly distinctive view on transport. Despite destroying green belt land they see the building of further roads as integral to cutting carbon emissions from vehicles[8]. This policy suits the Tarmac Corporation as increasing amounts of roads means increased revenue for them.
Supermarkets
ASDA and Sainsbury’s are both associates of the Green Alliance. With this association they, along with other supermarkets, have increasingly to re brand themselves as environmentally friendly. Initiatives such as a carrier bag for life have seen the start of an avalanche of environmental policies set out by supermarkets in Britain. [9] The increasing importance of environmentalism within these supermarkets could be due to their funding of the Green Alliance.
Zac Goldsmith
Zac Goldsmith is a Conservative MP and executive of the board of the Green Alliance. In 2008 it was found that he and his brother Ben had funded the Conservative government with over £40,000. This was not declared however and was seen to be an illegal transaction. [10] Goldsmith’s funding of the Conservative party shows the secretive way in which lobbying groups can work to change governmental policy. Also, a supposed shift in taxes towards more eco friendly services backed by Zac Goldsmith came in spite of him not being a tax payer himself. A millionaire entrepreneur Goldsmith’s neo liberal ideology is seen within his environmental policy and the policy of the Green Alliance. His position in the Green Alliance gives an illustration of the links between the private sector and government.
Political Links
The Green Alliance has a close relationship to the Conservative party. Zac Goldsmith a Tory MP is on the board in the Green Alliance. David Cameron gave a speech to the Green Alliance in 2006 and has Goldsmith as his environmental advisor. Vince Cable (Liberal Democrat MP) gave a speech to the Green Alliance in April 2010 mimicking much of the groups policies in his speech. The Green Alliance also hosted multiple Tony Blair speeches throughout the 1990's as well as hosting Gordon Brown. [11]
Overview
The Green Alliance claims to be an independent body which cooperates with governmental and private bodies. The think tank has major political influence though its self portrait is perhaps blurred. The links to the private sector are somewhat shrouded in this self portrait however looking closer it is clear that it is not merely an associate of corporations but rather an instrument of them. The financial funding and individual representation by corporations within the Green Alliance mean that the lobbying group is used to promote the interests of the free market in an environmental sense. Also in spite of being a non governmental group, the Green Alliance receives funding from government groups such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This breaks down the apparent divide between the group and Westminster. This shows that public affairs and the private sector are not mutually exclusive and that the links between the two are much more distinct than speculated.
Notes
- ↑ “[1]” “ Green Alliance Annual Review 2008” “Page 15”, accessed October 30 2010,
- ↑ ”[2]” "People's Peers List", accessed 31 October 2010,
- ↑ Adam, D.,(2010),“[3]” “BP oil spill- death and devastation and it's just the start”, “The Guardian”, accessed 2 November 2010
- ↑ Goldenberg, S.,(2010), “[4]” “Tea Party climate change deniers funded by BP and other major polluters”, “The Guardian”, accessed 12 November 2010
- ↑ ”[5]”"Green Alliance Achievements", accessed 5 November 2010,
- ↑ ”[6]”, Vince Cable speaking at the Green Alliance seminar, 1 March 2010
- ↑ Vidal, J., (2010) “[7]” “Outrage at UN decision to exonerate Shell over pollution on Niger delta”, “The Guardian”, accessed 7 November 2010
- ↑ “[8]” “Green Alliance Annual Review 2008” “Page 7”
- ↑ “[9]” “Friends of the Earth” “Checking outh the Environment?” (2008)
- ↑ Prince, R., (2010) “[10]” “Zac Goldsmith donations improperly registered by Tories” “The Telegraph”, accessed 15 November 2010
- ↑ ”[11]” “Green Alliance Achievements” accessed 5 November 2010
