Communicating Green Alliance

1
Politics and our environment Current
prospects, and ways forward Stephen Hale 16
January 2008
2
Overview

• The (environmental?) facts
• Looking back why they act and why they dont
• Looking back the state of the greens
• Political outlook 2009-12
• Environmental outlook 2009-12
• New approaches to securing action
• For more info see

3
The New Politics of Climate Change Reactions

• As I write this, less than 48 hours have passed
  since Barack Obamas historic win in the United
  States. Politics matters. With a rainbow
  coalition and sustained grass-roots effort
  amazing things can be achieved. Stephens
  pamphlet challenges us to work on climate change
  in a similar way. All of us, change-makers and
  funders of change, need to heed this call. The
  hour is late and the road is steep.

4
The New Politics of Climate Change Reactions

• As Hale argues, we need different methods of
  mobilisation and far more effort to secure
  cultural as well as policy change if we are to
  overcome the present paralysis. Hales pamphlet
  will provoke a debate on our strategy, and how we
  can master the full suit of influences we need to
  get us on the right path.

5
The (environmental?) facts

• We have come a long way in public
  understanding, political action, and in
  overcoming some environmental issues - notably
  point source pollution
• But
• a dramatic collective failure to tackle climate
  change
• We have not broken the link between economic
  growth and greenhouse gas emissions and resource
  use
• Our failure in these areas profoundly threatens
  the progress we hae made elsewhere.
• a profound and terrifying clash of timescales

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• Looking back
• Why isnt politics delivering?
• Bureaucracy
• Ideology reluctance to regulate
• Politics public resistance to action
• Secondary constraints
• Nature of issues pollute now others pay later
  
• Democratic culture
• Structures global problems, national
  governments

7
The prospects for changeI will, once you have
central and local government
fear of regulation fear of free riders
fear of nanny state fear of taxes
fear of costs
consumer
business
8

• Looking back the state of the greens
• Some successes, many failures
• Too often marginal and predictable
• High expectations of government consistently
  un-met. Why?
• Mobilisation limited, and overwhelmingly
  restricted to natural supporters
• (Very) short of allies
• Development vs environment movements evolution
  and impact since 1997

9
Political Outlook 2009-12

• Its the economy stupid
• Money and jobs first change in public
  priorities not values
• Labour 2009-10 whats the project?
• Camerons Conservatives Opposition first then
  what?
• Labour the long inquest post 2010
• A hung Parliament?

10
Environmental outlook 2009-12

• The good news
• This is not 1991
• Climate could connect with economic context
• Environmental behaviours can we make it last?
• Copenhagen progress (or backlash?)
• Labour the global deal
• Camerons Conservatives better instincts and
  wider interests, but schizophrenic on government
• Liberal Democrats vital in a hung Parliament

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What would success look like? Four strands of
third sector leadership

• National leadership and action across the third
  sector
• Community, local and regional leadership
• A green movement - living differently and
  demanding more
• Mobilisation across borders

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Third sector activity on climate change
Public commitment
Policy development
Government decisions
today
environmental advocacy
tomorrow
social mobilisation throughout the third sector
What coalition?
Which champions?
What access?
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Current and future third sector action on climate
change
Characteristics Today Tomorrow
What motivates those active on climate change? Overwhelmingly environmental, with some activity motivated by concern for poverty in developing countries Global poverty, domestic poverty, security, prosperity and employment, well-being, health, human rights and environment
What is their focus? Overwhelmingly focused on securing action by individual national governments Consistent demands made to national governments, networks used to spread individual commitment lifestyle change
What do they mobilise? Overwhelmingly groups and individuals concerned for the environment, recently those concerned with international poverty Communities of places, faiths and interests
What alliances? Emerging alliance between environmental and developmental concerns Multiple alliances established across the third sector
What level of organisation? Primarily national Global, national, local
Mobilisation low high
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What does this mean for environmentalists?

• Approach
• Scale and ambition work together on
  breakthrough initiatives
• Put climate change first
• Share responsibility be a catalyst for wider
  national and local action
• Elements
• Invest time and resources in understanding
  obstacles, and developing new approaches (No
  change unless we change)
• Build alliances (voluntary sector, unions,
  corporate)
• Build the movement living differently and
  wanting more
• Mobilise across borders in Europe and beyond
• Economics first low carbon houses, jobs,
  finance
• Politics maximise our influence on a new
  (hung?) Parliament