Pledges: Environment (Part 2)

#8 (b) in my Pledges series

Jul 02, 2024

Yes, I already covered the environment here, but other topics have come up since then. I’ll put them under separate headings. This is a sample, not an exhaustive list!

CPRW: The Welsh Countryside Charity

Since 1928, CPRW has been advocating on behalf of rural Wales. Cerys Matthews is their new President. I remember being amazed by her when she sang The Ballad of Tom Jones at a Space gig I went to.

CPRW emailed me their campaign policies.

I told them I’ve been an environmental activist since 1989, so environmental topics are my life. I’ve been campaigning on green issues all that time, from global ones to more local ones such as protecting green spaces or removing fly-tipped rubbish from the river. So the CPRW manifest is obviously within my area of interest! Everything they ask for seems sensible.

I'd go even further. Degrowth as a movement would massively reduce our energy usage, and make all the targets much easier to hit. And when I read this:

"Our next priority is to ask that all political parties to commit to ensuring that a significant proportion of profits from renewable energy generated onshore and offshore in Wales are retained here, similarly to Scotland"

I was nodding, because I think all energy should be nationalised (as in, not being used as profit generation for private companies – often outside of the the UK, and siphoning profits out of the country). Local generation should also benefit local people. Not just small pots of money but the actual profits and benefits.

Vote Climate

The results speak for themselves! And see image above.

Global Action Plan (Clean Air)

I am writing to you from Global Action Plan, an environmental charity focused on issues where the connection between the health of people and our planet is most tangible. Our current focus issues are air pollution, big tech, and the education system.
As you may know, air pollution is linked to up to 43,000 deaths per year in the UK. With 97% of all UK homes being surrounded by air that exceeds World Health Organisation guidelines for clean air, this is a key issue for many. While toxic air permeates all our lives, the health harms of air pollution are not felt equally. Health inequalities exist, with those living in areas of highest air pollution – often the most deprived or people from a non-white ethnic background suffer the most. We need to make change by working together.
Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, now in its eighth year. The campaign is supported by councils, campaigners and organisations that want to improve public understanding of the issue of air pollution and inspire action.
As a result of Clean Air Day:
91% of people in the UK think air pollution should be a priority, an increase of 20%.
68% of people now choose to walk or cycle instead of using a car for short journeys – an increase of 26%.
Cars and vans are the biggest source of toxic chemicals (NOx) in our air, but many people across the UK don’t feel like they have the choice to travel in cleaner and greener ways.
This Clean Air Day, the public are using their voices to call on our next government to:
Make walking, cycling, and wheeling safer.
Ensure everyone can access public transport that is reliable, affordable, and efficient.
PPCs can help and we would love to have you support by doing the following:
This Thursday, 20th June, share your support for clean air day by sharing the petition on your social media channels and at the doorstep with voters
Raise this issue within your party and ensure it is a priority for your party’s leadership
If elected, join us to deliver the petition to Downing St on 10th July
Thank you for taking the time to read about this important topic. I would appreciate if you would get back in touch to let me know you and your political party’s plan to tackle toxic air. If you have any questions or wish to discuss air pollution or Clean Air Day further, please do let me know.

Basically the whole Green Manifesto is about environmental and social improvements, and many of them will have a huge impact on clean air, such as setting aside 30% of land for nature and tree planting. But, specifically to this email, we have this: "Elected Greens will also push for a Clean Air Act, which will set new air quality standards for the UK. We would enshrine the right to breathe clean air in the law."

Just to cover two other points:

"Make walking, cycling, and wheeling safer." / "Ensure everyone can access public transport that is reliable, affordable, and efficient."

Our full manifesto has more information, but even the brief one says:

Increase annual public subsidies for rail and bus travel to £10bn by the end of the next Parliament, with free bus travel for under-18s.
Invest in an additional £19bn over five years to improve public transport, support electrification and create new cycleways and footpaths.
Bring the railways back into public ownership.
Give local authorities control over and funding for improved bus services.
Investment of £2.5bn a year in new cycleways and footpaths.
Reimagining how we use streets in residential areas to reduce traffic and open them up for community use.
Adopting Active Travel England’s objective of 50% of trips in England’s towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030.

This is exactly what we are aiming at, and we would want to match and exceed the Global Action Plan goals if we got into power. :-)

As an aside, I don't own a car and never have. I have always used public transport, run, walked, cycled or kayaked. Even when I supported all the FE colleges in Wales, I did so without ever driving a car!

Friends Of The Earth (And Greenpeace): Manifesto Scoring

FoE scored the manifestos of the main party policies, in collaboration with Greenpeace. The image above summarises how well we did! If you care about the environment, you would always vote Green.

bouquet of flowers on white surface — Photo by Earl Wilcox on Unsplash

Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act

I wish to draw your attention to the recently passed, but not yet fully operational, Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which exempts genetically modified precision-bred organisms in our food and farming system from labelling, traceability and other important regulatory controls and, as a result, has profound implications for our food system, environment and public trust.
A new government will have the responsibility for making the act operational. As it stands, the Act lacks key elements that are essential to consumer choice, transparent regulation and the integrity of UK food and farming.
I am seeking to vote for a candidate who will take action in the next Parliament to ensure:
Mandatory Labelling of Genetically Engineered Foods, including so-called gene-edited ‘precision bred organisms’ (PBOs), written into the Act, to ensure citizens can make informed choices about what they eat and businesses can make informed choices about what they sell.
A Higher Level of Transparency than is currently required about which crops are grown and which foods contain them is crucial to ensuring traceability and accountability in the food system.
A Commitment to Public Consultation on these and any other new regulations for the Act, to be undertaken before any further Parliamentary process. The outgoing government grossly misled MPs on public opinion and the potential impacts and scope of the Act. Honest and meaningful public consultation restores balance and ensures robust, widely supported regulation.
I recognise that, in the frenzy of an election campaign, there are many calls on your time and attention. Nevertheless, these measures are practical and achievable and I am keen to support a candidate who upholds the principles of transparency, accountability, precaution and public engagement.

That's horrifying! I not only think they should be clearly labelled (big yellow biohazard, maybe) but I am totally against genetically modified organisms anyway. It's the opposite of the organic/veganic route we should be heading in. Wow, this is really worrying. Sounds like some politicians are in the pockets of certain bioscience-agri lobbyists. Disgraceful. Government should protect us.

I believe everyone should have a say in what they eat, with full knowledge. Even better if it is local, seasonal and natural.

It’s also why a government could achieve a lot just by undoing half the laws of the previous fifty years.

Wildlife Trusts

As one of my Prospective Parliamentary Candidates, I wanted to let you know that bringing nature back in Dwyfor Meirionnydd is an urgent priority for me and many others.
I believe that it's critical all decision-makers and representatives understand that nature can play a part in tackling climate change, growing better quality, more affordable food and improving everyone's health. These benefits can also support a strong economy.
Though the environment is a devolved matter across the UK, all MPs have a responsibility to ensure wildlife thrives for future generations.
39% of voters could vote for MPs based on environmental policies and 79% believe that nature is important for their well-being and economic prosperity. These numbers make it clear that wildlife and the environment is a top priority for voters.*
Nature is important to me. Nature and wildlife means the world to me.
Did you know, 56% of people in our constituency consider Climate Change to be a high priority AND 33.4% of people in our constituency strongly agree that the loss of nature and destruction of the environment is one of the most important concerns for the country*.
A healthy natural environment and access to open natural spaces are so important for people as well as for wildlife. Yet, many of these spaces are polluted and unprotected.
43% of the electorate support environmental charities* and I would like to know what you would do for nature in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, if you were elected?
Thank you for taking my views seriously. If you were elected to be the MP for my area I would like to talk to you.. Our local Wildlife Trust has a lot of local information and great examples of nature's recovery. Find their contact details here.

I care too! Sadly, many people are not considering the environment, and will be pushing to vote for parties that have it very low on their list of priorities.

You'll find our brief manifesto here.

We plan to switch to green energy. To restore nature. To protect wildlife. And to grow food in a more environmentally friendly way. (Amongst many other things!)

One of the replies I received:

“Dear Karl, Thank you for your reply. I feel, like you, that the main political parties are more concerned about money and the economy which of course are important but the environment and the state of our earth with climate change and pollution are of critical importance. Really in the end nothing else matters. We can’t eat money! Our spirits and souls can be raised up by nature but not by £££££ in our bank. We are part of nature and will not survive without it. You can count on me for your vote.”

Teach The Future

Thank you for filling in Teach the Future's Climate Education report card. We've graded your responses and uploaded your score to our website here. I hope you're happy with your score, please feel free to share your report card as part of any campaigning.

See image. :-)

The key manifesto areas are:

Campaign for National Parks

Dear Local Candidate,
My name is Nick Hall and I’m contacting you on behalf of Campaign for National Parks, the only independent campaign charity for National Parks in Wales and England.
This election year we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of National Parks
In the face of climate breakdown, a nature crisis, growing inequality and a hollowing out of rural communities, National Parks can play a vital role in tackling some of the biggest challenges that Wales faces, if properly supported by the right funding, policies and resources. We want to see Westminster candidates and their parties recognise the importance of protected landscapes during the campaign and put forward a bold programme of action so National Parks can deliver even more for people, society and the planet. Running for election in a constituency that includes Eryri National Park we very much hope you appreciate the full value and opportunity that National Parks can bring to the local area and the country as a whole.
To help with taking action we’ve published our 7 point manifesto plan for what we want to see from the political parties at this election and from the next Government:
Secure rapid nature recovery of National Parks
End water pollution
Enforce the law, ban moorland burning and combat wildlife crime
Open up National Parks to all, extending freedom to roam
A new deal for National Parks, doubling investment in the parks, farming and jobs
A planning system which safeguards natural beauty and supports thriving communities
Create new Nationals Parks for nature on land and sea
For more details about these asks and what is required to achieve them see here.
How local candidates can support Eryri and other National Parks in this election
Like The Beatles and the NHS, our National Parks are world-renowned and represent the very best of our nation. They are a source of wellbeing, community and connection with nature for millions of people. Voters care passionately about National Parks and want to see their candidates standing up for these iconic and awe-inspiring landscapes at this election. You can do this is a number of ways:
You can back our manifesto calls and make clear just how much you value National Parks, including on social media
You can work with us to arrange a visit to your local National Park during the campaign and hear the views of local constituents
You can agree to meet with us if elected to the next Parliament and work with us to champion National Parks in Westminster and the Senedd
Do let me know what actions you and your party will take to deliver the asks above and give a brighter future to our National Parks. I would be happy to chat through any of this in further detail.
About Campaign for National Parks
Founded in 1936, we bring together a campaigning collective of organisations and individuals representing four million people, united in common cause. Our first campaigns resulted in the creation of our National Parks. Now, inspired by our past, we fight for the future. We want a world where nature and people are thriving in our National Parks, where wildlife is wild and natural beauty is protected for generations to come; where everyone, no matter their age or background, can access, feel inspired by and fight to protect the future of these truly amazing landscapes.

I fully endorse all seven of their manifesto plans, and would want to go even further if elected! I'm also a pagan, so protecting nature, and seeing our inevitable connection to it, is my core spiritual belief.

Green Party Manifesto policies which are relevant:

We are part of nature and unless it flourishes, we cannot flourish either, but the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
To protect and restore nature, Elected Greens will campaign to:
Introduce a new Rights of Nature Act, giving rights to nature itself.
End the scandal of sewage pouring into our rivers and seas by taking the water companies back into public ownership.
Extend people’s access to green space and waterways close to where they live with a new English Right to Roam Act.
Set aside 30% of our land and seas by 2030 in which nature will receive the highest priority and protection.

Green MPs will also press for:

An immediate end to the emergency authorisation of bee-killing pesticides.
A new Clean Air (Human Rights) Act, giving everyone the right to breathe clean air.

We also have a section on protecting animals:

To better protect animals and their habitats Green MPs will push for:

The creation a new Commission on Animal Protection.
A ban on all blood sports, including trail hunting.
All UK domestic and overseas territorial waters to offer the highest level of protection to marine life.
An end to badger culling.
An end to factory farming, enforcement of maximum stocking densities, and no routine use of antibiotics in farm animals.
A complete ban on close confinement in cages and the deliberate and unnecessary mutilation of farm animals.

Lastly, if you’ve read this far, something from the comments!

How you can help.

Promoted by Karl Drinkwater (Green Party) at The Gate, Keppoch Street, Cardiff CF24 3JW.