Jean has responded to the UK Government’s Building Our Industrial Strategy green paper.

You can read her submission to the consultation here. It focuses on the following key issues, which the current proposals do not sufficiently address:

• A 21st century industrial strategy must put climate change and resource limits at its heart.
• The strategy’s overarching objective should be the transition towards a sustainable zero-carbon economy that affords genuine and more equitably distributed prosperity to the country.
• There needs to be greater recognition of the potential of the green economy – for jobs and economic renewal.
• In accelerating the transition towards a zero-carbon future, innovations and transformation in three sectors will have the greatest impact. These are: energy, transport and buildings.
• A regional focus is needed.
• We need to create secure jobs, not just any jobs – and especially in those regions with high levels of insecure employment.
• A broader range of indicators of success is needed than GDP growth.
• Concerns about productivity need to be broadened to focus on improving resource productivity/resource efficiency and strengthening the ‘circular economy’.
• We need a central, strategic role for public funding.
• Brexit and our regulatory environment. The EU27 is the second largest economy in the world (after the US) and it is inevitable that UK-based industry will seek to trade with the EU27 on favourable terms. This will only be possible if our economy and regulatory environment is kept in step with the EU27. We need to keep pace with EU standards in a broad range of areas, such as environmental and emissions standards, product safety, energy efficiency, labelling and animal welfare. We need to maintain a clear commitment to the precautionary principle.
• We need a flexible migration policy.
• There is need to foster social partnerships, work with trade unions and include workforce participation in industry.

ENDS

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Green MEPs today sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change expressing their concerns about fracking and the current direction of UK energy policy.

You can read the full text of their letter below.

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Dear Ms Rudd,

It did not go unnoticed that in August the Oil & Gas Authority published the 14th Round of Onshore Oil and Gas Licence Applications. Licenses were issued for 159 blocks, which could potentially see fracking across the UK, affecting many areas within our constituencies.

Alongside the publication of the licence blocks was a consultation on the Habitats Regulations Assessments of 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing. The consultation sought comments on the Oil & Gas Authority’s strategic plan-level Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of blocks taken forward for consideration of award in 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round.

There is concern that this consultation was issued during the summer recess, with a fairly short window for responses, to minimise the number of organisations and individuals that were able to respond and express their concern. In our view the timescales were too short to allow for full and meaningful public consultation.

Constituents have raised concerns that this assessment failed to recognise the full range of likely effects arising from activities associated with oil and gas exploitation. It is extremely concerning that some issues identified as high risk to people and the environment, in a report commissioned by the European Commission, have been completely ignored in the assessment. It is notable that crucial issues relating to water and water quality are omitted and these must be addressed to enable a full and proper assessment of potential impact.

Further, we are concerned that insufficient consideration has been given to the potential impacts of these proposals on nationally and internationally protected sites and species. This relates to both direct impacts and cumulative impacts as a result of other schemes in the pilot areas.

We agree with the findings of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee that it is vital that the precautionary principle is applied. European Union laws for the protection of nature are intended to be applied in a way that is precautionary. If there is a lack of certainty, then the benefit of the doubt goes to the protection of nature.

We welcome the Government’s recently announced consultation that takes a step in the right direction: towards banning fracking in England’s most important places for wildlife, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, through licensing conditions (Surface Development Restrictions for Hydraulic Fracking 4.11.15). However, we still have major concerns with regard to the effectiveness of the Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing (Protected Areas) Regulations 2015 to fully protect designated areas, human health and the wider natural environment.

For example, we question the rationale of allowing fracking under National Parks and AONBs horizontally below at 1,200 metres—just 200m deeper than the normal 1km limit. Since fracking would be a new industry in the UK, there is currently no known safe depth threshold. Therefore, fracking should not be allowed at any depth beneath the UK’s most sensitive sites.

As you are aware, the Green Party does not believe that fracked gas should form part of the energy mix due to significant concerns about the potential environmental and health risks of this extraction technique – as well as the incompatibility of fracking with the UK’s longstanding commitment to keeping climate change below 2 degrees. Instead, the Green Party advocates a complete transformation of the energy system away from fossil fuels to one based on a much more efficient use of energy supplied mainly by electricity from renewable sources.

We call for immediate due diligence in assessing the potential impacts of these oil and gas licence blocks in relation to the Habitats Regulations, not least because numerous sensitive sites could be impacted, including an assessment of cumulative impacts. We ask that Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing (Protected Areas) Regulations 2015 are amended to take account of environmental concerns raised.

Additionally, we would like confirmation that the monitoring and reporting regime will be undertaken by an independent body, not the fracking industry, and that the statutory authorities, in particular the Environment Agency, must be sufficiently resourced to undertake this work.

Unfortunately, the Government’s energy policy appears to remain firmly stuck in the 20th century and driven by a desire to pander to the fossil fuel and nuclear industries rather than embrace the huge economic opportunities and environmental imperative of the global transition to renewables that is already underway. I would urge you to reconsider your approach and to ensure that the general public have further opportunities to give their views on this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Molly Scott Cato MEP
Green MEP for the South West

Jean Lambert MEP
Green MEP for London

Caroline Lucas MP
Green MP for Brighton Pavilion

Keith Taylor MEP
Green MEP for South East England

LETTER 2015 11 18th Amber Rudd

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Jean Lambert, joined by fellow UK Green Party MEPs Keith Taylor and Molly Scott Cato, and Green MP Caroline Lucas, has called on the UK Government to abandon its plans to end the Feed-in Tariffs.

Responding to the DECC consultation, they pointed to the importance of increasing renewable energy, which can reduce costs to consumers, as well as being valuable in terms of jobs and reducing carbon emissions. They urged the Government to rethink its proposals and keep the Feed-in Tariffs, which are vital for boosting UK renewable energy capacity.

You can read their joint consultation response here.

It was also sent to Chancellor George Osborne and Energy and Climate Change Minister Amber Rudd.

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A new report has highlighted opportunities for European policy makers to combine environmental and social benefits when they agree Europe’s energy policy priorities up until 2030. The report notes how European policy makers must respond to concerns about affordability by putting low-income households at the heart of Europe’s energy future without sacrificing environmental imperatives. The report also notes the risk that without deliberate interventions poorer households will continue to benefit least from Europe’s energy policies and the EU must aim to uphold the ‘polluter pays’ principle.

Jean Lambert MEP, a Green Party Member of the European Parliament comments:

“Our leaky homes make us ill and make every energy bill frightening for so many people. This means we use far more energy than we need to. Yet, the EU Commission has not proposed setting an ambitious binding target on energy saving. The report calls for Europe’s leader to take charge and set a binding 40% target for energy saving for 2030 as well as introducing targeted steps to protect low-income energy consumers in the future. The report also highlights that opportunities to secure these outcomes are immediate and pursuing a more deliberate and coordinated approach offers long-lasting benefits. However, there are significant and growing costs to inaction and beyond positive rhetoric, the EU Commission, EU Parliament and Council Leaders must take action now to address a growing ‘Energy Divide’”.

The report’s author, Peter Smith, from charity National Energy Action (NEA) comments:

“The report investigates the EU’s current energy legislative framework and explores how it can be improved for low-income consumers. We also explore why energy policies in general can exacerbate hardship. It is argued that the current approach to energy policy across Europe contributes to an ‘energy divide,’ where poorer households may benefit least from energy policies whilst paying a higher share of the costs, despite emitting the least carbon emissions. For example, Member States provide significant tax and levy exemptions for some of the most energy intensive industries which substantially reduce the costs heavy polluters have to pay. This leaves the poorest paying proportionately more for these polices. This practice is growing and the EU must aim to uphold the ‘polluter pays’ principle and check a recent trend for policies to be paid disproportionately by domestic consumers, including the most vulnerable”.

Andrew Cooper, the Green Party’s national Spokesperson on the Environment, commented:

“We believe we can reduce the ‘energy divide’ that exists within many Member States and help address the social consequences of higher energy bills as Europe continues its sustainable long-term energy transition. Through an enhanced legislative framework, we can inspire a step change in local delivery and capture all the benefits of this enhanced approach. The report provides a legislative blueprint that could, if acted upon, put low-income households at the heart of Europe’s energy future”.

The new report follows recent findings from organisations like the International Energy Agency (IEA) which have highlighted that improving energy efficiency measures could, in a high energy efficiency scenario, save the European Union’s economy as much as EUR 190 billion, annually as well as dramatically enhancing health and well-being, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with pre-existing illnesses. This position has also been reinforced by research by the Fraunhofer Institute showing that that the EU has a 41% cost-effective end-use energy savings potential for 2030 and if achieved this could lower net energy costs for households and industry by over €239 billion annually by 2030.

ENDS

Editors Notes

1. The Green Group in the European Parliament commissioned the fuel poverty charity, National Energy Action (NEA), in an impartial capacity to investigate how to put low-income households at the heart of Europe’s energy future. It is hoped that the outputs of this work will support bold and new European wide commitments.

2. The report will be made available at the following location at 9.30 Friday 24th October 2014: http://www.nea.org.uk/policy-and-research/publications/2014.

3. Jean Lambert MEP has been a Green Party Member of the European Parliament since 1999. She was re-elected in 2009 and 2014. For more information visit: http://www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/

4. The report’s recommendations are:

– The EU must introduce a 40% target for energy saving by 2030.

– There is a need to secure a common understanding of ‘energy poverty’ at an EU level.

– Member States should increase the promotion and accessibility of programmes to help low-income households replace less efficient appliances.

– DG Energy (ENER) must actively review the specific attempts made by Member States to reduce the extent and depth of energy poverty within National Energy Efficiency Actions Plans.

– Existing EU legislative safeguards are welcome but are failing to provide adequate support for low-income households. The European Parliament must insist that 50% of the energy efficiency activity (or greater) must be targeted at these groups if the Member State chooses to fund their energy efficiency obligation policies through a levy which is paid for by domestic energy consumers. Member States should also submit a detailed analysis to the Commission illustrating how they have investigated alternative revenues, particularly illustrating how they have considered the use of revenues from auctioning Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) permits or additional carbon taxes

– There is significant opportunity to supplement adjustments to the current legislative framework with a call for binding EU-wide minimum energy efficiency standards for low-income households alongside the emerging 2030 energy targets.

– A new EU fund should be established to finance low-cost energy efficiency measures within low-income households and seek to be a major EU-wide job stimulus, supporting low-skilled workers and fostering collaborative action between DG Energy, DG Health and Consumers and the DG Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

– The EU must aim to uphold the ‘polluter pays’ principle within Member States and seek to check a recent trend for ameliorative policies for heavy industry to be paid for at the expense of domestic consumers, including the most vulnerable.

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Left to right: Bolivian Ambassador to the UK H.E. Roberto Calzadilla, Member of European Parliament Jean Lambert, Friends of Europe Donna Hume at the climate panel in Birmingham.

11/09/2014

London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert hosted a panel on climate change in the lead up to Paris 2015 summit. Speakers included the Bolivian Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Roberto Calzadilla and Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Donna Hume.

Earlier this year the European Parliament agreed new targets on climate change including binding targets on energy efficiency and renewable energy by 2030. Ms. Lambert started off the panel with an update on recent developments in Brussels including rumours about the nomination of Lord Hill as the EU’s next Climate and Energy Commissioner.

“We need strong voices from national governments and the European Council on climate change. I hope the incoming Commissioners will use every opportunity to improve not only Europe’s climate policy, but also that of the rest of the world.”

Second speaker Ms. Hume followed on outlining the UK’s track record on climate change policies highlighting that the lack of progress is not due to a lack of solutions. The UK and Europe needs to listen to the people’s energy demands in the run up to the 2015 Paris conference, namely an end to dirty fuels (including fracking), an end to fossil fuel subsidies, and more support to green community energy. Above all, Ms. Hume stressed the need to talk about the real impacts of climate change on people in order to deliver real solutions.

Third speaker Ambassador Calzadilla provided a different perspective from developing countries stating that we cannot detach climate change and development.  Mitigation, adaptation, integral development and poverty eradication are four elements that are mutually conditioned and required to focus on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility.   The Ambassador touched on the need for climate agreements to differentiate between developed and developing countries, which they currently do not. Bolivia is part of the Like-Minded Developing Countries on Climate Change, a coalition of about 25 countries pushing for a progressive, less-market based negotiations on climate change. The Ambassador joined the call from Ms. Lambert and Ms. Hume for increased mobilisation and campaigning in the lead up to Paris 2015, starting with the upcoming Climate March on September 21^st: http://peoplesclimate.org/london/

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She said the EU must adopt tough targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy conservation and boosting renewable electricity generation – and, crucially, seize the mantle of global leadership at crucial climate talks in Paris next year.

“That may require making bigger sacrifices than we expect of other nations and blocs,” she said.

Her full message for World Environment Day follows:

“Today is World Environment Day, the annual occasion for us to take stock of recent progress made protecting our fragile environment – and to focus our attention on the action we’ll be taking in future.

This year, the UN Environment Project has urged us all to think about the small islands in the developing world as we do so.

These Small Island Developing States (SIDS) give us many of our most diverse ecosystems, and provide unique homes to some of the world’s most interesting and rare species – but they are also the most vulnerable to climate change, particularly rising sea levels. Indeed many coastal areas in many SIDS are already uninhabitable, either due to sea-salt poisoning or water-logging. In some cases, previously inhabited areas are simply underwater.

So we have much to learn from SIDS, but also a clear responsibility to prevent them suffering the most devastating impacts of climate change: and doing that means cutting greenhouse gas emissions globally, quickly.

By some accounts we’ve made good progress. According to the European Environment Agency, emissions from the EU fell to their lowest level on record in 2012 – putting the EU well on track to achieve its own target of reducing them by 20% on 1990 levels by 2020.

But much of that is as a result of the switch from generating electricity from burning coal to burning gas – and really we need to be using less energy in the first place, and generating what we do need from renewable sources.

Of course the potential is there: the EU’s climate change plan for 2030 should be insisting on strict targets for energy conservation and renewable energy generation. Then, perhaps, instead of giving fracking firms a license to drill under our homes, and allowing developers to build energy-inefficient homes, the Government would be requiring better home energy efficiency measures – and more renewable energy.

The Greens have been pushing on the EU to do exactly that: calling for it to adopt strict targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% by 2030 – in fact cuts of more like 90% will be needed – and to require large-scale energy conservation and more renewable energy generation (it already hit 70% in Germany during one recent weekend) as the way to achieve them. I’m not holding my breath though – leaks of the European Commission view on the future of energy in the EU suggest we just need to import gas from somewhere other than Russia – not that we need to use significantly less of it at all.

But we’ll keep pushing. Next year, world leaders will gather in Paris to discuss a global climate change response plan, to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Securing an agreement will mean the SIDS may just be saved from the worst of sea level rises to come – and if that’s going to happen we’ll need a major economic and political bloc to show some leadership on the issue: perhaps making bigger sacrifices than it expects of smaller nations and groups of countries.

The EU can adopt that role and, from a promising starting point – one of falling emissions and a stronger policy – can broker the international agreement we need to stop climate change in its tracks and give the SIDS their future back.”

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London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert has visited a potential site for fracking in Croydon with MP and anti-fracking activist Caroline Lucas.

Dr Lucas is a leading voice in the campaign against fracking who was arrested during a peaceful protest at the exploratory drilling site in Balcombe (and later cleared of all charges).

Croydon is one of the London boroughs which has already been granted an exploration license for fracking.

Ms Lambert said: “Many people aren’t aware that fracking is a threat not just to our countryside, but to our capital too. It’s absurd to even consider drilling for shale gas in our overcrowded city.

“With London’s pollution at dangerous levels, instead of taking action to clean up our air, the UK Government and London Mayor just stick their heads in the soil – looking for more pollutants to dig up.

“Fracking is not a quick-fix solution to our energy needs – it’s a distraction from the clean green solutions we need. It keeps us dependent on fossil-fuels, accelerates climate change, and threatens the local environment with risks to drinking water supplies, air and noise pollution.

“Rather than of listening to the oil and gas lobby, governments must listen to the climate scientists and halt this damaging dash for shale gas.

“Greens in Europe are calling for fracking to be stopped across the continent, and until this happens we are working to close the gaps in EU fracking regulation to better protect our air, soil and landscapes. We need more Greens in Europe to make sure energy policy moves in the right direction.

“We also need more Greens across the capital to keep London a frack-free zone: only Greens will put public health before corporate wealth.”

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In a message for Earth Day, which was marked by events across the globe yesterday, she said energy efficiency and conservation measures were key to cutting London’s greenhouse gas emissions – and lowering energy bills.
Earth Day, marked by the UN each year on April 22, this year took as its focus ‘green cities’.

The UN estimates more than half of the world’s population lives in cities – and has called for a ‘transition’ towards renewable energy generation and investment in energy efficiency in urban areas.

Ms Lambert said: “Almost a decade ago I wrote a report looking in detail at how energy-inefficient London’s homes were – and the contribution that made to high energy bills and climate change.

“Without a concerted focus on sustainability in housing by the Mayor of London, little has changed.

“London still has some of the most inefficient housing in the UK – and we’ll have to invest in insulation and energy conservation if we are going to become the sustainable, healthy city Londoners need.

“Instead, we have a Mayor and a Government who are more concerned with weakening the laws protecting Londoners from the exhaust fumes and polluted air that’s killing 4,000 Londoners early every year and allowing fracking in South and South-East London.

“But London, like all the world’s great cities, will have to evolve as energy becomes more expensive and climate change worsens.

“As well as lowering our household energy bills, public investment in energy conservation could create thousands of much-needed jobs in London’s construction sector.”

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Adding her name to a submission made by scientists from University College London, Ms Lambert said the payment would distort the European energy sector and make it harder to invest in cleaner, safer, renewable energy in future.

“The proposed subsidy would breach EU law,” she said, “and, as governments around the world are realising in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, would be promoting a dirty, unsafe energy technology at the expense of the renewable and community-level solutions we need to combat climate change and keep the lights on.”

Ms Lambert made her comments as more than 100 academics and politicians of all parties – including a number of Greens – responded to a European Commission consultation on the proposed funding of new nuclear power stations in the UK.

The full consultation response is available here:

Hinkley Point: State Aid consultation response – April 2014

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“We are all too aware of the unacceptably high levels of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation across the African continent,” she said, in light of the EU-Africa summit taking which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“But the answers must lie in deepening dialogue, improving the accountability of big business and supporting African governments, particularly on climate change – as well as tackling issues of human rights.

“Let’s be clear – there are terrible human rights abuses taking place in some African countries: legislation outlawing homosexuality in Uganda and Nigeria are good examples, as are recent well-documented attacks on freedom of speech, recent reports of torture and disappearances and the silencing of political opposition. I was especially shocked to hear about the case of Dr Amadou Janneh who was sentenced to life in jail for printing T-shirts critical of the government in Gambia.

“But Africa is not just one place, and many African nations are facing quite different issues.

“We need to deepen and develop our relationships with different African countries to recognise the diversity across the continent.

“Climate change will be a growing background to many of these relationships – and we need a dialogue as to how Africa’s energy needs can be met without making the same mistakes as countries that industrialised some time ago.”

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