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Stuart Parkinson, SGR’s Executive Director, welcomed the 70 participants to the conference. He pointed out the timeliness of the event with the Copenhagen climate negotiations rapidly approaching. The day comprised three main speakers, eight poster presentations and SGR’s AGM.
Tim Foxon from Leeds
University began by outlining the urgency of the climate issue and the
requirements for action by the UK. He gave the government credit for
being ahead of most other countries in having passed, with cross-party
support, the Climate Change Act, which set a legally-binding target of
an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (from the 1990 level).
In addition, they have published the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan
which set out targets and measures for key sectors, such as
electricity.
However, Tim pointed out that a recent report by
the government’s climate advisors has argued that progress towards the
80% goal is already slipping and that a step-change in emissions
reduction action is needed – especially in reforming the electricity
market, supporting home energy efficiency, and speeding up the
introduction of electric vehicles. Tim also highlighted proposals for a
Green New Deal, which includes radical economic reforms to support the
transition to a low carbon economy.
Tim concluded that the
government’s ideological devotion to short-term market forces was
obstructing action on climate change. He also argued that government’s
proposal for an extra £180 million for expansion of the renewable
energy industry was far too small.
David Webb of Leeds
Metropolitan University continued the theme that UK climate action
needs a step-change. He quoted a statement by Gordon Brown which said
that low carbon industry could be a major employer and export
generator, but pointed to the inadequacy of the policy follow-through.
The proportion of UK energy from renewable sources is one of the lowest
in the EU and research and development spending has only recently
started to reach levels comparable with other leading nations.
He
contrasted this with Britain’s performance in the military sector. The
UK military budget is the 4th largest in the world, with spending
having risen 21% since 1999. The UK is also home to BAE Systems, the
world’s second largest arms company. David also showed figures
illustrating that government R&D spending in the military sector is
40 times that spent on renewable energy.
Moving on to
employment, David pointed out that jobs in the military industrial
sector only made up 2.3% of the total number in the manufacturing
sector – much less than commonly realised. There has been a series of
reports in recent years exploring the opportunities for arms conversion
to assist the expansion of the low carbon economy, and he summarised
some of the main findings.
Critically, the costs of many
current or proposed military programmes are extremely high but generate
comparatively few jobs. For example, the total cost of Trident
replacement (including operation) has recently been estimated at up to
£100 billion. The two aircraft super-carriers on order will cost at
least £33 billion over their lifetime. But between 50% and 130% more
jobs could be created by investing the same amount in sectors such as
home insulation or public transport. Furthermore, most military
industrial jobs are in areas of high employment (such as south east
England) so a reduction in the sector would have limited impacts.
Gareth
Dale of Brunel University gave a presentation which outlined the basis
of the ‘Green Jobs Charter’ being drawn up by climate campaigners,
trade unionists and academics.
Gareth started by arguing that
the two crises we currently face – the economic crisis and climate
change – can be solved together, but only if conventional economic
thinking is abandoned. He criticised the lack of ambition in government
policy, pointing out that new money earmarked for the renewable energy
sector is much less than the bonus package payable to staff at the
part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland. He argued that the lack of
support given to workers made redundant at the Vestas wind turbine
factory demonstrated the government’s true lack of commitment.
The
Charter proposes an annual £50 billion investment in renewable energy,
home energy efficiency and public transport. This, he argued, could
create over one million jobs by 2020 and meet the emissions reduction
targets laid down by the government’s climate advisors. For example,
300,000 jobs could be created in home energy efficiency leading to a
51% cut in emissions.
Where would this funding come from?
Gareth argued that £20 billion could be found from a range of sources
including: cancelling Trident replacement; taxes on the highest
earners, windfall taxes on excessive profits; or ‘quantitative easing’.
The other £30 billion would be generated by the employment itself,
including income tax, avoided benefit payments, energy bills, public
transport fares, indirect job creation etc.
Detailed figures
will be published in a report due for completion in early 2010. A
summary of the Charter will be available shortly.
Discussion
covered a wide range of issues from nuclear power to nationalisation.
Many questioned why government persisted in policies which were either
ineffectual or would actually increase emissions. It was argued that a
root cause of the problem is the over-cosy relationship between
ministers, senior civil servants and big business. There was much
pessimism about the potential outcome at the Copenhagen negotiations.
Philip Webber, Chair of
SGR, opened the AGM. Stuart Parkinson summarised SGR’s activities as
documented in the 2008-9 annual report. There had been a number of
successes – for example, publication of the briefing, Behind Closed
Doors, which critically examined the military influence on UK
universities, numerous public lectures, and a range of advocacy work.
Treasurer, Patrick Nicholson summarised the accounts, pointing out that
SGR’s finances remained tight. The annual report and accounts were
approved by the meeting.
This was followed by the election of
the National Co-ordinating Committee for the coming year. Three
committee members stepped down – Martin Quick, Hilary Chivall and Sean
Rose – and they were thanked for their services. The remaining members
stood for re-election, together with Martin Bassant. All were elected
unanimously.
Stuart Parkinson then gave a brief update of SGR
activities since March. In particular, he highlighted the successful
launch of the in-depth report, Science and the Corporate Agenda, which
had taken place a few weeks before the conference. Press interest had
been especially high. Patrick Nicholson then discussed SGR’s recent
finances, discussing the difficulties brought about the economic
downturn.
Finally, a vote of thanks was given to Chris Langley,
SGR’s principal researcher, who was retiring after six years with SGR.
He was the lead author of the organisation’s high profile reports,
Soldiers in the Laboratory, Behind Closed Doors and Science and the
Corporate Agenda.
Kate Macintosh, Vice-chair of SGR, closed the event.
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