UN support for Green 'Just Transition'

The Green Party has welcomed United Nations support for the principle of a "just transition" to a low carbon economy which prevents the burden of change from being unfairly carried by workers in high-energy industries - and their families and communities.

The UN has approved the inclusion of the principle in text which will form an introductory statement of principles at the international Copenhagen Climate Summit in December.

The Green Party says the UK government and the EU should now fully commit to backing the principle in EU submissions to the Copenhagen conference.

"Just Transition" is the principle that the transition to a low-carbon economy must be fair and not disproportionately hurt the workforces of high energy industries - making them pay for progress with severe cuts in living standards and employment opportunities. The social costs of transition, it is argued, must be shared. The principle also means that trades unions, businesses and communities affected by transition must be consulted along with other civil society bodies.

The principle of Just Transition has been promoted by the TUC and adopted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Martin Hemingway, lead candidate for Yorkshire and the Humber in the European Elections in June, said today:

" The principle of a fair transition to a sustainable society should be supported widely. We need a rapid transition to a low carbon economy, but we must protect workers, and communities dependent on the workforces that have produced steel, cement, coal or cars. Those communities and workers must be consulted and supported not destroyed. We intend to help them with investment and training to re-skill for new sustainable industries like local food or renewable energy and energy conservation. Sheffield steelworkers or Birmingham carmakers must become part of a low carbon economy making sustainable products.

"The governments of the UK and the rest of the EU must back this principle at Copenhagen along with the urgent measures necessary to bring about a low carbon economy. Green parliamentarians across the EU will be supporting that."

Martin Hemingway, lead Green.

20 May 2009, Kelham Island, Sheffield.

Official Green Party Y&H launch

Green Party Euro election candidates will be at Kelham Island, Sheffield today at the official launch of the Yorkshire & the Humber Green Party Campaign.

Martin Hemingway, lead candidate for the Green Party in the European Elections is available for interviews:

"The current disenchantment with the big three parties will prompt more people to take a second look at the Greens. Our Euro-election broadcast has been very well received and we believe our million-jobs manifesto is going to strike a chord with a lot of people. When it comes down to it, we're the only party in this election that isn't mired in sleaze and is putting forward a positive vision."

There will be brief addresses from Martin Hemingway, Shan Oakes, second candidate on the European Election list and from Cllr. Jillian Creasy (Sheffield) and Cllr. Kevin Warnes (Bradford) who is also an European Election candidate.

With the continuing furore over events in Westminster and the current volatility in opinion polls, voters are taking a fresh look at the Green Party and liking what they see.

In a YouGov poll released on Monday 18 May, 34% of respondents said they would either definitely be voting Green or would consider voting Green (1). This is the highest percentage ever to indicate potential support for the Greens.

The largest group to consider switching to the Greens were LibDem voters. Usually, Greens attract former Labour voters, who formed the second largest group considering a switch to voting Green. Conservative voters - the group normally the least likely to switch to Green – made up around one-fifth of those considering switching.

Martin Hemingway, lead candidate for the European Elections on a full list of six, said:

"This 34% is the best indication we've had that people would consider voting Green. We are not ruling out a potential surge like that of 1989, when 2.2 million Britons voted Green in the European elections.

"The shameful expenses row has meant many are turning away from the three main parties. It’s unlikely that UKIP will benefit from voters' anger at sleaze, thanks to its own frequently criticised record.

"At the end of the day, Green policies and actions speak for themselves. When people look at what we actually stand for they like what they see."

In general polls, Green support has jumped from 6% to 11%.

A general voter-intention poll this week for the Sun newspaper found that 6% were definitely intending to vote Green. But in a poll commissioned by UKIP and published today, the Greens are showing on 11% - enough to win seats in several regions beyond the existing seats in London and South East.

Martin went on to say "Greens have often been underestimated in opinion polls ahead of European elections. For example in 1989 pre-election polls were showing the Greens on 7-8%, but the actual Green vote turned out to be 15%."

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The real risks of GM crops

Martin Hemingway, lead Green, Euro elections 2009.

The GM industry is starting to lose the initiative in its attempt to foist their experimental crops on an unwilling public. Dr Julian Little (Yorkshire Post, Letters 19 May) leaps in with the chance to laud the role of GM in feeding the future world population.

What tangible evidence is there to present when we know, for example, that growth in soya yield has declined since the shift from conventional breeding to GM, and that in India ‘resistant’ cotton is losing its resistance as the pests evolve to cope - that is how evolution works.

Trillions of meals with GM ingredients may have been eaten by an unaware public, but Dr Little will know as well as I do that accumulated instances do not prove something, but one counter case can falsify it. We do have extensive experimental evidence of the negative health effects of feeding GM foods to animals - effects on fertility, birth abnormalities, and survival rates amongst others.

The risks of GM are real, with contamination of nearby crops, and the aggressive GM companies suing the farmers who have had their crops contaminated!

"If the risks were trivial then the industry would be willing to accept liability for future problems - and it has refused. Then the insurance industry would be willing to insure against the risk - and they too have refused.

If Dr Little responds to this letter can I ask him for one favour - can he tell us if there are any funding links between the GM companies and the Agricultural Biotechnology Council that he chairs?

Martin Hemingway (Dr)

More articles by Martin Hemingway

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Victims of Climate Change

There are few scientists who would argue that the production of carbon dioxide from human activities has begun a progressive warming that we are still doing too little to slow down and stop. There are many people who would prefer to look away, and pretend that nothing is going to happen.

The 2,600 people who live on their idyllic coral islands, the Carteret Islands, in the South Pacific, cannot look away. With a high point less than six feet above sea level, their homes and gardens are being washed away around their feet. Now they are having to look to the nearby island of Bougainville, and prepare to move.

There may be other less obvious victims already, as rain patterns change and bring famine to some; but the people of the Carteret Islands are the first obvious victims of sea level rise, the most obvious sign of global warming. Their home is going under, the warning is real.

The next few years are the critical time for climate action, locally, nationally, and internationally. Whoever is elected in the European elections, working to extend the European emission reduction target from 20% to 30% or more, will be vital. For once Europe could work, and every option must be used.

Martin Hemingway