Politicians seem increasingly obsessed with how they will be viewed once they leave office – their legacy. What then is Labour’s green record since 1997?

New Labour’s environmental legacy

A bit like a typical Tottenham season they started weakly but finished strongly – largely thanks to the creation of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The introduction of the Climate Change Act and the belated creation of the Low Carbon Transition Plan, with all its associated legislation and investment, are certainly actions of a world leader. 

But why did it take so long? The next administration will face the expensive and complicated fall-out from the delay in creating a coherent UK energy policy with resultant rising prices, the need for new infrastructure and energy security all uncomfortably high on the agenda.

Labour can claim some notable successes. Bathing water standards are higher, our rivers are cleaner and water abstraction has declined. Investment in recycling has seen a vast improvement, although we are still throwing away more stuff thanks to our increased addiction to consumption. 

There are, however, glaring weaknesses. In 1997 Two Jags Prescott promised to get us out of our cars. In 1997 we drove 450 billion kilometres, but by 2008 this had increased to 508 billion. The amount we fly has also drastically increased. The record on nature conservation is also poor with farmland and sea birds in significant decline and our fish stocks continuing to diminish.

It is on the international stage where New Labour really shone. Blair raised climate change up the international agenda, Prescott used all his charm and delicate persuasion to ensure that there was a protocol at Koyoto and Ed Miliband was instrumental in ensuring there was any sort of agreement at Copenhagen. 

..... and what hopes can we have for the new Government?

Within the first few days of the new administration David Cameron announced that the new Government will sign up to the 10:10 campaign with the intention of making this the greenest Government ever. There are certainly grounds for optimism. 

Chris Huhne is an imaginative choice to lead the fight on climate change and energy security. If set at the right level, the proposed floor-price would give potential investors in energy infrastructure the long-term certainty they have craved. There are a range of other substantive policies including:

• a green home loan scheme
• the creation of a green investment bank
• the commitment to retaining existing policies
• the retention of DECC

There are four areas where weaknesses might emerge. 

The first is that public spending costs could severely hamper the ability of DECC and DEFRA to turn words into reality. The second is that the fundamental differences between the two parties on the European Community might mute our previously strong international voice.

Thirdly it will be interesting to see if DEFRA can retain its growing independence from the strong farming lobby. Finally the coalition will inevitably be a Government of consensus and tactical management rather than vision. 

Whether such a Government will deliver the transformative and fundamental change required to create a new sustainable economy must be questionable.

Global Action Plan International

On Thursday, the office was invaded by the somewhat motley crew that is Global Action Plan International. Representatives from countries including Russia, Poland, Finland, Spain, Ireland and Sweden converged to share their knowledge, ideas and experiences and to discuss how best to work together.

I sat and listened to the amazing efforts that all the countries have made to translate Global Action Plan’s principles into reality – usually with virtually no resource. Two themes emerged. The first was the incredible degree of imagination and innovation that exists within the network. 

I particularly liked a Belgium project that is working with a supermarket to ensure that all their customers have their car tyres at the correct pressure saving them money and reducing carbon emissions. The second was that the solutions reached by the countries are incredibly similar and demonstrate that robust behaviour change initiatives can be translated easily between countries.

The perpetual frustration for the international network is that it is virtually impossible to raise money for a strong international secretariat that could help all the countries to expand and work better together. 

There are pots of European money that look like they should do the trick but it is impossible for small organisations to access it as it requires a long-term financial track-record and the money is paid in arrears requiring organisations to have a large amount of cash in the bank to make it viable.

Project Start

On Wednesday a colleague and I went to Clarence House to learn about Prince Charles' latest environmental initiative called Project Start. It is yet another example as to how the Prince has used his connections and influence to bring people together to create an initiative that aims to make sustainability inspiring and real for people.

Clarence House itself was amazing. We were shown the offices where the two Princes work, the room where Charles the First spent his final night alive and the banqueting room which has one of the few remaining royal emblems celebrating Henry VIII’s marriage to Ann Boleyn. The whole trip was rounded off well as we bumped into Joanna Lumley, who did the voice-over for our first Climate Squad video, as we left.

Watch our first Climate Squad video

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Trewin has been blogging for Global Action Plan for the past few years. If you enjoyed this week's blog you can find more here. 

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