Memorandum submitted by the Shrinking
Economies Working Group
Our organisation regards climate change as the
most crucial issue affecting life on our planet. We seek to promote
greater localisation of economic activity in order to sustain
global life support systems and maintain a habitable world in
which resources can be distributed in a fairer and more equitable
manner.
We consider the system known as "Contraction
& Convergence" (C & C) presents the simplest and
most effective means of securing global agreement on emission
reductions. This would not only secure a progressive reduction
in emissions, on an equitable basis, but also—by way of
carbon trading—offer potential advantages to both rich and
poor countries. Within the U K a political consensus would be
needed, to ensure that successive governments are committed to
"C & C"; since a majority of MPs have signified
their support for a Climate Change Bill, securing year-on-year
cuts in CO2 emissions, we feel this should be achievable.
Our group, in fact, recognises that the climate
change problems now being faced are caused by the developed world's
ongoing commitment to economic growth and the continual overuse
of resources, especially energy, which have resulted in our having
caused the climate problems which are felt most noticeably by
developing countries. These poorer countries, indeed, benefit
very little from "aid" received from our continually
growing economies.
We doubt whether any post-Nairobi arrangement
can be made to work effectively unless the "C & C"
structure is adopted. While contacts such as that recently announced
between the Prime Minister and the State of California are to
be encouraged, and welcomed, the failure of any major nations—such
as the USA—to "sign up" would inevitably weaken
any new agreement. Any efforts made by non-signatory nations must
be robustly countered and not allowed to derail progressive measures
to protect the planet. Any successor to Kyoto must be more fully
comprehensive, to include some areas currently exempted; for example,
emissions from aircraft must be included.
A future UK government must radically alter
current policy, and adopt a far more independent stance from that
of the USA. It must campaign actively and unequivocally for "C
& C", and consult with the EU and other bodies—including
authorities within the USA, Russia etc who favour the "C
& C" approach. Provided the UK adopts the above stance,
we would then be well placed to offer the leadership which is
vital in order to secure the future of our planet.
September 2006
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