It is indicative of just how far the Labour Party leadership, in government, has moved away from its stated climate goals that the usually Labour loyal SERA has issued a highly critical open letter. We welcome the letter, republished below, for all its limitations and call on other Labour movement bodies to endorse it.
Letter from Labour’s Environment Campaign – SERA Co-Chairs to Keir Starmer on growth
Below is the text of a letter sent to Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister on 30th January 2025 from the Co-chairs of Labour’s Environment Campaign – SERA, Ken Penton and Lisa Trickett.
Dear Keir,
We are writing to you as Co-Chairs of Labour’s Environment and Climate affiliate SERA in response to the Chancellor’s speech in which she set out proposals for how the Government believes it can kickstart economic growth.
We think it is important to state that we recognise that after 14 years of stagnation, and economic mismanagement by the Tories, the need for growth is critical if we are to improve the lives of British people today and in the future.
However, it is our view that the drive for growth cannot be decoupled from – and indeed needs to be reconciled with – the need to address climate change and the entrenched inequality that scars too many of the communities we serve.
We welcome the Chancellor’s recognition that there is no trade-off between economic growth and the need to tackle the climate and nature crises and that these challenges provide “the industrial opportunity of the 21st century and Britain must lead the way”. We know that the British people are looking for Labour to provide the leadership to drive forward a fast and fair transition that delivers for climate and community.
The commitment to nine new reservoirs to address the water supply challenges facing UK homes and businesses that the water companies have failed to address over the past 30 years is something we have campaigned for and welcome.
However, we do not believe that the cost of the new and upgraded infrastructure and technology needed to tackle the water crisis in the UK should be met by water ratepayers alone. The shareholders in water companies have taken out over £83bn in dividends since privatisation whilst loading £74bn of debts on the companies. The British public, quite rightly, will expect shareholders to pay a fair share of funding the required infrastructure to clean up our water and secure supply.
We also recognise the absolute need to ramp up housebuilding in the country. But we believe that those homes need to be sustainable and adaptable to the climate challenges the UK will face. This will require changes to building regulations and the government working closely with councils to support the development and delivery of local plans to ensure we build high-quality homes that are not expensive to heat and cool and recognise that water is a resource we cannot afford to waste.
The Chancellor also announced the government’s support for the expansion of Heathrow Airport by building a third runway.
A large part of the case for Heathrow expansion appears to be based on the development of ‘sustainable aviation fuel’. This description is a misnomer as there is currently no aviation fuel in use which does not lead to increased carbon emissions. Since technological development – such as the development of solar and wind power and battery storage – will be central to how we meet our climate change targets, we do support investment in research and development in this area, as well as that of electric engines.
However, should the additional runway be built, and the planes that eventually use it are powered by current kerosene aviation fuel or whatever percentage of SAF is possible to use then, we will still likely breach our finite and legally binding carbon budget. Basing a significant investment in a long-term major national infrastructure project being sustainable on the basis of a product or technology that is not fit for purpose is not something we can support.
These emissions will also increase air pollution from the particulates and nitrous oxide that an increased number of planes will emit and will, therefore, have a negative impact on the health of those living or working near the airport.
As well as our concerns about the impact on our climate, the likely increase in carbon emissions and the negative impact on public health that Heathrow’s expansion will cause, we believe this will prove to be a distraction from the urgent need to secure growth to support public services, improve people’s everyday life experience, and tackle the regional inequalities the UK faces that should be a priority for your Labour government, which we were proud to play our part in getting elected.
We believe investing in a repurposed national grid; rail, bus and walking and cycling infrastructure; and energy efficiency are more urgent and will deliver much greater sustainable economic, social, health, and climate returns in the short, medium, and long term.
As Labour’s environment and climate affiliate, we are keen to work with you, Labour ministers, regional mayors, unions, and the full range of business interests to shape policies that will deliver the sustainable, inclusive growth that our country and the communities we serve so desperately need.
Yours sincerely,
Ken Penton & Lisa Trickett
Co-Chairs
Labour’s Environment Campaign – SERA
