Citizens' Climate Lobby UK

Lobbying for a carbon fee and dividend

News

Monthly meeting 18th Feb

by

We’re attracting many new members each month so now seemed a good time to catch up on a few core CCL things:-

7.30pm – What’s climate income (or carbon fee and dividend)?

8pm – Making friends with your MP

8.30pm – buddying up members and starting a new group

Looking forward to seeing you online!

Join the meeting Tuesday 18 February 2020 at 7.30pm at https://zoom.us/j/466140846

NB – meetings are hosted by Zoom – when you click on the link you will join the meeting. If you haven’t used Zoom on this device before, it will download the Zoom app or browser plugin.

CCL members to lobby EU

by

Two members of CCL UK will be lobbying MEPs at the European Parliament Brussels in February.

Show your support by liking the Facebook page.

Despite leaving the EU on the 31st January, British citizens are still able to talk to the EU parliament.

The delegates will be two of a dozen lobbying more than 20 MEPs for a climate income, on 19th and 20th February.

“We want Europe to step forward as one of the 3 largest economies in the world”, said James Collis delegate from UK. “The EU has the economic might to make a real difference on the world stage. While we wait for the UK to clarify its position on EU climate policy alignment, it seems that we citizens still have the right to talk to the EU parliament even if our elected MEPs no longer do.”

CCL started lobbying the European Parliament last November to support the climate income European Citizens’ Initiative (which EU members can still sign) for a ‘fast, fair and effective solution to climate change’.

The group is twice the size of the group in November – with CCL members from France, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, UK and Belgium – and will hold meetings with MEPs specifically interested in solving the Climate Crisis.

Online meeting January – introduction

by

7.30pm-8.30pm – introductory presentation on Citizens’ Climate Lobby
8.30-9pm – CCL update

Click this link at the time of the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/466140846*

This Tuesday (21 January), the first hour will be given over to an introductory presentation to Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

It will be useful for new members, those who want to learn a presentation with slides to give other members of CCL (such as those starting up a new group) or anyone who wants a refresher on CCL values, methods and focus.

The final half hour will share news about the CCL Climate Income declaration, Zero C campaign for a ‘General Carbon Charge’ and dividend, and the Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change. We’d also love to hear your news.

*This is via Zoom. If this is your first time using Zoom on this device, please note it will automatically download the Zoom app or browser plugin. There are also telephone dial in options.

Elections – who’s best on climate income?

by

Overall, the political parties in the UK seem to favour a combination of legislation and funding. We pick out the stuff CCL members can build on to push for a climate income (or carbon fee and dividend/CF&D).

Green Party of England and Wales

They have had carbon fee and dividend as part of their policy for a few years, and although the manifesto doesn’t specify CF&D, it mentions a climate income-type policy: ‘Draw directly on income from the Carbon Tax to help fund Universal Basic Income, therefore ensuring that the proceeds of the tax on carbon emissions help to meet the cost of enabling people to make the transition to a carbon free future.’
End fossil fuel subsidises? yes
Other items of interest, chiming with CCL values: ‘Tackle our toxic political culture, by exploring measures such as new codes of conduct to embed compassion and co-operation in all aspects of public life.’

Liberal Democrats

Although there is no mention of carbon pricing (except for an aviation tax) in the manifesto, the Green and also Welsh Liberal Democrats have campaigned for a carbon fee and dividend, Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran was the first to mention CF&D in parliament and the party is considering it at the spring conference.
‘…provide Just Transition funding for areas and communities negatively affected by the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.’
End fossil fuel subsidises? yes
Other items of interest, chiming with CCL values: ‘Liberal Democrats have a plan to radically transform our political system so that it works for a modern democracy.’

Scottish National Party

No mention of carbon pricing, though they talk of ringfencing oil and gas receipts for a Net Zero Fund to pay for energy transition, and they mention alignment with EU environmental regulations which may include the EU ETS.
End fossil fuel subsidies? no mention
Key quotes: ‘SNP MPs will campaign at Westminster for the UK to adopt progressive, sustainable economic reform that reshapes the economy, tackling economic and environmental injustice at source.’
‘…support substantial reforms to the UK tax system to support greener choices, including a greener tax deal for heating and energy efficiency improvements in homes and businesses and new vehicle and tax incentives regime for transport…’
‘…move to a net-zero economy in a way that is fair for all.’

Conservative and Unionist Party

Aside from emphasising low taxation in the manifesto, earlier this year the Conservatives have stated their intention to remain in the EU ETS and then to set up a British version on leaving the EU. The Conservative government have stuck by former PM David Cameron’s pledge to freeze fuel duty.
End fossil fuel subsidies? no mention
‘For many families, energy costs are a major source of financial pressure. We will keep our existing energy cap and introduce new measures to lower bills.’
‘We will invest £500 million to help energy-intensive industries move to low-carbon techniques.’
Key quotes: ‘…we believe that free markets, innovation and prosperity can protect the planet.’
‘Reaching Net Zero by 2050 with investment in clean energy solutions and green infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions and pollution.’
Other items of interest, chiming with CCL values: ‘In our first year we will set up a Constitution, Democracy & Rights Commission that will examine these issues in depth, and come up with proposals to restore trust in our institutions and in how our democracy operates.’

Labour Party

No specific mention of carbon pricing, but say, ‘We will make sure that the costs of the green transition fall fairly and are mostly borne by the wealthy and those most responsible for the problem.’
End fossil fuel subsidises? yes
‘£250 billion in loans for decarbonising business.’
Key quote: ‘We will examine fiscal and regulatory options to ensure a response to the climate crisis in a way that is fair to consumers and protects the economy.’

Plaid Cymru

No carbon pricing, but mention a ‘green social and economic infrastructure’.
Key quotes: ‘Develop a package of environmental and fiscal reforms to aid the transition to a greener economy.’
‘Future trade deals undertaken by the UK, whether inside or outside the EU, should maintain and enhance environmental standards, minimise the environmental footprint of trade and make trade terms explicitly subject to environmental and human rights commitments.’

Democratic Unionist Party

No mention of carbon pricing though they support a zero VAT rating of domestic electricity, gas and new electric vehicles, the abolishment of Domestic Air Passenger Duty and maintaining the freeze in fuel duty.
End fossil fuel subsidises? no mention, but the zero VAT rating on heating gas would be a greater subsidy
Key quote: ‘The transition and transformation this [net zero] involves must be a just one for poorer sections of the community and regions.’

The Brexit Party

No mention of carbon pricing, except to ‘cut VAT on fuel’ and ‘reduce import tariffs’.
End fossil fuel subsidies? no mention, though cutting VAT on fuel would be a greater subsidy.
Key quote: ‘The impact of EU policies on energy prices costs us jobs and punishes the poorest in society’
Other items of interest, chiming with CCL values: ‘Reform the voting system to make it more representative.’

Read our other post to see who has made climate emergency the biggest priority.

Actions on election, results from campaign, Citizens’ Assembly and COP25

by

Actions and notes after the national meeting, 19 Nov 2019

Climate Income

It was agreed to rebrand carbon fee and dividend to climate income with the following guidelines:-

Keep CF&D as the policy name when talking to policy makers. They understand and appreciate that we have one name for promotion and the official name which more prosaically describes the policy.
We need a page on the website which explains this.
Offer advice to members that if they have already contacted their MP/MEP, to refer to it as Climate Income (carbon fee & dividend) in future.

Election: Political party comparison charts

  • We agreed to make a meeting date for interested parties to create this chart, based on the parties’ manifestos.
  • Then disseminate to national press.
  • The purpose is both to highlight political party commitment to pricing GHG* pollution and, later, to hold them to account.
  • To remind voters that climate change is the priority.
  • If it is rigorous enough it will achieve positive publicity.

Recent CCL Canada table which worked really well and received praise for its rigor:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rr70YyPE7Gc9WWLOdD7jgsASDGG4_iJQi_m0msCOswc/edit  

Accompanying press release:
https://canada.citizensclimatelobby.org/media-release-climate-action-counts-in-election-2019-and-the-youth-and-the-world-are-watching/  

If you want to be involved in this, email Louisa.

Hustings

Advice on attending hustings, see this post: https://citizensclimatelobby.uk/news/2019/11/hustings-go-and-ask-questions/

Takeaways:-

Keep it positive.

Don’t be frightened to have an introduction to your question: use your questions to educate both candidates and the attendees in climate income – assume no awareness of climate income.

Government’s Consultation on Carbon Pricing

We were really pleased with the membership’s responses to this consultation back in summer. CCL UK responses made up nearly a third of all responses and had a special mention in the report:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/843603/continued-uk-membership-euets-phase-iv-response.pdf

Committee on Climate Change’s response:
https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Vivid-Economics-The-Future-of-Carbon-Pricing-in-the-UK.pdf 

Citizens Assembly on Climate Change

Thousands of invitations have gone out to a selection of the public to take part in the Citizens’ Assembly. CCL has been asking to be one of the consultants who brief participants on possible solutions to bringing down GHG* emissions. More here:
https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/business-energy-industrial-strategy/news-parliament-2017/citizens-assembly-climate-change-19-20/ 

COP 25

The UN annual conference on climate change is now happening in Madrid in December. Cathy Orlando, CCL’s international co-ordinator, will be there and we can potentially request her to attend events at COP on our behalf and ask questions.

Here is an app you can download to find out what the UK is doing at the COP.
https://unfccc.int/about-us/press-and-media/press-faqs/media-accreditation-frequently-asked-questions-faqs/negotiator-app

Claire Perry, formerly MP for Devizes and the Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, will be the president at COP26, next year in Glasgow:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-49650909 

*GHG = greenhouse gases

Hustings – Go and ask questions!

by

In order to get Climate Income (the new name for Carbon Fee & Dividend) at the forefront of the climate debate we need to ask questions at our local hustings.

Never been? Don’t worry – anyone can go if you are in that constituency – it’s your democratic right!
We’ve compiled some tips and suggested questions, feel free to use these or some of your own, however please take note of the CCL approach -ask positively framed questions and expect positive answers!

Let us know how you get on, especially any candidates who are knowledgeable about the policy.

Advice from people who have long experience of Hustings suggest that the following are useful points to remember:
Question raised at hustings needs to be very specific.

  • Questions can be quite long, they should begin with the subject of concern, and should name the policy we’re promoting. Then there must be a clear question.
  • Do take your time to say your question – speak clearly and slowly but concisely and to the point.
  • Remember:  the question is meant to educate the public as much as the candidates, so feel confident to give your question an explanatory preamble if required.
  • Once you know which candidates will be appearing at a particular venue, you may be able to email the question to the candidate beforehand.
  • If possible, look to see what the party’s manifesto is saying about climate change and specifically carbon fee and dividend (Climate Income) if there is anything you can link your question to then do so (however as far as we know no party has climate income/CF&D in its manifesto)
  • We’ve tried to frame each question in a positive way-it’s the CCL style. If you want to use your own question try and use this style rather than a negative or confrontational approach which makes the candidates defensive.

Suggested Questions

  • Not long ago, the largest group of economists in history – including 27 Nobel prize winners – signed up to promote a climate policy (called Carbon Fee & Dividend, or Climate Income) that puts a rising fee on fossil fuels, and returns the revenue in equal shares to all citizens. It would go a long way towards funding all the climate action we need without the government spending billions. Its voter appeal is so strong that two thirds of Canadians have just voted to keep it, despite historic lobbying from fossil fuel companies. Can we adopt a similar policy?
  • We know that the UK is a small fry greenhouse gas emitter compared to China and the US, but the UK has a lot of influence on the rest of the world. What do they consider effective leadership by the UK to the rest of the world in climate change tackling initiatives?
  • What do you think about a climate income in which fossil fuels are taxed at source but the proceeds given equally back to the people, protecting low and middle income households while the UK transitions away from fossil fuels and drastically cuts greenhouse gas emissions?
  • In this campaign, we’ve heard talk of billions and trillions of government spending on climate action. A Climate Income would reward green choices, incentivise green business, and protect those on low amd middle incomes simply by placing a rising fee on fossil fuels with the revenue returned to citizens in equal shares. It’s been promoted by the largest group of economists in history, and it has already worked so well in Canada that two thirds of voters have just voted to keep it.  Can we have it here?
  • Given recent events within parliament, how will the candidates bring respect and kindness to parliament and contribute to cross-party cooperation to ensure the UK reaches net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050? A climate income would put a rising fee on fossil fuels at source then give the proceeds back to the people. This would encourage the UK to make the shift to clean energy while protecting those with vulnerable finances and it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent in ten years. Is a climate income an emissions-busting initiative all the parties could get behind?

CCL UK needs volunteers

by

Doing local and individual actions are great – and the foundation of CCL. But to give CCL real backbone, we need people working at a national level to support our members.

Could you get involved?

The more people get involved, the more we can spread out the work and the more effective we are at getting the UK to adopt carbon fee and dividend and the better we can tackle climate change.

Here’s the kind of things we need. (Training will be given where people already know how to do it!)

  • Steering group members – strategy, planning, governance, liaison with international groups
  • Parliamentary / political party / legislation team – keep us up to date on the latest developments, support for political party / MP relationships, keeping tabs on which MPs have been contacted
  • Fundraising team
  • Membership team
  • Digital team – social media, website development, e-news, video instructionals and promotional, web content writing
  • Media team – CCL press releases, letters to the editor
  • Creative team – creative ways to promote CCL eg stunts, arts projects, writing, music, films
  • Economics team – how do the numbers work? How will CF&D affect the UK economy?
  • Local groups team – to support new local groups; regional co-ordinators
  • Blog writers
  • Campaign team – coordinating national and monthly campaigns and action
  • Monthly online meetings – organising speakers, sending out actions and notifications
  • Events team – national conference, providing support for taking stands at events, support for regional events
  • Grassroots team – support for those communicating with local groups, whether that’s raising awareness or asking for endorsements
  • Grasstops team – support for those communicating with national organisations and ‘celebrities’, whether that’s raising awareness or asking for endorsements
  • EU team – liaise with groups across the EU

Or: suggest something!

Contact us at info or join the monthly meeting to discuss (Tuesday 15 October, 8pm – https://zoom.us/j/466140846)

EU edging towards a carbon border tax

by

The president-elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Frans Timmermans, soon to be the new climate chief, have both spoken in favour of introducing a carbon tax on the EU’s borders in order to level the playing field for European businesses and also to encourage other regions to take stronger action on climate change. …

Campaign: ask the EU to adopt carbon fee and dividend

by

Our latest campaign is really simple – click, sign and share:
climateincome.org

CCL EU has set up a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to ask the European Commission to implement carbon fee and dividend across its member states.

When enough people have signed, the European Commission is required to investigate and, if possible, make it legislation.

If the EU adopted carbon fee and dividend, not only would it be good for emissions across the EU, as the second biggest economy in the world, it would have significant influence on other economies across the globe, especially the UK and the US.

The ECI is much more than a petition. It was submitted to the European Commission and passed a vetting process. The ECI has to reach 1 million signatures from across the EU by May next year. British signatures will be counted if signed while in the EU.

So we need to get our skates on before 31 October, the date set for the UK to leave the EU – click, sign and share:

climateincome.org

Write to your MEP

To make the biggest impact, write to your MEPs about it too. Send a message to them that you are supporting the EU Citizens’ Initiative for Carbon Fee and Dividend – you can message all your regional representatives in one go via www.writetothem.com