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We talk fish with European politicians Newsletter, 14 December 2011  photo: yamuhaton ClientEarth works to strengthen the Common Fisheries Policy Those who are familiar with our work with Hugh’s Fish Fight will know that we don’t think that Europe’s fishing laws are working. On 13 July, the European Commission’s proposal for a new Common Fisheries Policy was published accompanied by strong statements promising radical reform to deliver sustainable fisheries. Now we need your help! Tell your MEP how strongly you feel about radical reform of the laws governing our oceans using this template letter that we’ve developed with Fish Fight. Visit fishfight.net In other marine news, our team have recently released a series of technical briefing papers explaining why the European Commission’s proposals for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy fall short of its ecological intentions. On 23 November Sandy Luk and Susie Wilks gave a presentation of our thoughts to European politicians in Brussels and concluded with some of ClientEarth’s key recommendations for improving the proposal. The event was hosted by Chris Davies MEP and Struan Stevenson MEP. To find out more about our marine work click here.  photo: james.stringer A bank we can all love At an event chaired by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas in the UK House of Commons on 22 November ClientEarth released the report Towards the Green Investment Bank Act. The report contains proposals for the legislation establishing the Green Investment Bank. The launch is the culmination of nearly a year’s work by ClientEarth in collaboration with Transform UK. It advocates for a strong and effective Green Investment Bank in the UK. Speaking were Ed Matthew from Transform UK, ClientEarth's Karla Hill and Dimitri Zenghelis of the London School of Economics and the Stern Review. Karla spoke on the necessity of getting the legislation right, and Dimitri on the enormous economic potential of the Green Investment Bank. He explained how we may miss out on some of this potential if it is not enabled as a real bank with borrowing powers as soon as possible. Investment of up to £1 trillion is needed by 2030 to upgrade, replace and de-carbonise the UK’s infrastructure. Up to 70 per cent of this will be in green and low-carbon technologies. By unlocking private sector finance and pursuing a defined environmental mandate, the Green Investment Bank can achieve this at lowest cost to the taxpayer and can be a major catalyst for green growth and green jobs. You can read ClientEarth’s report here You can read David Holyoake’s blog about the event here  photo: curiouslypersistent UK Ministers admit to illegal levels of air pollution ClientEarth’s legal challenge has forced the UK government to concede that they are failing to meet their legal obligations to keep air pollution within EU limits. On 14 December the UK High Court ruled that this is now a matter for the European Commission. In the UK 29,000 people die prematurely every year because of air pollution – fewer people die, or sustain serious injuries, in road traffic accidents. ClientEarth’s legal challenge against the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was brought because air quality plans for 17 regions and cities will not achieve legal limits for air quality until after 2015. The deadline for achieving these limits was 1 January 2010. James Thornton, ClientEarth CEO, said: “We’re extremely pleased that our case has forced the Government to admit that they are failing in their legal duty to protect the British people from the harmful effects of air pollution. We had hoped that the issue would be resolved in the UK Courts, but following Justice Mitting’s decision we expect the Commission will launch proceedings against the UK.” You can read about the case on the BBC Read some of our latest blog posts... Nanotechnology – a threat to our health and the environment? - here The role of bioenergy in meeting UK carbon budgets and targets – here A closer look at our work with local communities in Gabon - here |
