Climate Motions for debate at Labour Party Conference

Many Constituency Labour Parties will already have submitted a motion to Party Conference. Those that have not have until 15 September to do so. Here are two draft motions, one being circulated for CLPs to consider, one by Labour for a Green New Deal and another by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy. These are worth discussing in branches, affiliated unions and Constituency Meetings both as policy approaches and a commitment to campaigning, whether being submitted to conference or not. Please let us know if there are others in the offing.

CLPD: Cost of Living Crisis and Climate Breakdown

Conference notes

The terrible impacts of climate breakdown; already hitting us at home and abroad at just 1.2C above pre-industrial averages, and the terrible impacts of the rising price of fossil fuels on everyone’s energy bills.

The $2.85 billion profit made every day by fossil fuel producers.

The rapidly falling costs for producing energy from renewable sources.

The complete failure of market led Conservative gestures at home insulation or to reduce carbon emissions from Transport since 2010.

That Conservative backsliding on climate targets and failure to plan realistically for even those they have puts all our futures in danger.

Conference recognises

That tackling the cost of living crisis and the climate crises requires the same measures.

Conference calls on the Party at all levels to campaign with everyone else who agrees for

1. The TUC affordable energy plan; to bring the big five into responsible public ownership at a cost of £2.85 billion (no more than the current government has spent on subsidising one private company) cap bills and provide energy security.
2. A windfall tax on the banks to pay for free public transport as Spain has done.
3. Unblocking the planning restrictions on Onshore Wind and for local campaigns wherever such a project is held up.
4. A tax of 56% on North Sea Oil and Gas producers pending public ownership.
5. A planned transition for workers in North Sea Oil and Gas to comparable jobs in renewable energy.

LGND: GREEN NEW DEAL

Notes:

Energy bills have skyrocketed alongside high inflation and stagnant wages.

Energy companies report huge profits while emissions rise.

Believes:

The profiteering private sector is a barrier to decarbonisation and tackling inequality.

Democratic public ownership is crucial to a socialist Green New Deal which eliminates emissions and brings down bills.

Devolving powers to the UK’s regions and nations is necessary to develop democratic models of ownership and control.

Resolves to support:

A state-coordinated industrial strategy for:

• rapid, just energy transition
• eliminating regional inequalities
• creating millions of good green jobs
• ending the cost-of-living crisis
• ensuring wealth is owned democratically

Introducing democratic public ownership models across the economy, led by national public ownership of key sectors, including:

• energy
• mail
• rail
• water
• manufacturing green technologies
• finance

Promoting public-municipal enterprises, worker-ownership and democratic control of firms, including:

• buses
• retrofitting
• construction

The devolution of powers to regions, municipalities and nations to finance and create new public companies, including for public transport.

Democratic accountability, including through the participation of users, workers, trade unions and communities in the management of publicly owned industry.

Workers’ full participation in transition planning, including by repealing all anti-trade union laws and supporting alternative corporate plans.

Creating a Government body supporting the expansion of cooperative and community ownership of land and everyday production and services.

Using the procurement powers of an expanded public sector to promote justice and decarbonisation in global supply chains, including the right of peoples and nations to self-determination and to control of their own resources.