21 March 2019

Greens in the European Parliament have demanded that access badges of ExxonMobil lobbyists be removed. The call comes as representatives of the oil giant refuse to attend a public hearing in the European Parliament today which will, for the first time, address climate denial in the EU, and focus on the prominent role Exxon Mobil has played. When representatives of Monsanto refused to attend a similar hearing they had their access badges revoked and Greens are demanding the same action be taken against ExxonMobile.   

Currently around 220 lobbyists linked to ExxonMobil have direct access to the European Parliament through their EU badge together with many more unregistered lobbyists. This is despite the fact the corporation stands accused of funding public misinformation campaigns and slowing down political attempts to move towards progressive policies on energy. Internal company document have also revealed that the corporation has known about the realities of climate change for decades. The company helped to found and lead the Global Climate Coalition of businesses opposed to the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and funded organizations critical of the Kyoto Protocol.

Green MEP, Molly Scott Cato, who is attending today’s hearing and will host the press conference after the event, said:

“The only seats that should be offered to representatives of ExxonMobil are the ones at the hearing which will examine this corporation’s climate wrecking activities. This is the company that has denied the science, despite knowing the damage their oil exploitation was causing; who has funded campaigns to block action on climate and now refuse to face up to their environmental crimes by attending today’s hearing.

“We cannot allow the lobbyists from such corporations free access to the corridors of the European Parliament. We must remove their badges immediately.”

“The growing momentum across the globe for youth strikes shows young people understand we are in a climate emergency. To safeguard their future, they will need to live the majority of their adult lives almost entirely free of fossil fuels. That’s bad news for corporations like ExxonMobil but good news for those of us wanting to save the planet from climate breakdown.”  

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20 March 2019

The government are due to amend the Trade Bill today to protect existing  standards for animal welfare, workers rights and the environment in future trade agreements. They have submitted a slightly tweaked version of the amendment put forward by Green Party Baroness Jones.

Jenny Jones’ amendment on the Trade Bill was debated two weeks ago and she received a lot of cross party support from Labour. She has also met the Minister to discuss it. It contains the current protections for the standards we have. But the Government had seemed reluctant to accept it, even though the Prime Minister had committed herself to not weakening existing standards in future trade agreements. At the moment it would be possible for Ministers to use statutory instruments to change the rules on this, but this amendment would guarantee these minimum standards were kept for rolling over all the trade deals that we currently have as a result of EU membership.

It’s a crucial political decision as the right wing freemarket types in the conservative party didn’t want their hands tied.

Amendment by Government Minister of State, Baroness Fairhead:

Page 2, line 22, leave out “(4)” and insert “(4A)”
Page 2, line 43, at end insert—
“(4A) If regulations under subsection (1) include provision in any of the areas listed
in subsection (4B), the provision must be consistent with maintaining UK
levels of statutory protection in that area.
(4B) The areas referred to in subsection (4A) are—
(a) the protection of human, animal or plant life or health;
(b) animal welfare;
(c) environmental protection;
(d) employment and labour.
(4C) “UK levels of statutory protection” means levels of protection provided for by
or under any—
(a) primary legislation,
(b) subordinate legislation, or
(c) retained direct EU legislation,
which has effect in the United Kingdom, or the part of the United Kingdom in
which the regulations have effect, on the date on which a draft of the
regulations is laid.”

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15 March 2019

Green Party leaders and politicians will join children striking from school to demand the Government takes real action on climate change.

Hundreds of school children are set to gather in Parliament Square on Friday 15 March [1] as part of the global Youth Strike for the Climate movement, which will see children walk out of school across the world.

Green co-leader Jonathan Bartley and London Assembly member Caroline Russell will join the strike.

The movement was inspired by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish activist who went on school strike last August. Tens of thousands of children have since walked out of school in similar protests across the world.

The Green Party has called on the Government to listen to the young people on strike and act on their demands – and has urged parents and teachers to support and celebrate children and young people who want to take civic action as part of the strike.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“The young people striking for the planet are a source of hope for us all. They recognise that we are facing a climate emergency and that only gold standard climate action is good enough. It’s time for those in power to start listening.

“This week the Chancellor tried to fob off our young people with token policies that don’t go far enough. If Ministers are serious about securing the planet for the next generation they will launch a Green New Deal with money for thousands of green jobs and transformed local transport and energy networks.

“It’s a privilege for the Green Party to stand in solidarity with young people across the country striking for their futures. I urge those in power to listen to their demands – and for parents and teachers everywhere to support and celebrate the next generation as they take civic action for the climate.”

Notes:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2019/mar/15/climate-strikes-2019-live-latest-climate-change-global-warming

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12 March 2019

Green MEP Molly Scott Cato has hailed the agreement of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive [1], which was agreed late last night in trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament, EU Commission and Council, as a victory for the truth. This will give legal guarantees and protection to those individuals who want to speak out when they encounter wrong-doing in the work place.

The Directive obliges all EU countries to adopt measures such as clear reporting channels, confidentiality, legal protections and sanctions for those who attempt to persecute whistleblowers.

Molly Scott Cato said:

“While Theresa May was involved in Brexit theatrics in Strasbourg, another late-night meeting actually achieved a result. There was real agreement on legal guarantees, offering protection to whistleblowers who shine a light into the darkness of corruption or criminality in the workplace.

“For too long whistleblowers have faced the fear of revenge, reprisals or legal action if they step forward. Now those who wish to speak out will be given the support they deserve with protection from criminal and civil liability, as well as sanctions for those who attempt to persecute whistleblowers.

“This is a huge victory for Greens who have been the driving force behind the campaign for whistleblower protection for many years. But most importantly it is a big win for the brave people who are willing to speak out in defence of truth, the law and our democratic principles, and holding their employers to account.”

Notes

[1] Greens/EFA Briefing on the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive

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5 March 2019

* Green peer seeks to transform House of Lords from within

* Jenny Jones: Lords reform is essential for proper scrutiny of Brexit process

Jenny Jones, Green member of the House of Lords, will today (March 5) continue her fight to transform the unelected chamber, as she resubmits her House of Lords Reform Bill. 

This comes after the government has rejected the incremental reforms put forward by the Burns committee, who recommended that the government slowly reduce the number of peers and only appoint new peers in a way that is proportional with the vote in the last general election and the number of MPs each party has. 

Baroness Jones hopes to gather support from within the Lords for her plans to replace the House of Lords with a democratic and effective second chamber. This would use proportional representation to elect a new house, but keep many existing peers as non-voting experts.

Her Bill is the first with this mix of proposals to come from within the Lords.

Jenny Jones said:

“I’m not the only member of the House of Lords who wants to abolish their right to vote in the second chamber, but I’m aiming to be one of the most energetic peers in making it happen. I’m relatively new to the Lords and I hope my fresh approach will help fast track the various discussions about Lords reform.

“The government’s awful approach to Brexit makes Lords reform both urgent and inevitable. The government is trying to push through all kinds of bad ideas on the back of the Brexit negotiations. We need an effective and democratic chamber to help scrutinise the secondary legislation and the international deals.”

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