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What is this environmental contract for?

We believe that the environmental problems we face, particularly climate change, represent the gravest threat to human life and prosperity, and to the natural resources and assets on which it depends.

We believe that current levels of western consumption are unsustainable, and that what we cannot and will not extend to every citizen of the planet should not form the basis of our modern existence.

We believe that each of us has the capacity to play a part in tackling these problems. But too often we are dissuaded from doing so by doubts about whether our actions will make any difference, and whether they will leave us unfairly disadvantaged.

We propose this environmental contract as a way to assuage such doubts, by creating a framework which makes clear our own responsibilities towards the environment, and the responsibilities we can expect others to bear in return.

Who are the parties to the environmental contract? 

All are welcome to take part but it is too late to wait for the unconvinced. Action must begin today and from this action it is hoped that others will be inspired to play their part in the process. 

What are the principles on which the environmental contract should be based?

An environmental contract should be based on the following principles:

• Reciprocity: government won't ask citizens or businesses to do anything without saying clearly what it is going to do in return.

• Subsidiarity: environmental contracts should be negotiated at the lowest appropriate level. Sometimes that will be global or supranational, other times local.

• Equity: costs should be allocated fairly. Polluters should pay; environmental stewards should be rewarded; countries that have made a bigger historical contribution to pollution have a correspondingly greater obligation to respond to it.

• Empowerment: as far as possible environmental contracts should be designed to maintain individuals' and business' freedom to choose how to live their lives provided they bear the full cost of those choices; choices should be informed; where possible choices should 'edited' rather than removed altogether.

• Convenience: being a good environmental citizen should become the default option; wherever possible citizens should be asked to opt-out not opt-in.

What tools can be used to deliver the environmental contract?

To deliver the environmental contract, we believe policy-makers need to use a range of different approaches and tools.

These tools need to:

• Remove some barriers and put in place others
  
• Create the right incentive frameworks to shape individual choices
• Communicate and engage with people effectively
• Show that government practises what it preaches
• Not scare people with horror stories of environmental degradation so they feel any positive steps are pointless

Tools that remove barriers include:

• Providing simple, trustworthy and timely advice and information
• Offering more convenient personalised services and making sure that such conveniences do not increase environmental damage.
  

Tools that put in place barriers include:

Tools that create the right incentive frameworks include:

• Environmental taxes and charges
• Emissions trading schemes
• Regulating product standards
• Voluntary agreements
• Bonuses for good environmental practice, not just penalties

Tools that communicate and engage with people effectively include:

• Advertising campaigns
• Viral marketing
• Working through NGOs
• Environmental education classes in schools from an early age- part of citizenship lessons?

Tools that show that government practises what it preaches include:

• Sustainable public procurement with the widest possible reach
• Politicians modelling good environmental behaviours
• Public places (e.g. schools, hospitals, universities) encouraged to show environmental awareness  

What would an environmental contract for waste look like?

Citizens will:

• separate household wastes and use the facilities provided
• pay variable charges depending on the amount of waste their household produces and how much they recycle
• encourage their neighbours
• think about waste when purchasing e.g. food
• recognise the need for facilities to extract energy from waste
• respect the environment by not flytipping
• not just recycle but re-use
• get involved in clean-up volunteering

In return, government will: 

• collect your rubbish and clean streets
• provide convenient, personalised “kerbside” recycling facilities
• give simple advice to customers on what they can recycle
• create arrangements for variable charging
• place obligations on key sectors to reduce waste from their products
• reward neighbourhoods that agree to situating waste facilities in their area
• participate in trading schemes aimed at reducing landfill
• prosecute the perpetrators of environmental crime and take local flytipping seriously

Businesses will: 

• respect general and sector specific waste regulations
• pay landfill taxes
• identify opportunities to increase resource productivity and use waste as a resource
• look for ways to minimise waste, e. g. from packaging, direct mailing, etc.
•  implement a 'green dot' system making it easy for consumers to see which products have not used too much packaging (system already in place in Germany) 
• start collecting used bottles and packaging then clean it and re-use (like the milkman)
• run 'sustainability training' schemes for staff to attend - there are now several companies offering such training
• provide recycling facilities in the workplace

In return government will

• incentivise business to use less weight through landfill tax
• provide advice and support programmes
• not be afraid to legislate to deal with problems such as plastic bag use
• enforce regulations to prevent other businesses free riding
• tax breaks for collecting and re-using old material like bottles 

What would an environmental contract for energy look like?

Citizens will:

• be prepared to pay the full cost of the energy they use, adjusted for damage to health and the environment
• turn off lights, televisions, heating, computers when not in use
• turn heating down and wear more clothes in winter
• not heat water so often
• remove all phone chargers and other drains from socket when not in use
• purchase energy-efficient cars
• travel more by public transport and cycle
• think carefully before flying
• install solar panels and small wind turbines

Government will:

• provide a framework for emissions trading so that the full cost of energy to society is embedded in its price to the consumer
• switch off lights, fans, computers, heating, air conditioning in government offices overnight
• make sure public and private enterprises ensure staff switch off lights when not needed
• publicise schemes like London Cycling Campaign more widely
• provide more subsidies for solar panels, wind turbines etc.
• fund research to demonstrate which of the above energy-saving and emission-reduction options work best

Businesses will:

• publicise to staff the need to save electricity
• install energy-saving light bulbs
• make sure electric devices lapse into energy-saving mode when not used
• construct all new buildings energy-efficiently

What would an environmental contract for transport look like?

Citizens will:

• use public transport as much as possible
• use local shops and businesses rather than travelling by car
  

Government will:

Businesses will:

• endeavour to produce locally, to reduce transport emissions
• endeavour to employ people from local populations in order to reduce commuting
• if possible endeavour to use modern electronic communications instead of physical travel
  

What would an environmental contract for water look like?

Government will:

• ensure safe, clean drinking water
• set clear, stretching standards for water efficient homes and buildings
• use water efficiently on its own estate

Citizens will

•  use water efficiently

Businesses will

•  use water efficiently
• encourage staff to economise on water use