Green Alliance
Encyclopedia
Green Alliance is a charity
and an independent think tank
focused ambitious leadership for the environment in the United Kingdom
(UK). We have a track record of over 30 years, working with the most influential leaders from the NGO, business, and political communities. Our work generates new thinking and dialogue, and has increased political action and support for environmental solutions in the UK.
The organisation has six main strategic themes around which its work is based: political leadership, green living, climate and energy futures,designing out waste, third sector, and sustainable economy.
It was founded in 1979. Individuals involved early on with Green Alliance include Maurice Ash
, Tim Beaumont and Tom Burke. The current director Matthew Spencer was previously head of government affairs at the Carbon Trust and is a member of the government's Renewables Advisory Board.
Green Alliance's staff is based in central London
. It has an individual membership of approximately 400, including environment professionals and well known personalities. Around 20 major companies belong to its Business Circle scheme. Inside Track is the quarterly magazine for Green Alliance supporters. It features articles by prominent commentators on environmental policy issues.
In 2009 Green Alliance was voted for the 'Think Thank of the Year' at the Public Affairs News Awards.
at the end of the 1980s. Its risk analysis of the issue helped to inform new government regulation.
Its work on environment as a foreign policy issue led to the formation, in 1998, of the Green Globe Network of foreign policy experts, based at Green Alliance and supported by cross-cutting funding from three government departments: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
, Department for International Development
and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
.
Recommendations made in reports by Green Alliance have contributed to new government strategies on green taxes and microgeneration
, increases to landfill tax
and more investment in recycling.
A number of new organisations and initiatives have arisen from Green Alliance's past work, including the National Food Alliance (now Sustain
), the Environment Agency
, the Carbon Trust and the UK's Renewables Obligation
.
In February 2008, the independent consultancy Firetail conducted a detailed evaluation of Green Alliance and its work, this was through interviews with representatives of the three main political parties, civil servants, NGOs, businesses and other think tanks. It concluded:
“Green Alliance’s key strengths are considered to be its influence within Westminster and Whitehall and its understanding of the political process. Green Alliance’s relationships with politicians, special advisors and civil servants are its primary strength. It is considered influential within government. Those in government value the ability of Green Alliance to bring them policy positions and mediate relations with NGOs.”
Green Alliance works on various projects under six key themes: political leadership, sustainable economy, third sector, climate and energy futures, green living and designing out waste.
Additionally, Green Alliance has a separate European Union work programme which aims for a low-carbon EU budget.
, The Independent
, BusinessGreen, The Financial Times
and The ENDS Report. Subjects which have recently been commented on by Green Alliance experts in mayor news outlets are; The Green Investment Bank; The UK Comprehensive Spending Review; Electricity Market Reform and the Fuel Stabiliser.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
and an independent think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
focused ambitious leadership for the environment in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(UK). We have a track record of over 30 years, working with the most influential leaders from the NGO, business, and political communities. Our work generates new thinking and dialogue, and has increased political action and support for environmental solutions in the UK.
The organisation has six main strategic themes around which its work is based: political leadership, green living, climate and energy futures,designing out waste, third sector, and sustainable economy.
It was founded in 1979. Individuals involved early on with Green Alliance include Maurice Ash
Maurice Ash
Maurice Anthony Ash was an environmentalist, writer, and planner. He was chairman of the Town and Country Planning Association and of the Dartington Trust.-Education and early life:...
, Tim Beaumont and Tom Burke. The current director Matthew Spencer was previously head of government affairs at the Carbon Trust and is a member of the government's Renewables Advisory Board.
Green Alliance's staff is based in central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It has an individual membership of approximately 400, including environment professionals and well known personalities. Around 20 major companies belong to its Business Circle scheme. Inside Track is the quarterly magazine for Green Alliance supporters. It features articles by prominent commentators on environmental policy issues.
In 2009 Green Alliance was voted for the 'Think Thank of the Year' at the Public Affairs News Awards.
Influencing policy
Green Alliance's work influences UK government policy and decision-making on the environment. It elicited the first environmental policy statements from all the main UK political parties in the mid-1980s. Green Alliance was the first organisation in the UK to raise genetic modification (GM) as an environmental issueEnvironmental issue
Environmental issues are negative aspects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement that started in the 1960s, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism.-Types:...
at the end of the 1980s. Its risk analysis of the issue helped to inform new government regulation.
Its work on environment as a foreign policy issue led to the formation, in 1998, of the Green Globe Network of foreign policy experts, based at Green Alliance and supported by cross-cutting funding from three government departments: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
, Department for International Development
Department for International Development
The Department For International Development is a United Kingdom government department with a Cabinet Minister in charge. It was separated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". The current...
and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom...
.
Recommendations made in reports by Green Alliance have contributed to new government strategies on green taxes and microgeneration
Microgeneration
Microgeneration is the small-scale generation of heat and power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs, as alternatives or supplements to traditional centralized grid-connected power...
, increases to landfill tax
Landfill tax
A landfill tax or levy is a form of tax that is applied in some countries to increase the cost of landfill. The tax is typically levied in units of currency per unit of weight or volume...
and more investment in recycling.
A number of new organisations and initiatives have arisen from Green Alliance's past work, including the National Food Alliance (now Sustain
Sustain
In music, sustain is a parameter of musical sound over time. As its name implies, it denotes the period of time during which the sound remains before it becomes inaudible, or silent.Additionally, sustain is the third of the four segments in an ADSR envelope...
), the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
, the Carbon Trust and the UK's Renewables Obligation
Renewables Obligation
The Renewables Obligation is designed to encourage generation of electricity from eligible renewable sources in the United Kingdom. It was introduced in England and Wales and in a different form in Scotland in April 2002 and in Northern Ireland in April 2005, replacing the Non-Fossil Fuel...
.
In February 2008, the independent consultancy Firetail conducted a detailed evaluation of Green Alliance and its work, this was through interviews with representatives of the three main political parties, civil servants, NGOs, businesses and other think tanks. It concluded:
“Green Alliance’s key strengths are considered to be its influence within Westminster and Whitehall and its understanding of the political process. Green Alliance’s relationships with politicians, special advisors and civil servants are its primary strength. It is considered influential within government. Those in government value the ability of Green Alliance to bring them policy positions and mediate relations with NGOs.”
Green Alliance works on various projects under six key themes: political leadership, sustainable economy, third sector, climate and energy futures, green living and designing out waste.
Additionally, Green Alliance has a separate European Union work programme which aims for a low-carbon EU budget.
Expert opinion
Green Alliance staff and associates are often quoted as expert sources in national and specialist news outlets such as The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, BusinessGreen, The Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
and The ENDS Report. Subjects which have recently been commented on by Green Alliance experts in mayor news outlets are; The Green Investment Bank; The UK Comprehensive Spending Review; Electricity Market Reform and the Fuel Stabiliser.
Board
- Robin Bidwell (Chair)
- Philip Parker (Hon. Treasurer)
- Tom Burke
- Ben Caldecott
- Leo Johnson
- Zac GoldsmithZac GoldsmithFrank Zacharias Robin "Zac" Goldsmith, MP is an English environmental journalist, entrepreneur and Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Richmond Park since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.Goldsmith is the middle child of the late financier Sir...
, MP - Alistair Keddie, CB
- Derek Osborn, CB
- Dame Fiona ReynoldsFiona ReynoldsDame Fiona Claire Reynolds, DBE is the Director-General of the National Trust. She was awarded the DBE in the New Year Honours 2008 for "services to Heritage and conservation".-Early life:...
, CBE - Sophia Tickell
- Sir Graham Wynn
Associates
External specialists providing advice and support to Green Alliance:- Ian Christie
- Chris Church
- Chris Hewett
- Julie Hill
- Jiggy Lloyd
- Julie Hill
- Stuart Singleton-White
- Derek Smith
- Sheila Watson
- Rebecca Willis