Development and Environment
Co-Chairs
Maria Arce Moreira, Practical Action
Email: maria.arce@practicalaction.org.uk
Tel: 01926 634468
Lies Craeynest, WWF-UK
Email: LCraeynest@wwf.org.uk
Tel: 01483 426 444
The Development and Environment group (DEG) provides a forum where agencies working at the interface of environmental and poverty issues can exchange information, enhance their analysis and coordinate their advocacy towards UK Government and other relevant institutions.
DEG was founded to act as the contact point between development and environment NGOs and the UK government delegation in Johannesburg 2002, at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD). The government also asked DEG to co-ordinate NGO representation on the official UK delegation to the Preparatory Committees. The group collated and disseminated information from Government, NGOs and other stakeholders to help NGOs keep track of issues and influence at the Summit.
The group meets with the Environment Policy Department of DFID on a regular basis. Recent discussions have included the latest round of the Commission on Sustainable Development, Environmental Sustainability Target Strategy Paper, the Globalisation White Paper, Global Environment Facility (GEF), World Bank environmental strategies and EU integration.
Group News
Series of meetings between DEG and DFID on Climate Change Investment Funds - February to May 2008
The Development and Environment Group held a series of six meetings with DFID representatives on the Climate Change Investment Funds.
Each meeting focussed on a separate topic, the topics were:
- Adaptation
- Clean energy
- Pilot Program for Climate Resilience
- Climate change
- Governance, monitoring and evaluation
- Forests
Please read the minutes from the climate investment funds DFID meetings for more information.
DEG letter to DFID - March 2008
DEG wrote to Douglas Alexander in March about the Environmental Transformation Fund and Climate Change Investment Funds. Hilary Benn, Joan Ruddock and Gareth Thomas also received a copy of the letter.
DFID replied to the letter in April, addressing points that DEG had raised.
Letter from DEG to DFID March 2008 (pdf 118 KB)
Response letter from DFID to DEG April 2008 (pdf 433 KB)
DEG meeting to set priorites and welcome the new Chairs - 31 January 2008
A well-attended DEG meeting and social was held on 31 January to welcome the new Co-Chairs and set DEG priorities for the year ahead.
Please read the minutes of the 31 January meeting. They outline the key areas in which DEG is planning to work over the coming year, as well as key achievements from last year. People who weren't able to participate in this meeting are still very welcome to suggest further activities or opportunities.
Maria Arce Moriera from Practical Action was formally welcomed as the Development Co-Chair. Maria was co-opted at the last DEG meeting on 13 September 2007.
Jo Phillips from RSPB handed over the role of Environment Co-Chair to Lies Craeynest from WWF-UK. Jo is on maternity leave from March. A warm welcome to Lies and Maria.
And an enormous thank you to Jo for her exceptionally hard work on behalf of DEG over the past few years and very best wishes for the new arrival!
2007
DFID ETF consultation meeting
DEG met with DFID on 29 November 2007 for an ETF Consultation Meeting with NGOs. More details will be available here shortly.
'A Global Future: Development pathways in a climate-constrained world' event - 18 June 2007, London
On 18 June 2007, an exciting event 'A Global Future: Development pathways in a climate-constrained world' was held, organised by the Development and Environment Group (DEG) and Up in Smoke. Two Secretaries of State, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP and Rt Hon David Miliband MP, shared a platform along with George Varughese (President of Development Alternatives, India) as keynote speakers.
The event looked to link key challenges of our time - eradicating poverty in an interconnected and climate-constrained world. It articulated that only approaches that work beyond self-interest, and that recognise and value social well-being and the environment, will reduce poverty in the long term and ensure a sustainable global future. We know that "business as usual" is not an option. This event set out to find what development pathways to ensure a sustainable future for people and planet should look like, and how we can get there. This follows on from the DEG submission to the 2006 International development process and is part of an ongoing process - please do get involved!
Conference papers:
Plenary session - A Global Future (word, 110KB)
Plenary session - A Global Future (pdf, 245KB)
Presentation of thinkpieces - The Way Forward (word, 65KB)
Presentation of thinkpieces - The Way Forward (pdf, 150KB)
Plenary feedback and follow up (word, 25KB)
Plenary feedback and follow up (pdf, 75KB)
Workshop outputs (word, 225KB)
To become involved in the follow up process please contact the co-Chairs.
See the invite and agenda (pdf, 45KB) and the briefing papers (word, 720KB) for more information.
Please also see the:
thank you letter to Hilary Benn from the DEG Chair (word, 35KB) and the thank you letter to David Miliband (word, 35KB)
Economic models: is there an alternative to neoliberalism?
(added June 2007)
David Woodward of nef (the new economics foundation) has written a think-piece that assesses the record of neoliberalism and the potential of other models of development in terms of poverty reduction in a carbon constrained world, and outlining a possible alternative development paradigm.
For more information read David Woodward's think piece word (word, 55KB)
David Woodward's think piece (pdf, 170KB)
Joint DEG and UKAN briefing and follow up action on the international ETF
(from 2007 Budget announcement)
The joint DEG and UKAN briefing on the 2007 Budget announcement of 'a new international window of the Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) with £800 million of official development assistance (ODA) to support development and poverty reduction through environmental protection, and help developing countries respond to climate change" is below. This was sent to government officials and Ministers, and is for members to use.
A consultation process has been agreed by government and an event to discuss the ETF with NGOs is being planned. Expected date for this is now early in November. The CSR settlement is likely to be announced on 8 Oct and will provide further insight into how the ETF will be allocated.
DFID are currently drafting a prospectus for the ETF which needs cross-Whitehall agreement and Ministerial approval. We hope to have this ahead of the consultation process to inform our preparations. DEG has a pre-meet on 10th October - please contact Tom.Bigg@iied.org if you would like to attend this.
If you would like to attend the ETF consultation event (date to be confirmed), please register your interest with groups@bond.org.uk as places will be limited by room size.
DEG letter to DFID about ETF (word, 30KB)
DEG letter to DFID about ETF (pdf, 50KB)
Letter from DFID to DEG ((pdf, 280KB)
DEG and UKAN briefing (word, 30KB)
DEG and UKAN briefing (pdf, 135KB)
DEG and UKAN covering letter for briefing (word, 20KB)
DEG and UKAN covering letter for briefing (pdf, 80KB)
Influencing the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)
(added April 2007)
Several DEG members have been involved with the CSR process including through the UK Aid Network (UKAN) and through DEFRA and DFID consultation processes. Supporting this, a few DEG members (working with a consultant, Ross Andrews) produced a position paper (word, 55KB) which builds on the DEG White Paper submission. It has been sent to Gareth Thomas, the Council of Economic Advisors at the Treasury and shared with DFID and DEFRA officials (noting specific sign up). Meetings are ongoing. If you would like to find out more, please contact DEG Chair.
DEG members urge DFID leadership and commitment on environment issues - letter to Sir Suma Chakrabarti
"No Development without Environment: DFID Fails the Challenge" - was the strong message from the House of Common's Environmental Audit Committee in August 2006. In response to this, DEG members have sent a letter to Sir Suma Chakrabarti (word, 35KB), DFID's Permanent Secretary, to urge DFID to provide leadership and commitment on environment issues.
New DFID White Paper on International Development
On Thursday 13 July, the Government launched the new White Paper on International Development 'Eliminating world poverty: making governance work for the poor'. It sets out what the UK Government will do to reduce world poverty over the next five years to deliver the 2005 promises, promote good governance and tackle climate change in developing countries.
Section 4 of the White Paper is entitled 'Working internationally to tackle climate change'. It sets out DFID's plans to tackle climate change by helping developing countries to take part in international negotiations on climate change and integrating adaptation to climate change impacts into their development programmes.
DEG response to DFID's White Paper (doc, 140KB)
DEG Input into the DFID White Paper Consultation
The first major review of UK development policy in five years began with a consultation to inform the new DFID White Paper. BOND hosted meetings to prepare a common response to the White Paper. In addition, DEG members and others came together to stress that effective and sustainable development is required to eliminate world poverty.
There were two DEG submissions to DFID:
- DEG response to the DFID White Paper Consultation Process (24 March, word, 80KB) with accompanying letters to
Hilary Benn (word, 20KB) and Gareth Thomas (word, 25KB)
See BBC online press coverage.
- A more detailed evidence-based submission, Eliminating Poverty: For People and Planet (word 665KB), synthesising the best available information and building on existing initiatives and outcomes of 2005, as supplied by DEG members, submitted to DFID, 7 April 2006.
Thank you to everyone who supported this. A total of 49 NGOs, institutions and individuals signed up to the first submission - we hope this has sent a very powerful message to DFID and the UK Government. DEG see this as the beginning of a process for effective poverty elimination through better development and environment NGO collaboration. We are planning future meetings and events in support of this, and welcome the engagement of all DEG and BOND members, as well as other interested parties.
"We fundamentally depend on natural systems and resources for our existence and development. ...Our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated."
Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, 2005
Group Meetings
DEG met on 31 January 2008 to welcome the new Co-Chairs, Lies Craeynest (WWF-UK) and Maria Arce Moriera (Practical Action) and set DEG priorities for the year ahead. The meeting was well-attended and a social at the pub followed the business.
Please read the minutes of the 31 January meeting for more information.
2007
Maria Arce Moriera from Practical Action was co-opted at the DEG meeting on 13 September 2007. She has been active in DEG for over a year, was on the government delegation to CSD-15 and has lots of development experience to share and bring from the local to the international level. Thank you very much to Maria for filling this important role that has been vacant for too long!
A joint DEG UKAN meeting on the Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) was held at the BOND offices on 26 April. For more information, please see the minutes of the 26 April meeting
On 7 February 2007, the DEG met at the OXFAM London offices. They received feedback from PEP (Poverty and Environment Partnership) meeting in Nairobi and discussed the DEG's priorities for 2007. The group were updated on plans for a DEG DFID workshop, and members updated the meeting on their organisation's work and key issues. Minutes will be available here shortly.
The DEG met on 16 January 2007 with DEFRA. Agenda items included CSD - Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting and run up to CSD15; UNEP Governing Council; and DEFRA 'Strategy Refresh' and update. A pre-meeting was held before hand.
The DEG met with DEFRA on 18 September. Minutes will be available here shortly.
The DEG met with DFID on 2 August. The meeting discussed energy for development, climate change and outcomes of the recent DFID White Paper. Please see the minutes of the 2 August meeting for more information.
The DEG met on 20 June at the RSPB London Office. The meeting focussed on DEG strategy, with information sharing on the recent DFID White Paper consultation, mapping out of opportunities for ongoing DEG engagement and lobbying, agreeing priorities for the rest of 2006 (CSD, party policy review processes, Comprehensive Spending Review etc) and planning for the August DEG-DFID workshop. Minutes from the meeting will be posted here shortly.
The DEG met with DEFRA in April. Please see the minutes of the April meeting (27.5 KB) for more information.
On 3 March DEG hosted a BOND meeting to discuss policy coherence in relation to the DFID White Paper consultation process. The Group was keen to ensure environment and natural resource management issues were given sufficient attention in the BOND response to Hilary Benn's fifth speech.
With presentations from Tom Sharman (ActionAid) and Tom Bigg (IIED), the meeting provoked some interesting discussions on policy coherence, musings on the Swedish government model of interdepartmental communication on policy relevance to development objectives, and an involved debate on the linkages between conflict, the environment and natural resources.
Three breakout groups discussed governance, conflict and security,and the environment respectively, with a view to formulating a response that took into account the interdependence of these policy areas. The Group emphasised the message that 'aid alone is not enough', and agreed that the government should take note of the knock-on effects that policies in one department can have on others. This was felt to be of particular relevance where development and security objectives coincide.
The Group's initial response to the Policies Beyond Aid speech was submitted to DFID on 17 March (available to view above), while a more detailed document was despatched for the 7 April deadline.
On 21 February the Group met with Gareth Thomas, and members of DFID's Sustainable Development team, to discuss DFID's Environment Policy Paper, the White paper process, and DFID's Sustainable Development Action Plan.
Previously, the Group met on 8 February. Discussions included how the Group can feed into various processes, including DFID Asia 2015, the DFID White Paper and the next round of the Commission for Sustainable Development process.
Future Meetings
DEG are meeting with Gareth Thomas on Thursday 15 May, at 12.00, on the ETF and the Climate Investment Funds. For more information and to register, please email groups@bond.org.uk.
Membership of the Development and Environment Group is open to all BOND members. If you are from a BOND member organisation and would like to be added to the DEG mailing list, please email groups@bond.org.uk.
Papers and Reports
Documents relating to intial EU contribution to CSD:
Air Pollution and Atmosphere (pdf, 170KB)
Industrial Development (pdf, 195 KB)
Energy for Sustainable Development (150 KB)
Interlinkages and Cross Cutting Issues (130 KB)
Other documents:
DEG critique of 'Policies Beyond Aid' (word, 50KB)
DFID Environment Conference 2003 Summary Report (pdf, 150KB)
DEG Summary Report on CSD12 prepared by Stakeholder Forum (pdf, 50KB)
Report back on CSD12 prepared by RSPB (with input from Stakeholder Forum) (pdf, 100KB)
Comments on CSD-12 from Water Aid (pdf, 15KB)
DEG representation at 2005 UN Summit (pdf, 125KB)
DEG Response to the Conservative Commission on Globalisation and Poverty Reduction (pdf, 215KB)
DEG Response to the Conservative Commission on Globalisation and Poverty Reduction (word, 80KB)