1. London and UK

Newsletter.  My new colour winter newsletter is available here. It covers my work on London's air quality, greening workplaces, fighting for fair pay, a green approach to strengthening the economy, pushing for low-carbon cars, combating discrimination, highlighting London's poor recycling, and opposing bullfighting. Please email me at jeanlambert@greenmeps.org.uk if you would like paper copies - for yourself or for local dissemination.

Climate change.  As part of a European Green Party's campaign action to mark the climate change negotiations in Poznan, I joined Caroline Lucas MEP and Jenny Jones AM to hand in a signed letter to Downing Street. I attended the national climate change march in central London, and sent out a public call for people to take part. More information is available here. The European Parliament voting on the EU climate change package is covered below.

Democracy.  I gave a keynote speech at Unlock Democracy's 20th Anniversary conference in central London. Unlock Democracy, which emerged out of Charter 88, campaigns for democratic reform.  My speech focused on the need to protect the Human Rights Act.

US Elections.  Following the result of the US Presidential Elections, I spoke at a Fabian Society event in Westminster Central Hall on 'America Votes, Europe Responds', which focused on assessing the impact of the US Presidential election for European politics, and including the United Nations climate talks.  I said that the closure of Guantanamo Bay would be a key gesture for the incoming President.

Youth.  I spoke at a public meeting on youth crime at Goldsmith's College in Lewisham. I also spoke at a post-16 citizenship event at Westminster Central Hall, organised by the Learning and Skills Network.

'Why the European Parliament Matters'.  I spoke to Royal Holloway College - the European Society and People and Planet Society - on this subject.

Animal rights and civil liberties.  I gave a lecture at Animal Aid's Christmas Without Cruelty Fayre in Kensington. My talk focused on the loss of civil liberties and the clampdown on protest, which has particularly targeted animal rights activists. I am a member of Liberty Council and was interested to hear the experiences of animal rights protesters in the discussions following the lecture. More information is available here.

Plastics recycling in Dagenham.  I visited the new plastic bottle recycling plant, recently opened, in Dagenham. I highlighted the need for more investments in green jobs and green industries.

Amnesty prisoners' cards campaign.  I joined Haringey human rights campaigners at Hornsey Vale Community Centre, Stroud Green to sign and send annual greetings cards to political prisoners. More information is available here.  One of the prisoners written to was Hu Jua, has just been awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov human rights prize (previously awarded to Nelson Mandela).  The prize money will go towards a support group for families of prisoners of conscience in China.  Please add your voice by writing and sending cards to Hu Jua.  (More information is available from Amnesty.)

Croydon Eco Expo.  I attended this event, promoting environmental practices and initiatives, with Croydon Greens.

Local green campaigning.  I met local green campaigners in Brixton and elsewhere in Lambeth. I also met green campaigners in Stoke Newington, Hackney, at the Stoke Newington organic farmers' market.

2. Brussels and beyond

Working time directive.  The working time directive has finally been put to the vote in the European Parliament following years of standstill in the Council of Ministers. The directive was being blocked by the UK government amongst others who want to retain the right to opt out of its provisions. A lot of hard work on this dossier between the PSE Rapporteur and the Greens has ended in a moment of victory for this important piece of health and safety legislation with the parliament voting today to put an end the opt out. The legislation limits the average working week to 48 hours over a 12 month period. The next step will be for the Parliament to negotiate with the Council to find an agreed way forward to phase-out the opt-out. Although I would have liked to have seen an even stronger piece of legislation, today's vote in the Parliament can be considered as a real (although unfortunately rare) victory for 'Social Europe'. A link to my report on the directive can be found here. 

Climate and energy package.  The new EU climate and energy package, which is made up of 6 separate pieces of legislation on;  a post-2012 emissions trading scheme (ETS); the effort sharing of emissions reductions from non-ETS sectors; renewable energy; fuel quality; CO2 emissions limits for cars; and a framework for carbon capture and storage was also voted on in Parliament this week. Detailed information on the different parts of the package and the negotiation process can be found here. The package was at least a small step forward but was far from perfect, see my comment piece below for further information.

Older migrants.  Last month I hosted a meeting of the AGE intergroup, of which I am a co-president, on the situation of older migrants in the European Union. The meeting was a great success and served as a platform to input into the European Commission's policy development in this area. I have also conducted an interview on this increasingly prominent issue which can be viewed at the following link http://www.aarpinternational.org.

Trade unions.  I spoke on behalf of the Greens at the launch of EPSU's public service pledge for the European elections – http://www.epsu.org/a/4255.  The pledge sets out a number of commitments to ensure the crucial protection of our public services.

Trafficking.  I have recently launched a written declaration in the parliament which I am co-sponsoring on human trafficking. The WD calls for the rolling out of the 'Blue Blindfold campaign across the EU - http://www.blueblindfold.co.uk - to raise awareness of the issue.

Green workplace representatives.  My written declaration (88/2008) on green workplace reps is still open for signatures until the 22nd January. Please write to or e-mail UK MEPs (http://www.writetothem.com) to ask them to sign it. Over half of the carbon emissions in the UK are work-related so greener workplace practices have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions. In our written declaration we are calling for full backing by employers and trade unions for Workers' Environmental Representatives, support for the undertaking of workplace environmental audits and other duties, and time for relevant training. More information is available here.

Disability.  I recently represented the Greens at a conference organised by the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) at which I presented the Green's political programmes on social and health care services.

Migration.  I have been involved in a number of trialogue negotiation meetings on the sanctions against employers of illegally staying third country nationals dossier, a part of the Commission's 'migration package' which is still being worked on. Two other reports which are part of the package ('Blue card' and 'single permit directive') and which I 'shadowed' on behalf of the Greens were adopted in plenary in November.

Youth issues.  Earlier this month I hosted a breakfast meeting on behalf of the European Youth Forum (EYF) - the meeting prompted the response of the EYF to the Commission's Economic Recovery Plan which was released last week. The meeting served as a useful platform to hopefully ensure that the interests of Europe's youth are adequately represented in the plan.

3. Comment - Climate and energy package

The adoption this week of the new climate and energy package has been hailed as 'historic' by some, but it remains to be seen how history will judge this week's vote. It is at least a step forward, if not the giant leap Greens were hoping for. However, I sincerely believe that if it were not for the very strong presence of Green MEPs in the intense negotiation process the package may have completely derailed and the outcomes would have been much weaker.

The inclusion of a biofuels target in the renewables legislation is of course a very bitter pill to swallow with the potentially disastrous environmental and social risks associated with an unregulated push to promote agrofuels. I have, along with my colleagues in the Green Group, done all in our power to scrap biofuel targets in this legislation, and the Greens will continue to fight against biofuels and prepare the political ground for the planned 2014 review (included in the legislation).

I am also deeply disappointed that Parliament approved legislation on CO2 car emissions that is geared more towards 'business as usual' for car-makers rather than requiring they make technological improvements to reduce emissions and save consumers money. It is also incomprehensible that huge sums have been earmarked for carbon capture and storage demonstration, a technology that will not deliver until 2050 if it proves itself at all. I am also not happy with the 'effort sharing' rules that allow the EU to offset up to 80% of emissions reductions in developing countries for sectors including building and transport.

On a brighter note, positive aspects of the package voted through this week include the adoption of a confirmed commitment for a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 and that an upgraded 30% reduction with international agreement is foreseen. Binding targets have also been set to ensure that at least 20% of the EU's energy consumption comes from renewable sources by 2020 which will spark economic dynamism and a real shift towards cleaner energy.

4. Dates for your diary

11 January - 7th anniversary of Guantanamo Bay. Action at US Embassy - Jean is speaking.
17 January - Bangladeshi Students Achievements Awards, Baden Powell House.
15 January - last European Parliament Plenary session day for MEPs to sign Written Declaration 88/2008 (lapse date is 22 January).
23 January - ECAS/Barka foundation event in London.  Jean is speaking.
24 January - Progressive London conference - Jean is speaking.
31 January - CND Conference on Missile Defence - Jean is speaking.