This manifesto reflects changes in the last year both in Sheffield Green Party and in world opinion, particularly since the release of two recent reports on climate change: the Government’s Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change and the latest report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Our aims are to tackle climate change and to achieve a happier, fairer, more sustainable Sheffield within a better world. We believe that protecting people and the planet go hand in hand.

In May 2004 Jillian Creasy was elected our first City Councillor for Central
Ward. In May 2006 Bernard Little, a long-standing and tireless campaigner,
was elected as our second City Councillor in Central ward. Having two
councillors gives us more clout – we are now a Group, with an office at the
Town Hall, and we can influence debate and decision making in Sheffield City Council. There is now a local cabinet member for the environment and
sustainable development as a result of our growing impact on local politics.

Jillian and Bernard have been carrying out their role very effectively; each
section in this booklet sets out their achievements up to now and the next
realistic targets. In addition, each part gives an overview of national policy,
and says how Sheffield Green party has been applying these policies to our campaigns. In some ways, tackling climate change is at the heart of
everything we do, so it is in our centrefold. But all the other issues in the
manifesto, from the local to the international, are linked to each other, and to global warming. So we hope this booklet is easy for you to find your way
around, and also to see the connections we make.

This next year is crucial in many ways. Jillian comes up for re-election in May, and then we must prepare for the UK parliamentary elections which could be called any time from October 2007 onwards. It will also see the beginning of the campaign for the European elections in 2009, in the Yorkshire and Humber region, where we stand a chance of gaining an MEP. All these are opportunities for us to get involved in the issues that matter to all of us. Sheffield has such a proud history of leading the way in social change for the better – and we are proud to belong to that history.

Linda Duckenfield & Steve Barnard
Co-Chairs
Sheffield Green Party