It’s been a tough year for most of us, with bills skyrocketing, public services collapsing and the effects of climate breakdown being felt globally. In 2022, we’ve been working hard to highlight inequities in our economy and, more importantly, lead the way in advocating for a fairer, more prosperous, and greener society. Now, we’re excited to share our Year in Review, where you can read about the exciting progress we’ve made towards our mission-critical goals. There’s a lot to celebrate, but here are our top 10 highlights:
1. Living Income: Make it happen
NEF continues to work on an ambitious re-imagining of our social security system.Last week we published A new report, the National Living Income, which sets out how we can guarantee a decent minimum income for all.We are pleased to see that our analysis covers plagueinside guardian, independent, daily mirror, daily mail, daily express and evening standard. We also held briefings for MPs and experts in Parliament.
2. Earn great home upgrades
We’re making solid progress in our campaign for a massive home insulation program to keep homes warm, reduce energy bills and end our dependence on fossil fuels.In the Spring declaration, we have ensured the key requirement in the following cases VAT cut to 0% for retrofit measures. Then in November, the government pledged additional £1 billion for home insulation. This government should be doing more to ensure our homes are up to a decent standard, but with Labor and the Greens already backing our proposals, we are hopeful for election.
3. Our Home: Because We All Need a Safe and Comfortable Place to Call Home
we launched our home– A new campaign to end the housing crisis by building 3 million new social housing units by 2040. Our launch summit in May featured over 30 organizations from the housing movement, from local tenant groups to state agencies, where we agreed on the movement’s core demands.we’ve been campaigning ever since social rent freeze .
4. Universal basic energy
The scale and gravity of the cost of living scandal demand bold policy solutions.We have developed a new, innovative General Basic Energy Proposal This would provide some level of free or very cheap energy for everyone, as well as a new energy element in universal credit. Our ideas have attracted the attention of policymakers and the media – they have been featured in publications ranging from the Financial Times to the Guardian.
5. Influence the escalation agenda
NEF and our partners in government Upgrade White PaperPublished this year – includes a strong focus on decentralization and recognition of community wealth. But the country still has a long way to go, as our February study highlighted: 60% of the country still needs upgrading, and the cost-of-living crisis has made matters worse.We call for a major shift in policy to deliver prosperity across the UK Backed by six metropolitan mayors .
6. Future-oriented green finance
We continue to be an influential voice on the topic of green finance – not least as the Bank of England redesigns its qualitative easing programme.Additionally, our A report providing the case for a tiered monetary policy framework has aroused the interest of leading economists, and in Financial Timesand economist .
7. Prevent airport expansion
The work of the NEF has been instrumental in stopping the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport.We support local activists our analysis shows that the climate damage caused by the planned expansion of airports across the country will cost the public £62bn.We are continuing to build our expertise in this area and have established a new sectionOn the NEF website, we’ve put together our resources for activists opposing airport expansion.
8. Local economies that serve people and the planet
Local authorities have the power to build fairer and more sustainable economies – and we’ve been supporting them to do so. From our work with Greenwich Council on its economic development strategy, to helping Wakefield Council with a project on the economy of wellbeing, this year we helped shape local economies to work for people and the planet.
9. Connecting via events
From Nobel laureates in economics to activists supporting communities through the cost of living crisis, we’ve assembled some exciting speakers for this year’s event.In February we explored The link between the cost of living and the climate crisis In March we watched Reinventing Finance to Support Net ZeroIn June we held a Online rally against cost of living scandal.
10. The New Economics Podcast: Our 200th episode
We celebrated our 200th episode our podcast , now has more than 2.5 million listens.This year we launched a special series on how the UK is divided – and how activists are fighting back, with episodes about the UK problem strike to social housingfor us human rights.
