Cameron's Climate Change Act under threat?

News today  that all of Britain's environmental legislation is in a list of 'red tape' laws which the public can suggest for axing is alarming.

The inclusion of the Climate Change Act 2008, which Friends of the Earth led the successful campaign for, will be deeply embarrassing for David Cameron. In 2006 he shared a press conference  with Friends of the Earth calling for the Act to be introduced - a move that was pivotal for the campaign and a massive boost to the green credentials of the Conservative leader.

The fact that there is any doubt about the future of the Climate Change Act will be blow to the people and businesses that are desperate to avoid dangerous climate change - many of whom are already nervous about the Government's inaction.

Last month the respected US Pew Environment Group revealed that last year the UK had plummeted from being third in the world in terms of green investment to 13th  - bad luck for the thousands of new green jobs that could be created.

And the Government has done little to boost confidence this year.

The Feed-In Tariff scheme, which gives households, businesses and communities financial incentives to invest in green electricity schemes like solar panels has been a runaway success since being introduced last year.

But Ministers think it has been too successful, and have put forward proposals to limit the green projects that qualify for the payments. Consequently many renewable energy schemes that were in the pipeline have now been shelved.

The Green Investment Bank announced in last month's Budget could have been a vehicle to drive forward the much needed development of a low-carbon economy. But the Treasury has refused to let it borrow money for at least five years, effectively robbing the bank of its main tools. Hardly the actions of a Government that wants to build a cleaner, greener future.

The Prime Minister has promised to make his Government the greenest ever, yet it seems the only laws exempt from re-consideration are those to do with tax and national security.

David Cameron must re-establish his Government's credibility on green issues. He should start by backing the Climate Change Act - and showing real and effective leadership on the environment.