Brown takes small green steps in final budget

The green measures included in today's budget are welcome but still insufficient to deal with the environmental challenges we face today, according to Friends of the Earth Cymru.

The environmental campaign group acknowledges that the budget produced a number of positive initiatives but states that they will not bring about the necessary cuts in carbon dioxide emissions.

Friends of the Earth Cymru spokesperson, Gordon James, said:

"We welcome a number of the green measures that the Chancellor announced today, but they fall short of what is required to address the problem of climate change.

"Measures such as the increased grant aid for pensioners to improve energy efficiency in their homes, the cut in VAT on energy efficient goods and the rise in tax on waste going to landfill are all steps in the right direction. It is disappointing though that the financial incentives to persuade all householders to invest in significant energy saving improvements do not go far enough [1].

"The big disappointment is in the transport sector. This is responsible for over twenty per cent of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions and is the most difficult sector to address. Yet, this government appears to lack the courage to challenge the motoring lobby and the airline companies. It is disappointing that no mention was made of increasing expenditure to improve public transport.

"The rise in £100 in road tax for the most polluting vehicles is little more than a gesture. It will make little difference to the purchasing of 4x4s. Research shows that far larger increases are necessary to change people's behaviour [2].

"The airline industry was left untouched despite the growing public concern about its growing impact on climate change. It's entirely unfair that airlines do not pay tax and fuels and are also exempt from VAT. At the very least, the chancellor should have increased Air Passenger Duty."

Notes

1. Friends of the Earth Cymru had called on the chancellor to introduce Council Tax rebates for all householders who made their homes more energy efficient and for grants totalling £1 billion a year to support the installation of small scale renewable energy systems such as solar panels.
   
2. Friends of the Earth Cymru wanted the Chancellor to raise the tax on the most polluting vehicles to £500 for existing vehicles and to £2000 for new ones but to make introduce lower rates for essential owners such as farmers and vets.. This is in line with the differential that is required to bring about real changes in fuel efficiency.