Government survey shows mounting green concerns9 October 2002
Friends of the Earth has called on the Government to do more to protect the environment after a new survey published by the Department of the Environment (DEFRA), revealed that public concern about the environment is increasing. According to the survey, 25 per cent of respondents placed the environment alongside health, education and crime as one of the most important issues facing the Government.
"The Government must do much more to protect the environment," said Friends of the Earth Director Charles Secrett. "Despite all the rhetoric about putting the environment at the heart of its policies, the reality is that they only tinker with sustainability at the margins. The next 12 months are a crucial period, with decisions to be made on airports, GM crops and the future of the nuclear industry. Will they listen to public concern, or over-ride it in the interests of their big-business friends?"
Areas the Government must seriously address include:
- Nuclear power: There are growing concerns that the Government is considering the building of a new generation of nuclear power stations. The current energy review is being led by pro-nuclear energy minister, Brian Wilson.
- Airports: The Government is consulting over proposals to increase airport capacity in the UK. The aviation industry is the fastest growing source of climate change emissions. Building new airports or expanding existing ones will bring more noise and air pollution and will destroy homes and wildlife habitats. Despite this the Government says that it is "committed to ensuring that the long-term development of aviation is sustainable."
- Recycling: The UK only recycles around 11 per cent of its domestic waste - one of the worst records in Europe. The UK Government should make it mandatory for every household to be supplied with a doorstep recycling collection scheme.
- GM crops: Within a year the Government is expected to decide whether or not to allow GM crops to be commercially grown. If it does it will inevitably lead to the GM contamination of our food, and remove people's right to choose.
- Traffic levels: Road traffic is still growing in the UK. On 6th June 1997 John Prescott said, "I will have failed if in five years time there are not many more people using public transport and far fewer journeys by car. It's a tall order, but I urge you to hold me to it."
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