Home failures undermine Rio influence13 June 2012
The Government's poor environmental record at home will undermine its credibility at next week's UN Earth Summit - warns a new Friends of the Earth report.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and world leaders will meet in Rio to discuss a fair way to share our world's limited natural resources.
The report says we're facing a global emergency including:
- economic meltdown
- billions starving
- and dangerous pressure on our planet's life-support systems.
And the effects are being felt in the UK too, with energy bills rising due to spiralling gas costs and the decline of vital species like bees.
Friends of the Earth is calling for world leaders in Rio to recognise that we all rely on the same planet by acting together to protect it.
And it wants countries that have done the most to cause our problems to do the most to solve them. That means serious leadership now from the UK Government.
David Cameron promised to lead 'the greenest Government ever' but he can't even be bothered to go to the biggest international environment summit in years. If he wants to show leadership on the world stage, he must begin at home.
Craig Bennett, Campaigns Director, Friends of the Earth
The Government could improve its credibility by:
- Developing clean British energy and cutting energy waste.
- Reducing UK consumption of limited natural resources.
- Putting the wellbeing of people and the environment first.
- Saving British bees and millions of pounds by protecting nature across the UK.
Unless the world's richest nations seize the initiative by pledging themselves to urgent and meaningful action, this summit will be little more than a talking shop while the world hurtles to destruction.
Craig Bennett
How you can help
Please ask Nick Clegg to back clean energy and stop giving handouts to dirty coal and gas industries. Thank you.
© RioFesta
