Archived press release

Three steps to heaven? New Labour Starts Down Road to Sustainable Development

4 February 1998

For the first time, a British Government has committed itself to the principle of sustainability in the economy, and has set out that a green future must also take account of the need to create jobs, fight poverty and tackle social exclusion. But FOE has criticised the document's failure to take this principle to its logical conclusion.

• The general commitment to environmental targets is welcome, but FOE wants to see commitments to real targets in specific areas, for example a sharp cut in the amount of wood and paper consumed

• The document does not mention specific green tax reforms - such as carbon tax, aggregate tax, and a broader and increased waste tax - or changes in public spending away from environmentally damaging subsidies such as the CAP

• John Prescott's statement talks about "using fewer resources", but the document fails to set out any specific area for reductions, apart from energy. FOE wants to see targets for cuts in the use of a range of resources from wood to aggregates

• the document is weak on Britain's role in the world economy - we consume more than our fair share of the world's resources, and produce more than our fair share of pollution

• New Labour remains committed to unsustainable and environmentally damaging polices, particularly the building of more than 2 million new houses on greenfield sites.
  

Commenting, FOE Policy Director Uta Bellion said:
"The Department of Environment has begun to grasp the most important principles of a sustainable society. But this document looks as though the termites have got at it. There is much talk of targets, and cuts in consumption. The Department of Trade and Industry and the Treasury may have been nibbling away at the specific commitments. There is little or nothing on green taxation. There is still nothing specific on how to meet the 20% target for CO2 reduction. Consultation on these vital issues is always welcome. But our environment needs action now, not just the warm gush of New Labour rhetoric."

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