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Uk still dirty man of europe
14 August 2002
Friends of the Earth today rejected Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s claim that the Government could be proud of its “green record” and called for environment to be put at the heart of government, both at home and abroad.
In an article in today’s Guardian, John Prescott writes “it’s only now that we have shrugged off the title of ‘dirty man of Europe’. But Britain still loiters at the bottom of the European recycling league table, the number of cars on the roads is still rising; air pollution targets have been reduced and the Government is committed to increasing air traffic, despite the impacts on climate change.
On the international stage, the Deputy Prime Minister says the UK has shown leadership, but in the run up to the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, which starts later this month, Britain and other EU states have not done nearly enough. Indeed Britain could be accused of acting as a Trojan horse for US interests – particularly through the promotion of the free trade agenda agreed in Doha, which promotes the interests of business ahead of the developing world.
Charles Secrett, Director of Friends of the Earth, said:
“This Government should not be proud of its record on the environment, either at home or abroad. Green policies, far from being at the heart of government lurk around the edge, to be called upon when the Prime Minister and Mr Prescott feel their record is under attack. If Britain is so committed to taking a lead at the Earth Summit, why is Tony Blair spending so little time there?”
Notes
- A full briefing on the Labour’s record on the environment is available from Friends of the Earth’s press office on 020 7566 1649
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
