Ahead of the first 100 days of the Coalition Government, Friends of the Earth's Head of Climate Mike Childs said:

"The Government made a good start by scrapping proposals for a third Heathrow runway and putting the development of a low-carbon economy centre-stage in the Coalition Agreement.

"But it is clear that not all of David Cameron's ministers buy into his promise to lead the greenest government ever - already they have scrapped regional green strategies and made cuts to nature's very own protection agency, Natural England.

"The future is looking ominous - the Treasury is threatening to weaken the much-heralded Green Deal on energy efficiency for homes, starve the new Green Investment Bank of cash, and cut the Renewable Heat Incentive which would reduce rewards for generating heat from renewable sources.

He added:

"The next 100 days will be the acid test for Government.

"George Osborne's zealous cuts agenda could destroy any hope of the UK meeting its targets to tackle climate change.

"The Liberal Democrats must ensure the Comprehensive Spending Review and forthcoming energy legislation deliver the step-change in action that the Government's own climate advisers tell us is needed.

"By Christmas we will know whether David Cameron's promises are genuine commitments - or disappointingly hollow PR puff."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1.   In its election campaign Friends of the Earth called on the new Government to adopt a range of green measures, including:

·    Sufficient investment in switching to a low carbon economy to achieve a reduction in UK greenhouse gas emission of 42 per cent by 2020 without offsetting, create jobs and boost the recovery, and eliminate fuel poverty.

·    A Local Carbon Budget for every council to cap local carbon dioxide emissions, and enough money and technical support to enable councils to do their bit to tackle climate change.

·    A new law which will tackle the major greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation caused by the UK's dependence on imported feeds for livestock - and which will support better UK farming and domestic feed production.

·    An international agreement on cutting emissions where those responsible make the deepest cuts first, and developing countries are supported to grow in a low carbon way.