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FOE Comments on Blair's Environment Speech
27 February 1996
Commenting on Tony Blair's first major speech on the environment, given to the Royal Society at 6pm today, Charles Secrett, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, said:
"This is a good speech. Mr Blair clearly articulates his vision of an environmentally sustainable society, and makes a number of important commitments to progress Labour's environmental agenda in Government.
Most significantly, he recognises strongly the connections between environmental protection, a healthy economy and social justice. It is a very important step forward for Mr Blair to endorse such an approach for Government.
Similarly, Friends of the Earth warmly welcome the commitments to: - reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010; - establish a Parliamentary Environment Audit Committee in the House of Commons to independently scrutinise Government action; - implement a nationwide programme of energy efficiency measures for households, to cut pollution while cutting fuel bills, and creating up to 50,000 new jobs; - develop an integrated transport system, that takes appropriate account of social, economic and environmental factors.
There are things missing: we wanted to hear about ecological tax reform, citizens' environmental rights and a guarantee that a Labour Government would build no more nuclear power stations. Nevertheless, we believe that this speech marks out a clear direction for Labour. We urge Mr Blair's Frontbench colleagues to carry this speech forward, and further develop its environmental and sustainable development policies in the run up to the General Election. They are bound to be popular and win votes."
ENDS
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Sep 2008
