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Tory environment record 'greyer than green'
28 April 1997
Greyer than Green [1], an analysis of the Conservatives' principal environmental policies,published today (28/4/97) by Friends of the Earth, shows how the quality of the environment is declining whilst Tory policies to protect it have either had little impact or not been followed. The document sets out how the Party's green rhetoric, and sometimes proactive green decision-making, has masked widespread policy failure.
The Conservatives' superficial approach to the environment has led to rising air pollution levels, creating health hazards and contributing to climate change; continuing habitat loss and degradation have caused declines in many once common species. Since 1979, carbon dioxide emissions from transport have risen by 50 per cent and deadly particulates by 25 per cent; hundreds of the UK's finest wildlife areas suffer damage every year whilst the money spent on greening the countryside amounts to a tiny fraction of the billions of pounds paid out to subsidise environmentally destructive industrial agriculture.
The report concludes that these and many other failures have arisen because of failed attempts at 'balancing' environmental and economic goals instead of integrating them and because of the unwillingness of the Agriculture, Transport and Trade and Industry Ministries to play their part in achieving sustainable development.
Tony Juniper, Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth, said:
"Despite John Gummer's best efforts, the Tories remain greyer than green. The resistance seen in the Agriculture, Transport and Trade and Industry Ministries towards green policies means that we are still a very long way from properly looking after the environment. If Britain is to achieve sustainable development,all Ministers in the new Government will need to take a greener view, not just those in the Environment Department".
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] Greyer than Green (21 pages) is available from Friends of the Earth
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: Dec 2008
