Archived press release

Foe welcomes royal commission report

18 September 1997

Friends of the Earth gave a firm endorsement, this morning, to the 20th report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution [1].

In particular, FOE praised the Commission's backing of:

. targets to measure progress towards sustainability. FOE is promoting the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill to ensure the Government introduces such targets [2].

. long term local transport plans. Last year FOE successfully campaigned for the Road Traffic Reduction Act which requires local authorities to draw up such plans[3].

. green tax reform. FOE has argued at successive Budgets that the Government should use differential fuel and vehicle taxes to discourage the use of grossly polluting, inefficient cars [4].

. legislative standards for cleaner vehicles and fuels. FOE has successfully pressed in Brussels for tougher European vehicle and fuel standards [5].

. better integration of transport and land use planning. FOE has long campaigned for tougher action against out of town development [6].

Roger Higman, Senior Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

"The Royal Commission's report outlines the path which the Government must follow. Now, it is up to the Government to support measures such as the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill which implement the Commission's ideas."

Friends of the Earth is holding the "Fuming Mad" rally on Saturday, 27 September in Trafalgar Square to promote the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1]The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's 20th report "Transport and the Environment - developments since 1994" was published today by HMSO.

[2] The Royal Commission's report argues that: "Government, both central and local,will have to set the framework with challenging targets and provide appropriate incentives". The Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill which is being promoted by Friends of the Earth, the Green Party and Cynog Dafis MP, would require the Secretary of State to draw up and implement a plan for a 10% cut in road traffic levels by 2010..

[3] Earlier this year, FOE and the Green Party lobbied the Government to pass the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997. This required local authorities to draw up and implement local plans to reduce the level of traffic on our roads.

[4]Friends of the Earth's report "Green Dividends" was published prior to the Conservatives' last Budget. It makes the case for a range of tax reforms to reduce car use and make it less polluting and more efficient.

[5]Earlier this year, Friends of the Earth successfully persuaded the UK Government to take a tougher line in negotiations on new European fuel standards. As a result,from 2000, the level of sulphur in petrol and diesel will be lower than the European Commission first proposed, and the fuel cleaner as a result.

[6]As long ago as 1990, Friends of the Earth published "Reviving the City" which called for the integration of transport and land-use policy.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust