Archived press release

Blair becomes longest serving labour prime minster but record on the environment shows broken promises

5 February 2005

Tony Blair becomes the longest serving Labour Prime Minister in British history this weekend but celebrations are marred by criticisms that the PM has failed to deliver on his 1997 promise to put the environment at the heart of government.

The campaign group Friends of the Earth has accused Mr Blair of allowing the environment to become a marginalised department in Government. Friends of the Earth has said Defra should be expanded to cover a wider portfolio to attract big political hitters by, for example, bringing together transport, environment and energy to successfully tackle climate change.

Director of Friends of the Earth, Tony Juniper, said:

"Back in 1997 Tony Blair promised to put the environment at the heart of Government but this has simply not been delivered. The quality of our environment is central to our health, transport, and economy and urgently needs to be given equal standing by Government.

"Climate change and major environmental issues will never be successfully tackled if they are seen in isolation or marginalised from other issues. Tony Blair needs to rise to the challenge and recognise environmental improvements as being central to the country's long term economic growth, heath and security ."

Friends of the Earth 's review of Tony Blair 's record on the environment

Climate Change

Promised: 20% reduction in carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide emissions have not declined since Labour came to power in 1997 and the Government has admitted that it is not on track to meet this target. Rising emissions from transport, coal-fired power stations and the domestic and commercial sectors are problematic. The Government needs to take tough action if it is to meet this target and move towards its 60% cut by 2050.

Promised: 10% of power to be generated by renewable sources by 2010

Renewable energy still only accounts for less than 3% of electricity generated - despite growing by almost 10% in 2003.

Promised: An end to fuel poverty

In 2001 the Government pledged to end fuel poverty, with the first target being to reach those most vulnerable to cold-related ill health by 2010. The Government's Fuel Poverty Advisory Group has said that "programmes need to increase by at least 50%" in order to end fuel poverty on the "narrow" definition used by Government. The Government has narrowed the definition by, for example, setting lower fuel poverty targets for people in social housing than private housing.

Promised: To meet Kyoto target on basket of emissions

Government is on target to meet its Kyoto target of reducing emissions of a basket of greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% from 1990 levels by 2008-12. However, it is widely accepted that more substantial cuts are needed and that the Kyoto targets were based on political wrangling rather than a scientific consensus about the level of reductions needed. Negotiations on deeper cuts under the Kyoto Protocol start in earnest in 2005.

Promised: To reduce Co2 from transport by 1.6m tonnes

The Government's 10 year Transport Plan (in 2000) said it would reduce Co2 from transport (cars, lorries, vans) by 1.6m tonnes. It now says it will only manage to reduce emissions by only 1.2m tonnes (25% less). Even this looks hugely optimistic given the recent Transport White Paper forecasts growth in emissions from cars until at least 2010.

Promised: New cars to be cleaner

In June 6 1997 John Prescott said: " I will have failed if in five years' time there are not many more people using public transport and far fewer journeys by car."

By 2003 the distance traveled by car was up by 40 billion kilometers to 490 billion km a year- a 10% increase since 1997.

The Government's 10 year Transport Plan pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by encouraging people to buy cleaner cars rather than gas guzzlers. It is believed to be 40% below its target of reducing Co2 emissions by 4m tonnes (quoted in the subsequent Energy White Paper). The Government has reverted to using a previous target of 2.6m tones - 40% lower than the target quoted in the Energy White Paper.

Promised: Green taxation - to move tax burden onto negative areas - such as fuel

In 1997 the Government committed to shifting the tax burden off positive areas or "goods", such as employment, and onto "negative areas or "bads", such as pollution.

In addition it said: "Current evidence suggests that the most cost effective ways of reducing total CO 2 emissions from the transport sector are measures affecting the cost of fuel, the cost of energy inefficient vehicles, or the efficiency of road haulage."

However fossil fuels taxes have fallen as a percentage of total taxes under Labour. Government statistics ahead of the 2004s pre budget statement revealed that, as a percentage of total taxes, taxes on fossil fuels have fallen to a ten year low (8.3 %), and are now lower than when Labour came to power in 1997 (9.4 %). Measures in the PBR - most notably freezing fuel duty - will reduce it further.

Waste and Rubbish

Promised: Recycle 25% of household waste by 2005/6

We are currently recycling around 17% - which the Government says is on schedule for 25 per cent target. In 1990 the Tories set a target to recycle 25 per cent of waste by 2000 but completely failed to meet it. Other European countries are recycling 40 - 50 per cent of household waste which demonstrates that the Government target set itself low targets.

Wildlife

Promised: To bring 95% of nationally important wildlife sites into favourable condition by 2010

At the end of November 2004, 65% of the area of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) were assessed as being in favourable condition. The chances of the Government meeting the target are slim. Agriculture has the most significant impact on SSSI land in unfavourable condition

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust