Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Government must act on green taxes
3 September 2007
Commenting on a report by accountancy group UHY Hacker Young which says that green tax breaks are only two per cent of the total value of green taxes, Friends of the Earth's economics campaigner Dave Timms said:
"There is considerable scope for government to make use of more green tax breaks to either reward environmentally-friendly behaviour or to cut the cost of green products. However this does not mean that environmental taxes are too high. Green taxes have fallen significantly since 1999. At the same time carbon dioxide emissions have risen. It is not a case of too much stick and too little carrot. We need more of both."
Friends of the Earth called on the Government to make economic policy greener across the board. Higher taxes are needed on polluting activities such as aviation and buying new gas guzzling vehicles, as well as tax breaks to encourage good environmental behaviour and cut the cost of green products. The Government must also urgently tackle the billions of pounds of environmentally damaging tax breaks given to the aviation industry each year. The cost of polluting activities such as motoring and aviation have dropped dramatically over recent years while greener alternatives such as bus and rail travel have become more expensive. Friends of the Earth believes green taxes should be used to help reverse this situation and that the greatest beneficiaries of such a policy will be the less well off.
The environmental campaign group is urging the Chancellor to introduce tax breaks in the forthcoming Pre Budget Report to help make Britain's homes greener and boost the impact of the recent introduction of home Energy Performance Certificates. Alistair Darling should bring in a Stamp Duty rebate for homebuyers who make significant energy efficiency improvements when they move house and cut in the rate of VAT on work done to refurbish properties to a high environmental standard.
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: Jun 2008
