Archived press release

Government's sustainable development strategy

7 March 2005

Government commitment to sustainable development will ultimately be judged by actions not words, Friends of the Earth said today (Monday).

Friends of the Earth broadly welcomed the Government's new sustainable development strategy, announced today. But the environmental campaign group said that the real test will be seen in specific future decisions and policies, such as this month's budget, and whether government targets, especially those for reductions in carbon dioxide, are met.

Friends of the Earth's director Tony juniper said:

"Although this sustainability strategy has some important new policies, it is quite another matter whether it will make a serious contribution towards saving the world. In the end the Government will be judged on its actions. Recent years have seen a raft of lost opportunities and contradictory decisions. For example, policies on aviation,pollution permits for industry and failure to reduce UK carbon dioxide levels, do not inspire confidence. If it is to work, this strategy must be championed across the whole of government so that all official policies and decisions contribute to the larger long term goals."

Friends of the Earth welcomed:

• The Government's redefinition of how economic progress should contribute to sustainability. The explicit recognition of environmental limits is an important step forward.

• A commitment to making £110 billion of government procurement expenditure more sustainable and work on new indicators to assess the impact of the UK on other countries.

• The recognition of the UK's impacts abroad because of our high and unsustainable consumption patterns.

On the negative side, Friends of the Earth is:

• disappointed that there is no clear picture of who will have overall responsibility for making the strategy work in practice. All Government departments will produce their own sustainable development action plans, but no one part of government will enforce the overall implementation of the strategy. Existing departmental policies that contradict the overall aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is an important case in point that does not seem to be addressed in the new strategy - for example in relation to aviation.

• very concerned that the Government's sustainable development indicators too often consider environmental impacts in relation to GDP, rather than in relation to state of the environment. There is also no clear recognition of the need for greater environmental justice, for example by setting out how the UK could reduce its consumption to its fair share of world resources.

Friends of the Earth welcomed government plans to take action to compensate for the environmental damage caused by flights taken by Ministers and officials, making Departments more accountable for the impacts of their travel choices. However, steps to make the costs of aviation cover the damage it causes are desperately needed, as are investment in alternative options to flying. Any mitigation measures should also take place in the UK to help get this country back on track to meet its climate change reduction targets.

Friends of the Earth is also encouraging individuals to take action. Going green could save individuals thousands of pounds as well as helping to tackle climate change, according to a new guide published today (Monday 7^th March) by Friends of the Earth and Collins. Save cash and save the planet provides dozens of top tips on how small changes to your lifestyle can help reduce emissions of carbon dioxide while saving you cash at the same time.

Save cash and save the planet, printed on paper made from 100 per cent post consumer waste, is available from Friends of the Earth, priced £12.99, on 020 7490 1555 or online at www.savecashsaveplanet .org Copies are also available at good bookshops.

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