Archived press release

George Osborne sets out the Conservatives' plans for a low-carbon economy

24 November 2009

A raft of policy announcements today by Shadow Chancellor George Osborne on how the Conservative party would green the economy has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth's Head of Climate Change Mike Childs said:

"Treasury support is crucial to the establishment of a low-carbon economy - George Osborne's pledge that the Conservatives would put this key department at the forefront of developing a greener Britain is significant.

"His commitment to setting up a Green Investment Bank is particularly welcome. It could play a key role in kick-starting a green energy revolution which would help combat climate change, revive the economy and increase energy security."

"And he rightly recognises that emissions trading isn't working and that other policy tools are needed to tackle climate change. There must be more focus from all political parties on well-targeted green taxes, public spending and regulation and less obsession with an emissions trading system that simply doesn't work.

Notes to Editors

1. Friends of the Earth agrees with the view of George Osborne, the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the Treasury's attitude to protecting the environment has been 'at best indifferent and at worst obstructive'. The environmental campaign group believes that the failure of the Treasury to demonstrate genuine commitment to tackling carbon emissions is at the heart of the Government's failure to effectively bring down the UK's carbon emissions since they came to power in 1997.

2. Promising that the Treasury would no longer be "the cuckoo in the Whitehall nest when it comes to climate change" George Osborne today (Tuesday 24 November 2009) set out new policy commitments including:

- Setting up a green investment bank to help finance low carbon development;

- Setting up green Individual Saving Accounts (ISAs) to provide further investment in a green economy:

Friends of the Earth supports the creation of Green ISAs which could help to provide a valuable new stream of investment in green energy systems and give people a practical opportunity to invest in a sustainable, low carbon future.

- Cutting the emissions of Government departments by 10 per cent in 2010:

The Government's track record on cutting the emissions of its own estate has been appalling and its emissions have increased since 1997. The commitment today to cut the Government's own emissions by 10 per cent within a year is a valuable step forward and shows real determination by the Conservative party to get the Government's own house in order.

- Setting up a reward of up to £130 for residents who recycle their rubbish:

Friends of the Earth supports the idea of rewarding people for recycling more and generating less waste. However it is important that this is not used as a way to promote placing all your recyclables in one bin; the most cost- and environmentally effective way to recycle is to collect materials separately.

3. Whilst applauding these new initiatives Friends of the Earth stresses that they must be accompanied by a commitment by the Conservative party to increase the proportion of overall Government spending which funds green initiatives and to reform the tax system to help drive forward low carbon development.

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