Archived press release

Sustainable development: heading backwards?

24 February 2003

The latest Government quality of life measures, published today, show that Britain is failing to make progress on key environmental issues.

• Government environment adviser Sir Jonathan Porritt has warned that the UK would fall ``well short'' of its goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010 unless major policy changes were made, particularly on reducing car use. Between 1990 and 2000, emissions of six greenhouse gases had fallen by 13%, but there was no change between 1999 and 2000. And after a decade of falling levels, CO2 emissions in 2001 were up 1.5% on the previous year.

• Road traffic levels increased by 15% between 1990 and 2001, from 411 billion to 474 billion vehicle kilometres, and are predicted to go up by another 17% over the next decade

• The amount of household waste being dumped each year rose by 8% between 1992 and 2001, from 414kg to 447kg per person, with only a small increase in the proportion of waste recycled or composted from 3% to 11% over the same period

Prime Minister Tony Blair's speech today, while containing important new language about environmental justice and the relationship between poverty and environmental problems, did not mention some key facts revealed by the indicators, including those on traffic levels and waste. He also did not mention the Government's previous commitment to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20% over 1990 levels by 2010

Commenting, FOE Director Tony Juniper said:

"Tony Blair's speech today contained important passages about the relationship between poverty, social exclusion and environmental damage. The need for environmental justice has been the central theme of Friends of the Earth's campaigning for a number of years. Mr Blair's clear understanding of this crucial issue is very welcome.

But his words come as the Government's own quality of life indicators show that many environmental problems are getting worse. Greenhouse gas emissions are not falling. Road traffic is rising. And so is the amount of household waste being sent to landfill. Mr Blair's words must be matched by specific and radical targets and timetables. And where necessary, the money must be found to put his words into effect. Otherwise we may simply return in a year or two to hear the same pledges and depressing realities all over again."

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust