Cameron failed to deliver on promise of ‘greenest government ever’, say NGOs

Ivan Annibal — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 08:03:52 +0000

Thought provoking stuff this article – which tells us:

The Government has failed to deliver on more than a third of the pledges it made to improve the natural environment and has made “good progress” on less than a fifth of them, according to research published today.

A report by a consortium of 41 NGOs concluded that the Coalition’s environmental record had “steadily worsened” during its time in office and found that 79 per cent of the population believe it has not lived up to its pledge to be the “greenest government ever”.

“David Cameron promised the greenest government ever. Using the Government’s own promises as a yardstick, these findings show he’s failed to stick to his plan,” said Dr Elaine King, the director of the consortium, known as the Wildlife and Countryside Link.

“We’re told an economy in crisis is a higher priority than nature in crisis. Yet the Government is missing a huge opportunity – a healthy environment helps the economy and enhances people’s health and wellbeing,” she added.

We need green infrastructure projects not more roads

Ivan Annibal — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:58:25 +0000

The author of this article kicks off by saying: “We’re going to be building lots more big kit in the UK over the next couple of years, according to the government’s autumn statement. But will we be investing in the right things?

George Osborne did more than wind up environmentalists with his claims that as a result of “environmental goals … businesses will fail, jobs will be lost, and our country will be poorer.” The chancellor also set out a big shift in economic course, with £6bn investment in government infrastructure spending, to be topped-up by a further £20bn leveraged from pension funds.

Investing in infrastructure is a good thing to do – and is certainly far better than the indiscriminate boost to consumption offered by Labour’s VAT cuts or the collapse of demand caused by Osborne’s rapid spending reductions. Infrastructure investment will not only stimulate the economy in the short-term, but will also put us in a far better position to compete in the future.”

He then goes onto criticise the plans for not focusing on cutting carbon emissions.

I think there are a significant number of people who tire of the almost religious zeal with which economic development is relentlessly equated with being bad for the environment. I would like to suggest a new area of research – a study to balance the environmental benefits of depressed consumption since 2008 measured against its human impact on the personal well-being of those without work, a secure home and in some cases very much hope for future.

Green infrastructure – Hinterland

Cameron failed to deliver on promise of ‘greenest government ever’, say NGOs

We need green infrastructure projects not more roads