Monday 16 May 2011
A year on from David Cameron's pledge to spearhead "the greenest government ever", a host of leading charities has written to him to urge the government to get "back on track".
Environmental groups Green Alliance, Greenpeace and Campaign to Protect Rural England amongst others signed the open letter, as well as charities Oxfam and Christian Aid.
Acknowledging "some promising policies in the Coalition", the letter damns the UK's drop from 3rd to 13th in the international league of attractiveness to clean energy investors.
Lack of protection for wildlife and countryside in the land use planning reform, the delay in borrowing powers for the Green Investment Bank and the weakening of the zero carbon homes policy were all deemed "real set backs" in the letter.
To counter this worrying trend, the charities call on the Prime Minister to show "strong leadership skills" and accept the key recommendations of the Climate Change Committee's fourth carbon budget report, which counsels slashing carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050.
In contrast, Business Secretary Vince Cable and Chancellor George Osborne have opposed these plans on the grounds that they could harm investment and business prospects in the UK.
Mr Cameron is expected to announce a decision on the carbon budget imminently, with some reports today suggesting he may accept the proposals.
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