THE GUARDIAN

Read the Sustainable Development Commission report (pdf)

Matthew Tempest and agencies
Tuesday April 13, 2004
The Guardian

Downing Street's leading environmental adviser today condemned the government's policies on sustainability, saying politicians were in a "state of delusion" over the threat facing the planet.

Sir Jonathon Porritt - appointed by the government to review its performance on environmental matters - castigated policymaking as putting economic growth before quality of life and described UK aviation and road transport as "out of control".

Launching the Sutainable Development Commission's report, Sir Jonathon said politicians were guilty of "political expediency" rather than facing up to the challenges faced by the environment. The SDC report, Shows Promise, Must Try Harder, says quality of life is still not at the heart of government decision-making and points out that Britain has one of the worst records on recycling within the EU.

It states: "The UK has failed to get a grip on consumption of environmental resources. There is insufficient grasp of the severity of the threat from climate change and the urgency of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

Sir Jonathon, a member and former co-chair of the Green party and an ex-director of Friends of the Earth, is one of the foremost environmental experts in the country. As well as authoring today's report, he heads a green charity, Forum for the Future.

Speaking on the BBC, he said: "It is the job of politicians to make this stuff more transparent to people," he said.

"To enable them to get out of the state of delusion that we are living in, to stop denying some of the incontrovertible realities about the relationship between us and this natural earth environment."

"If that isn't part of what politicians should be doing today then you have got to ask the question about what they think they are there for."

Today's report is expected to say some progress has been made in addressing education and poverty problems. But more work needs to be done to improve housing and health.

Sir Jonathon told the programme the government could do more to address air traffic pollution. "If they just start to make sure that the price we pay for air tickets more accurately reflects the cost - that includes the environmental and social costs - then people will begin to get a proper recognition of what it is that is entailed in buying that particular privilege," he said.

"It isn't a God-given right to fly anywhere at any time on the planet at the lowest possible cost. It is a privilege and it is a privilege for the rich world."

In his aviation white paper last year the transport secretary, Alistair Darling, recommended expansion of Stansted, Heathrow and several northern airports. He has also sanctioned further road-building, particularly along the south coast.

Welcoming today's report from the round-table commission, the Green party's principal speaker, Darren Johnson, said: " We should stop this massive experiment with our future, the outcome of which could have serious consequences for us all."

"Highlighting the inadequate action taken to combat climate change is essential if we are to ensure that future generations can have a decent quality of life."

The report has some praise for the government's record on poverty, education and river and air quality.

Sir Jonathon concludes: "In comparison to most governments around the world, the UK government is doing a lot ... And there's clearly genuine intent to do more. But this is still not a brilliant picture. Far more effort needs to be made to differentiate between "smart growth" [that generates wealth and social benefits without damaging the environment] and today's wholly unsustainable growth that inevitably ends up damaging people's real quality of life.

"We must see a more determined effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a move away from consumption as the sole route to wellbeing, and new policies that lead to healthier environments and lifestyles for all."

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