Blair accused of failure over environment

The government has been criticised for failing to tackle climate change by an environmental charity.

WWF-UK accused the Prime Minister of claiming that he would make climate change a priority in order to please environmentally concerned voters, rather than demonstrate the will to use leadership in tough negotiations.

The charity said that Mr Blair had undermined the most central plank of climate change policy by suggesting that binding targets to cut pollution were incompatible with economic success.

Andrew Lee, Director of Campaigns for WWF-UK, said: “Despite the huge difference in historic rhetoric on the key issues of climate change and the control of hazardous chemicals, the actual negotiating position of the Prime Minister becomes daily less discernable from that of US President George W. Bush.”

The charity also claimed that the REACH legislation – which was designed to protect people and the environment from harmful man-made chemicals – had been “critically weakened and delayed” under Britain’s presidency of the EU.

Mr Lee said: “The Prime Minister came into office with many opportunities to show environmental leadership, but despite all of his passionate speeches and reassuring words, when the chips are down, he has often jumped the wrong way.”

Liberal Democrats environment spokesperson Norman Baker voiced his support for the WWF's comments. He said: "Tony Blair is going backwards on climate change with increasing speed, undermining European Union efforts to secure a follow up to Kyoto based on national carbon emission targets.

Conservative Shadow Environment Secretary Oliver Letwin said that the WWF was "right to sound a warning note". He said: "The government's record to date on achieving carbon reduction, has unfortunately not lived up to its rhetoric - and there are now worrying signs that the Prime Minister's resolve is weakening."

"We all have to hope that he remains committed to harnessing markets and technology to reduce carbon emissions both globally and domestically - and that he accepts the need for binding reduction targets both globally and domestically."

The comments come has Greenpeace staged a demonstration at Downing Street in protest at the government’s record on the environment.

A lorry, emblazoned with the slogan ‘Blair-Climate Failure’ dumped coal outside Number 10. Another lorry, heading for the Whitehall entrance, was stopped by police.

Greenpeace accused Mr Blair of “rowing back” on his commitment to the Kyoto Protocol – the international agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Director Stephen Tindale, a former advisor to Labour, said that Mr Blair had “failed” on climate change. He said: “So far, all he has done is make speeches.”

(KMcA/SP)