In an environmental leadership initiative, the groups, which command more than five million supporters, will address a panel of David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Chris Huhne MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary and Peter Ainsworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment and launch a series of tests against which they will judge the three main parties in the lead-up to the next General Election.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, Stephen Hale, Director of Green Alliance, said:
“Although climate change has risen up the political agenda, environmental groups from Greenpeace to the National Trust maintain that the three main parties are still showing little appetite for effective action. The parties must develop policies commensurate with the scale of the challenges facing us in relation to climate change, the countryside and wildlife.

The public and business want more from politicians. We hope that all parties will meet The Green Standard”.

The nine groups behind today’s initiative will publish regular assessments of the main political parties’ environmental performance, and mobilise their members behind the tests.

The first assessment of the parties’ performance against the tests will be published in September this year, ahead of the annual party conferences. The final assessment will be published prior to the next General Election.

The Green Standard: Tests for environmental leadership

UK action on climate change
Achieve reductions in UK carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of at least 3% year on year, en route to a low-carbon economy based on energy efficiency, renewable sources of energy and decentralised energy.

International action on climate change
Provide international leadership to restrict global temperature rises to 2°C and ensure worldwide emissions are falling by 2015.

Green living
Make it cheaper and easier for individuals to reduce their environmental impact through tax, regulation, information and other powers of government.

Natural environment
Protect and enhance the beauty, accessibility and wildlife of the environment in our countryside, towns and seas through incentives, regulation, investment and other powers of government.

Planning
Value, support and develop our planning system as a democratic tool for protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment of our countryside and towns.

Environmental tax and subsidies
Green the tax system by increasing the amount of revenue from taxes that reduce environmental damage, and eliminate environmentally perverse subsidies.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. This initiative is supported by the CPRE, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Green Alliance, National Trust, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, and WWF.

2. The launch of The Green Standard: Tests for environmental leadership will be on Tuesday 27 February, 10.30 -12.30, at Local Government House, Smith Square, London. The event will be chaired by Edward Stourton and spokespersons attending will be David Miliband, Secretary of State for the Environment Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary and Peter Ainsworth, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment.

3. Market research carried out last year showed that 74% of the public believed that ‘environment/climate change is very important to me and will influence how I will vote at the next general election’. Populus poll, October 2006, see the Populus website

In the December 2006 UPS Europe Business Monitor poll, business leaders rated protecting the environment as the top priority for political leaders (45%). Europe Business Monitor (2.5 MB PDF) from the 16 UPS Europe Business Monitor website.