In most days, weeks – even decades, today would have been a defining moment in how our Government (the Westminster one at any rate) will deal with the little matter of our environment. That life-enhancing, enriching, sustaining, Britain-defining, tourism-boosting, world class, singing, croaking, soaring, fragile thing that, apparently, stands between us and economic salvation.
But the Prime Minister’s speech on infrastructure and DEFRA’s announcement on their bit of the so-called Red Tape Challenge are just the warm-up act for the main event on Wednesday when Chancellor George Osborne steps up to the dispatch box to give his budget.
On infrastructure and the Prime Minister’s speech – lots of devilish details will no doubt follow but little or no comfort in the words so far. And confirmation of the inevitable inclusion of the Thames as an airport option – we’re opposed, implacably so, but then if you are reading this blog, you probably knew that.
More will follow – but for now, watch the video and e-mail the Chancellor, please.
On the Red Tape Challenge – here’s Martin Harper’s reaction. Martin is our Director of Conservation.
“I am extremely glad to see that the Government has listened to the wishes of the public who responded overwhelmingly to this process saying environmental protection rules must be maintained.
“More than 15,000 people responded to the RSPB’s call to step up for nature by emailing business secretary Vince Cable highlighting the importance of good environmental regulations.
“We understand the need to come up with smarter regulation and when a set of laws have been written and amended over many years then there is often a need to simplify and streamline them. However we will be watching this process closely to ensure they consult properly and come up with legislation that does the same important job.
“Environmental regulation is vital for ensuring our wildlife and natural habitats are allowed to flourish, our air and water is kept clean and our climate is protected. Regulation is usually the most cost effective means of the Government achieving their environmental objectives.
“We are now entering an era of voluntary initiatives driven primarily by the Government's belief that they are less costly to administer than more stringent, regulated alternatives. We have very little experience of voluntary initiatives in this country and that which we do have generally demonstrates that they are simply not effective.
“We will work with the Government to smarten regulation but we will not allow tried and tested approaches to be replaced by measures which appeal to business but do not deliver the level of protection enshrined in our environmental laws.
“This is not the only announcement we are expecting about environmental regulations. Let’s hope that logic and evidence informs the habitats regulations review which is to be published later this week.”
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