MPs give Government a red card on green issues

New Commons report shows poor progress has been made

The study by the Commons Environment Audit Committee found that air pollution was one of the three problem areas which had worsened since 2010 (Getty)

David Cameron has been given a “red card” by MPs for failing to keep his promise to run “the greenest Government ever”.

A study by the Commons Environment Audit Committee found that in three areas – air pollution, biodiversity and flooding – problems had got worse since 2010 or would not be tackled sufficiently by 2020. In a report published today, the cross-party group of MPs awarded the Coalition a “red card” on these issues.

It got an “amber card” for unsatisfactory progress in seven areas: climate change, forests, soils, waste, freshwater environment, water availability, and marine environment. It received no “green cards” for satisfactory progress in any field.

Joan Walley, the committee’s Labour chairman, said: “Our inquiry provides a wide ranging examination of the state of the environment and shows that further and continued effort is required to protect it properly. A dedicated, wide-ranging environmental strategy is needed, overseen by a new Office for Environmental Responsibility to ensure the Government meets the requirements to protect human health and the natural world.”

She said the political parties should regard the report as a “wake-up call” and ensure environmental protection measures were included in their manifestos for next year’s general election.