Bitterness at sustainability ‘neglect’
By Alex Stevenson
“Systematic obstruction” to sustainable technologies within government has stifled efforts to create the kind of economy Britain needs, the government’s outgoing sustainability adviser has said.
In a bitter parting shot as he exits the Sustainability Development Commission after ten years in charge, Sir Jonathon Porritt told the BBC civil servants had accepted the theory but not the practice of his dogma.
He called on business secretary Peter Mandelson to end the problem as the government makes creating a new, greener economy a central plank of its plan to get out of the recession.
“I am hoping that Lord Mandelson in his time at business is going to be true to the sort of speeches he is now giving about the importance of the UK getting good at a green industrial revolution,” Sir Jonathon said.
“Maybe he can undo a decade of systematic obstruction inside the business departments which stood in the way of sustainable technologies, of the UK achieving breakthroughs on energy efficiency.”
Sir Jonathon said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had lost “battle after battle” with other government departments over sustainability.
He hinted at personal doubts that Lord Mandelson was the man to manage a change from this position, referring to his time in charge of trade at the European Union.
“As EU commissioner he made it very clear that his responsibility was to promote competitiveness – and if other things had to wait their turn, then so be it,” he added.
“Now we understand more about what competitiveness will mean, and on his desk there will be a steer that countries like China and India are overtaking our frail efforts to develop green technologies, smart ways of creating wealth.”
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