This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8169627.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Porritt parting shot at ministers | Porritt parting shot at ministers |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The government has been accused of failing to develop a green economy for the 21st Century by its own outgoing adviser on sustainable development. | The government has been accused of failing to develop a green economy for the 21st Century by its own outgoing adviser on sustainable development. |
| Sir Jonathon Porritt, who left his role at the weekend, criticised ministers on the environment and social justice, and for failing to protect UK prosperity. | Sir Jonathon Porritt, who left his role at the weekend, criticised ministers on the environment and social justice, and for failing to protect UK prosperity. |
| He told the BBC the biggest problems were in the Treasury, business and transport departments. | He told the BBC the biggest problems were in the Treasury, business and transport departments. |
| The government said it had a "strong record" on environmental policies. | The government said it had a "strong record" on environmental policies. |
| Abiding shame | Abiding shame |
| Sir Jonathon told BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin that the three departments singled out were dogmatically following an outdated Thatcherite model of economic growth regardless of the social and environmental consequences. | Sir Jonathon told BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin that the three departments singled out were dogmatically following an outdated Thatcherite model of economic growth regardless of the social and environmental consequences. |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson had been particularly hostile to the concept of sustainable development, Sir Jonathon also claimed. | Business Secretary Lord Mandelson had been particularly hostile to the concept of sustainable development, Sir Jonathon also claimed. |
| The government got completely seduced by the [Thatcherite] economic model it inherited in 1997 Sir Jonathon Porritt href="/1/hi/sci/tech/8169716.stm">Harrabin's Notes: Porritt's pop | |
| He said there had been a massive failure of political leadership, with elements of deep hypocrisy, and that the UK was a world leader in green rhetoric. | He said there had been a massive failure of political leadership, with elements of deep hypocrisy, and that the UK was a world leader in green rhetoric. |
| On key issues such as fuel policy Labour ministers should feel an abiding shame, he said. | On key issues such as fuel policy Labour ministers should feel an abiding shame, he said. |
| Sir Jonathon said: "The government got completely seduced by the [Thatcherite] economic model it inherited in 1997. It felt the model should be run full on. | Sir Jonathon said: "The government got completely seduced by the [Thatcherite] economic model it inherited in 1997. It felt the model should be run full on. |
| "That model is hostile to sustainable development where you are not discounting factors about people's wellbeing and the state of the environment. | "That model is hostile to sustainable development where you are not discounting factors about people's wellbeing and the state of the environment. |
| "If you look at what the Treasury has done since 1997, it is dogmatically to defend the model of consumption-driven economic growth, regardless of some of the costs that growth generates." | "If you look at what the Treasury has done since 1997, it is dogmatically to defend the model of consumption-driven economic growth, regardless of some of the costs that growth generates." |
| Growth opportunities | Growth opportunities |
| He also attacked the government on fuel poverty, child poverty, the Iraq war and the Trident missile system. | He also attacked the government on fuel poverty, child poverty, the Iraq war and the Trident missile system. |
| Sir Jonathon was appointed chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission by Tony Blair's government in 2000. | Sir Jonathon was appointed chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission by Tony Blair's government in 2000. |
| Our correspondent said it was a very deep critique by someone who had observed the government close-up for a very long time. | Our correspondent said it was a very deep critique by someone who had observed the government close-up for a very long time. |
| A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "The UK's leadership on climate change is rooted in a strong record at home. | A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "The UK's leadership on climate change is rooted in a strong record at home. |
| "We're moving further and faster, driven by a 2050 80% target set into law and strong commitment on climate change in cabinet. | "We're moving further and faster, driven by a 2050 80% target set into law and strong commitment on climate change in cabinet. |
| "Jonathan Porritt last week praised our Low Carbon Transition Plan which is backed by active steps to make sure firms in the UK grab the growth and job opportunities in nuclear, renewable, electric car and other growth industries." | "Jonathan Porritt last week praised our Low Carbon Transition Plan which is backed by active steps to make sure firms in the UK grab the growth and job opportunities in nuclear, renewable, electric car and other growth industries." |