'Footprint' Test Should Assess Executive 'Green' Claims
Tue., October 28, 2003. 00:00.
Green MSPs today welcomed the launch of a project that aims to measure and reduce our impact on the environment - and said that the Scottish Executive should apply it on national government policy as well as in local authority areas.
Environmental group WWF has joined forces with two local authorities, with financial backing of the Executive, to launch the Footprint Project, which will calculate their use of natural resources and help cut pollution, waste and energy consumption.
Green MSP Robin Harper said the Scottish Executive should measure its own claim to be green by adopting Footprint as a way of assessing national government policies in all departments.
'A 'Footprint' test should be run over the Scottish Executive's so-called green claims and added to the set of 'sustainability indicators' currently used to measure government progress, or the lack of it,' said Mr Harper. 'Doing so would reveal the need, for example, to improve transport policies and strengthen the feeble attempts to meet the challenge of climate change and pollution. It would prove a reality check for economic policy so that any growth is in a sustainable direction and not simply making matters worse in the long term - especially on climate change.
'Scotland's overall footprint on the rest of the world is more than 200% bigger than it should be. This is the challenge set at the World Summit in Johannesburg last year which Jack McConnell signed up to. Scotland needs to play its part to deliver this international obligation and will require a national approach as well as local action.'
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information on footprinting, contact Oxford Green Party councillor Craig Simmons on 01865 792422 or craig.simmons@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Web link: www.wwf.org.uk/core/about/scotland.asp
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, contact the Green MSPs' press office on 0131 348 6360 /07919 210 126.
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Jill Boulton
Press Officer
Green MSPs
Parliament HQ
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Tel 0131 348 6360 / 07919 210 126
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.