Beckett: Spearheading sustainable push

The government has unveiled its revised sustainable development strategy, putting the emphasis on encouraging local action.

Margaret Beckett and the prime minister launched the proposals on Monday as they sought to put the environment at the heart of the debate around global economic growth.

The environment secretary announced that a new task force on sustainable public procurement will be established.

An expanded role will be given to the independent Sustainable Development Commission, chaired by environmentalist Jonathon Porritt, as a watchdog on the performance of government in delivering green solutions for economic growth.

There will be greater investment in renewable energy supplies to compensate for increased carbon emissions as a result of growth in air travel.

And more support, information, and training will be given to local authorities and communities as they seek to take individual action at ground level.

Beckett told the BBC: "One thing we have learnt over recent years is that the environment and the changes that matter most to people are often those in their own locality, especially if they themselves have got a chance, a voice, a say in what is happening in their area."

"Sustainable development is vital to building a decent future for everyone. The government is leading by example but the strategy can't be delivered by the government alone.

"The government wants to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get involved - for local or global benefit."

Tony Blair said government departments would be encouraged to work together more domestically, as he presses for action on climate change through the UK's presidency of the G8.

"By joining up thinking and action across all levels of government, and by setting long term objectives, the government is dedicated to securing the future for all," he said.

"I want to use this new strategy as a catalyst for action."

'World burns'

The announcement came on the same day as a senior academic and peer warned that a truly global effort is needed to combat climate change.

Lord May of Oxford, the former chief scientific inspector, warned against ministerial "fiddling while the world burns".

Speaking to an audience of scientists and policy makers at the British Embassy in Berlin, Lord May said: "The Royal Society has calculated that the 13 per cent rise in greenhouse gas emissions from the United States between 1990 and 2002 is already bigger than the overall cut achieved if all the other parties to the [Kyoto] Protocol reach their targets.

"Even if emissions from the United States stay at the same level until 2012, which is an unrealistically conservative assumption, while the other targets are met, the overall results for the original parties to the protocol will be a rise in emissions of 1.6 per cent instead of the desired reduction of 5.2 per cent."

May warned that the UK must use its presidency of the G8 to secure progress on Kyoto.

"It is essential that the G8 summit in Gleneagles Scotland in July, focuses on securing from the United States an explicit recognition that the case has now been made for acting urgently to avoid the worst effects of climate change by making substantial cuts in greenhouse gas emissions."