UK Sustainability Watchdog Gets the Ax From Funding Cuts

It seems that the environment secretary has just recently announced the closure of the Sustainability Development Commission as part of the coalition government’s spending cuts. This was later confirmed by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs. There are more than a few green groups that are quite upset with this cut.

The environment secretary, Caroline Spelman, said that this is all part of a package to reform more than 30 such groups. Proponents of the Sustainable Development Commission, of course, have argued that its advice to the government on ways to reduce carbon emissions and other resources saves far more money than the £3 million it costs. This news comes just after the group published a report showing that green action such as reducing waste and energy use is saving the government some £70 million a year.

Spelman said that the government is committed to being the greenest government ever. The structural reform plan published last week sets out how Defra will play its part in achieving this. Right now reducing the deficit is priority for the government. All departments are playing their part in making efficiency savings. Over all, Spelman said that they are determined to play the lead role in driving the sustainability agenda across the whole of the government.

The chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission, Will Day, said that they are deeply disappointed with the government announcement of its intention to withdraw funding. The work has delivered efficiency savings totaling many times what the organization has cost the government. It will be particularly important to ensure that adequate plans are in place to ensure that the UK government can measure and verify its commitment to being the greenest government ever.

Just earlier this week, Caroline Lucas MP, who is the leader of the Green party, called this move an absolute disaster. She said that the Sustainable Development Commission has been a vital source of well informed scrutiny of the government policy. The commission has come out with very sensible proposals.