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media release everyone - Scotland's environment groups campaigning together (500,000 supporters, 25 organisations, ONE voice) Labour
and LibDem have to deliver on green promises
Based on assessments of the last four years4 and the respective manifestos5, the campaign has set out key challenges the negotiators must meet.
everyone spokesperson Lloyd Austin said "Both the parties involved in these negotiations have claimed a commitment to the environment. Jack McConnell has spoken of his wish to see environmental justice and, during the election campaign, published a 10 point action plan - making up, in part, for Labour's disappointing manifesto. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat's manifesto scored highly in the everyone assessment and their spokespeople regularly claimed to be the greenest of the mainstream parties.
"Now, it is time to deliver on these commitments - by producing a partnership agreement with sustainable development and environmental justice at its heart. Not just, of course, in the form of rhetoric but in terms of real commitments and policy changes.
"Members of the everyone campaign will, in particular, be looking for the structures and processes of Government to be altered to ensure that all policy is sustainable, transparent and inclusive. This means Government-wide assessment of policy proposals, scrutiny by Parliament and involvement of the public and communities.
"In individual policy areas, we will expect to see action on climate change, waste, public transport, agriculture, wildlife and management of our seas.
"One specific area that must receive attention immediately is the Cairngorms National Park. There is clearly public support, and now a politicial imperative, for this Park boundary to be re-drawn to include highland Perthshire and the new Executive must respond this demand.
"Over the last four years, and especially the last four weeks, there has been plenty of rhetoric. Now is the time for action. If the Labour and Liberal democrat negotiators meet the challenges, set here, they will show that their campaign claims were genuine and not just the usual politician's ‘hot air'" Editors notes:
1. the everyone campaign is an initiative from Scottish Environment LINK. Some 26 organisations with nearly half a million supporters combined forces to push the environment up the political agenda in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary elections.
2. an opinion poll by System 3 published by the campaign on 26th February showed that the environment was likely to be a decisive issue for the majority of those voters: 86% of people think the environment is an important political issue; 51% said the environment is likely to influence the way they vote.
3. Scottish Environment LINK is the liaison body for voluntary sector environmental organisations in Scotland. The members of the network are supported by around 500, 000 people.
4. The assessment of the environmental performance of the first term of Parliament, For Better or Worse is available at http://www.everyonecan.org/for_better_or_worse.pdf
5. The everyone assessment of manifestos can be accessed online at http://www.everyonecan.org/news/030425_1.html (press release) and http://www.everyonecan.org/manifestos_2003.pdf
For more information contact: Lloyd Austin, Vice Chair Scottish Environment
LINK and everyone spokesperson Jessica Pepper, Parliamentary Officer, Scottish Environment
LINK
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