The British government is shutting down the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), the independent body monitoring and advising on sustainable development at the centre of government policy. The SDC as formed under the Labour government ten years ago and has only just released a report that details the large sums of money the government saved as a result of green policies.
The UK Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, issued details of the closure in a statement that reiterated the government’s support for green policies whilst underscoring the government’s commitment to efficiency moves aimed at cutting the budget deficit. Mrs Spelman pointed to the Structural Reform Plan announced by the government last week and how the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will play a key role in the drive for green government.
Mrs Spelman went on to say that she was unwilling to leave the responsibility for driving the sustainability agenda across the entire government to an external body. Though created by the government, the SDC remained an independent watchdog that acted to advise, advocate and monitor development of sustainability and other green policy issues.
Will Day, chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission, said he was extremely disappointed with the announcement. The SDC has only just published a report showing that Whitehall has saved £60-70 million thanks to its introduction of green measures. Former SDC chairman Jonathon Porritt was also upset by the announcement. He said the decision to close the SDC was not based on any kind of rational analysis but was, rather, driven by dogma. He claims the government actually wants to eliminate any scope for independent monitoring and auditing of government performance regarding sustainability development.
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