UK sets a green example

Government policy on the environment may often seem like 'one step forward, two steps back', but apparently much of the rest of Europe looks to the UK for new ideas.

Environment Minister Michael Meacher has confirmed that next week's Helsinki summit meeting will include a review of British policies aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality, whilst at the same time spurring economic growth.

The set of environmental indicators used in this country is shaping up to be the model for EU application - something Meacher advocates strongly. Real improvement will only be achieved, it is argued, if problems are tackled on a broad regional basis. These indicators show that too often an improvement in one area, for example transport energy efficiency, is offset by other changes, in this case increased road use.

Still failing to emerge as a good alternative is 'green' energy. The Co-operative Bank has been a leader here, most recently moving its HQ over to hydroelectricity generated by a turbine on the Manchester Ship Canal. But take-up has been very limited, with campaigners blaming 'unnecessarily high prices'. The recent announcement that London's Dome will be powered from a sewage treatment works may help the cause.

Elliott Chase