A parliamentary committee has warned that the Treasury's focus on short-term gains could jeopardise efforts to make economic sectors more sustainable -- a finding with implications for agriculture policy post-Brexit.
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), which monitors the Government's performance on sustainability, is calling for the Treasury to 'green-check' all its decisions, after a major investigation found that it puts short-term priorities over long-term sustainability.
The Treasury, through its control over government spending, taxation policy and regulation, is arguably the most important department for ensuring the UK meets its environmental obligations.
The looming Brexit negotiations present opportunities for real greening in sectors such as food and agriculture -- but also provide an opportunity to cut EU regulations perceived by the food industry to add to their costs. In this context, the Treasury's willingness to take sustainability considerations into account could prove decisive.
The omens are not encouraging. The Environmental Audit Committee's investigation found that the Treasury is failing to factor long-term environmental risks into its decisions and is not doing enough to encourage departments to work together on environmental issues.
Read the Committee's report here, and find out more about Sustain's campaigning work for a greener, fairer food system here.
Published Friday 18 November 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
