Is it really a year since David Cameron, newly ensconced as prime minister, assured us that the coalition would be the "greenest government ever"? It's an anniversary worth remembering, if only to consider how, in environmental terms, Cameron's government seems stuck in reverse.
But cast your mind back further to 2006, when Cameron took a trip to the Norwegian Arctic to pose with huskies and become personally acquainted with the effects of climate change. At the time, he said "since becoming leader of the Conservative Party, I have sought to push the environment up to the top of the political agenda."
Vote blue, go green was the message. So with the help of our own cheeky version of Mr Cameron and a team of eager huskies stationed outside the Houses of Parliament, we want to make sure the prime minister and his government don't make a mockery of commitments made in opposition and in government. Because on recent evidence – and even with the traditionally greener leanings of the Lib Dems - I'd say we're a long way off having the greenest government ever.
There is, as they say, hope. This coming week, Cameron will have the opportunity to stand by his promises on climate change. As reported in March, recommendations from the government's advisers on climate change about keeping the reduction in the UK's CO2 emissions on track are being deliberated by members of the cabinet on Monday.
Cameron has the final say, so please email the prime minister now to remind him to stand by his promises on climate change.
Accepting the recommendations would ensure that our climate change targets remain ambitious and stimulate the creation of new jobs in an economy based on low-carbon technology. So it's been a surprise to discover that business secretary Vince Cable has joined the Treasury in opposing the targets while William Hague has been arguing strongly in favour. Who'd have thought?
But the current government's environmental track record has been far from outstanding. Yes, Heathrow's third runway was a major win in the early days of the coalition, but since then there has been precious little evidence of a truly green agenda.
Consider the ongoing public consultation on 'red tape' - laws that are supposedly hindering business – which includes many useful and necessary pieces of legislation on climate change, clean air, and wildlife and conservation. Throwing such acts of parliament (along with many other socially progressive ones) on a potential bonfire of red tape isn't the sort of thing I'd expect a green government to do.
There's also the desire to permit deep water drilling for oil in UK waters, which we're currently challenging in court. With a budget designed to make us think driving is cheaper, our government seems dedicated to keeping us addicted to oil. Even the flagship policy to improve energy efficiency in homes across the country – the Green Deal – needs to be tougher and smarter if it's to have much impact on energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
But if ministers recognise that climate change is "one of the biggest threats facing the world today" (Cameron again), they should be doing everything they can to redevelop the UK's energy network into one run on clean, renewable sources, not risky fossil fuels or nuclear power.
It's not looking good. In fact, Jonathan Porritt's recent report for Friends of the Earth found that the government had made little or no progress on many green policies.
All the more reason for Cameron to ignore the cabinet members insisting that our climate change targets are watered down and signal that he really does want the greenest government ever. He can do that by setting ambitious CO2 reductions for the future.
