Brown takes the shine off Blair's green ambitions

Greenpeace today condemned Chancellor Gordon Brown for cutting taxes on fuels that cause climate change. The campaign group described the duty cuts on climate-wrecking oil-based fuels as undermining the Prime Minister's newly unveiled green ambitions. The Budget failed to establish a comprehensive programme for real green fuels, and failed to meet the demands of health and environment and responsible motoring groups.

Matthew Spencer, Greenpeace Climate Campaigner, said:

"By cutting tax on damaging oil-based fuels - low sulphur petrol and diesel and unleaded petrol - Brown has taken the shine off Labour's new-found green ambitions. Blair announced only yesterday that he wants to lead the world in fighting climate change. Now Brown has undermined that ambition by cutting the tax on the fuels that are causing the problem, and contributing to the increase in storms and flooding from Britain to Mozambique.

"The duty cuts on bio-diesel and natural gas are far too small to allow large numbers of motorists to switch from oil-based fuels like petrol and diesel. Brown has thrown away the opportunity to invest in the most promising green fuel of all - hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cell technology offers the potential for truly pollution-free transport, but it needs Government investment to get off the ground.

Greenpeace, the National Asthma Campaign and the RAC Foundation had lobbied Brown to announce funding for hydrogen fuel cell buses, but he didn't listen.

Brown could have used this Budget to bring Tony Blair's vision of Britain leading the world in renewables energy nearer. But he blew it."

Further information:
Greenpeace Press Office: 0207 865 8283

Notes to Editors:
A briefing on green fuels, and copies of the letter to Gordon Brown from is available from Greenpeace, the National Asthma Campaign and the RAC Foundation are available from the Greenpeace Press Office.