The Greenest Government Ever?

In May 2010, David Cameron and Nick Clegg spoke about bringing together the "greenest government ever" (1). In the light of news coming out in May 2011 about the world being on the brink of a climate disaster (2), it is essential that the developed world combines knowledge and policy to work to avoiding catastrophic results in relation to our future environment.
 
So what has this government done to support these green credentials?
 
So far, not a lot. Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs found herself under pressure by the public to change policy on allowing the sale of public forests (3). Now Eric Pickles is fixated on the idea that weekly bin collections must be reinstated, despite evidence suggesting that such an act would inevitably push back the inroads that have been made in local recycling, with an additional 1 million tonnes of recyclable waste being sent directly to landfill (4).
 
One of the central ideas within this "greenest government ever" spiel is the green investment bank. It is too early in its implementation to be able to fully assess the merits of this policy and whether the bank will prove a strong force for environmental development. Already, concern has been expressed as to whether the government's pledged £1billion will be enough to fund the necessary changes to the UK's infrastructure.
 
"According to accountants Ernst & Young, the UK needs to spend £450bn on its energy infrastructure by 2025 in order to meet its long-term target of an 80 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2050, enshrined in the Climate Change Act of 2008" (5).
 
Whilst this government makes high level claims, their actions speak differently. They speak of the importance of getting the country's debt levels under control for the interests of future generations; yet the world for future generations won't exist if we do not fully invest in green policies.
 
 
(1)http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/14/cameron-wants-greenest-government-ever
 
(2)http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/29/carbon-emissions-nuclearpower
 
(3)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12488847
 
(4)http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/30/local-rubbish-collection-council-incentive
 
(5)http://www.theecologist.org/investigations/politics_and_economics/691428/green_investment_bank_faces_critical_test_over_funding_shortfall.html