Green Alliance: Report on government shows sector goals are ‘poorly understood’

The report suggests how the current government, which has committed to “moving to a circular economy”, can succeed where others haven’t.

The Green Alliance has said that bringing resource use within planetary boundaries will require “economy-wide efforts” to reduce consumption of resources, maximise reuse and eliminate waste. But the survey found that there is “no consensus” among policymakers that these are all critical parts of moving away from a linear to a circular economic model.

Interviewees also argued that the connection between using resources better and achieving environmental goals has been “poorly understood” in government and amongst politicians.

Policymakers interviewed in the research suggested that lobbying from vested interests is holding back progress on resources. A former Defra civil servant reportedly said: “the people who get the ear of the deputy directors or ministers, are most likely to be the waste industry”, with others suggesting large brands with linear business models have held back change.

The report found that public interest can direct environmental policy making “significantly”. The second series of the BBC documentary Blue Planet, aired in 2017, led to significant public concern about plastic pollution. A former civil servant explained that this focused policymaking on plastics and packaging, rather than on wider reforms Defra could enact.

‘Critical’ change is needed

Interviewees say that politicians often “fear” negative public responses to government intervention and the cost of environmental action, which is contradicted by public opinion towards circular economy policies. Previous Green Alliance research suggests that 60% of people would support a shift towards resource efficiency even if it changed their lifestyle.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has embraced the idea of a circular economy. Despite this, interviewees said that decision makers and the public need to see proof of success to get behind the idea of a circular economy. They highlighted the need to avoid “abstract language”, and instead, connect arguments for better resources policies to economic growth, resource security and jobs.

Libby Peake, head of resources at Green Alliance, said: “The public want to see an economy where we make the most out of the resources we already have, and this is also critical to meeting the UK’s climate and nature commitments. Yet virtually nothing changed after the last government promised to transform the country’s resource use and minimise waste five years ago.

“The new government has great ambitions, but to succeed where the last government failed, they’ll need to avoid using abstract language and connect with people’s daily concerns. They should grasp some quick wins to prove things can change, as they develop a long-term strategy to transform the economy.”