Friends of the Earth Cardiff Cyfeillion y Ddaear Caerdydd

Photo: Robert Brook, Science Photo Library

The Cabinet Minister, Oliver Letwin, is considering scrapping all green safeguards and replacing them with a single 50-page document.

This would mean our protection from pollution could be dangerously simplified. He is consulting on scrapping Laws on:

• Air quality - allowing air pollution to increase.
• Biodiversity, countryside and recreation - removing protection of vulnerable or rare species, habitats and wildlife sites and controls on access to footpaths and national parks.
• Energy labelling and sustainable products - preventing you knowing which products are energy efficient and abolishing minimum energy standards.
• Industrial emissions and carbon reductions - increasing climate change. allowing the pollution of rivers and the towns.
• Noise and nuisance - allowing increases in noise from industry, roads, railways and airports.
• Waste - relaxing controls on the volume and impact of household, hazardous, construction, mining and quarrying waste.
• Environmental permits - reducing existing controls on pollution from businesses and reducing the sanctions when serious pollution incidents occur.
• Chemicals - removing controls that prevent chemicals damaging the environment and human health.

  We need to send him the clear message not to cut our protection from pollution before his plans are scrutinised by MPs at the end of February.

  Take action

  Tell Oliver Letwin not to cut environmental protection.