Planes and cars boom can't go on says Blair's green team

American-style patterns of growth in aviation, road transport and fuel use are "wholly unsustainable" and will damage the quality of life of present and future generations, according to a report by the government's own advisers.

The panel, set up by Prime Minister Tony Blair five years ago to preside over a strategy of "greening" policy across government, says in a progress report published yesterday that Britain is "far adrift" from meeting its national and global responsibilities towards the environment.

The government has failed to get a grip on fossil fuel emissions responsible for climate change, aviation and road transport are growing out of control and Britain is languishing near the bottom of the European league table on recycling waste, according to the report from the Sustainable Development Commission.

The 18-member panel, led by the country's best-known environmentalist, Jonathon Porritt, says economic growth has been faster here than any other European country, but "this is accompanied by much greater inequality in income, and a long-hours, high-pressure employment culture more characteristic of American society".

It adds that "there is no evidence" that Britain's "pattern of economic development is making people happier or giving them a better quality of life".

Porritt said: "Far more effort needs to be made to differentiate between 'smart growth' (that generates wealth and social benefits without damaging the environment) and today's wholly unsustainable growth that inevitably ends up damaging our quality of life.

"We must see a more determined effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a move away from consumption as the sole route to well-being, and new policies that lead to healthier environments and lifestyles for all."

The commission reveals that Labour will not now meet its principal manifesto commitment on the environment, a 20 per cent in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010, which it says is needed to avert catastrophic climate change.

The panel says projected increases in road transport and air travel will cancel out reductions in other areas.

Road traffic, for example, is "dreadful" and the worst in Europe. The report points out that Britons spend more time commuting than people of any other nation.

Until now, the government has constantly repeated that it is on course to meet its target for reducing fossil fuel emissions. But the commission says it has failed to use taxation to affect the price of energy and fuel and calls for ministers to adopt more "joined up" thinking over the next five to 10 years.

While some "traditional" environmental issues, such as water and local air quality, showed modest improvement or signs of stabilising over the past five years, the report says there is a need for continuing improvement of fabric of cities and a need to address the failure to get a grip on the consumption of natural resources.