Prime Minister David Cameron has drawn criticism for avoiding next week’s Rio+20 Earth Summit. The government’s Environmental Audit Committee, which assesses government policy based on sustainability and environmental criteria, has said the Prime Minister’s failure to attend the landmark summit gives the impression the UK government does not value sustainability highly.

The summit will see world leaders debate the challenges posed to achieving sustainable development by a growing global population and climate change; the conference has been described by UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon as one of the most important in the organisation’s history.

However, Joan Whalley, chair of the EAC, said, "In not attending, the prime minister is sending out a powerful signal that the UK government does not see sustainability as a priority."

Mr Cameron is sending deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Environment Minister Caroline Spelman in his stead. World leaders are expected to make long-term commitments to sustainability goals at the event.

The condemnation comes just days after the UN Environment Programme released its GEO-5 report, which outlines the many barriers to ensuring a sustainable future, escaping the worst ravages of climate change and eradicating poverty, as well as presenting possible policy options for delegates at next week’s summit to discuss.

The report reveals that progress towards addressing environmental and development concerns, some raised forty years ago at the first UN Earth Summit, has been slow or nonexistent. The GEO-5 report revealed that “Out of 90 goals and objectives assessed, significant progress could only be shown for four.”

Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth also levelled criticism at Cameron’s government ahead of the Summit, claiming the coalition’s domestic failures on environmental policy undermine any influence they could have had on the world stage.

Craig Bennett, the organisation’s Campaigns Director, today said, “David Cameron promised to lead 'the greenest Government ever' but he can't even be bothered to go to the biggest international environment summit in years. Unless the world's richest nations seize the initiative by pledging themselves to urgent and meaningful action, this summit will be little more than a talking shop while the world hurtles to destruction.”

Friends of the Earth campaigners hit out at government policy on developing non-polluting renewables, suggesting it continues to support polluting fossil fuel companies, and inaction on conservation issues; FoE has mounted a campaign calling on Mr Cameron to suspend the use of certain pesticides, which research suggests are having a detrimental effect on bees, and develop a National Bee Action Plan. The campaigners have demanded the government introduce considerations into several areas of policy, including planning, to support insect pollinators.

The authors of the GEO-5 report were highly critical of the tendency to regard only economic factors in forming policy; they suggested giving the environment equal consideration in forthcoming policy decisions. The UNEP authors’ sentiments were echoed by Friends of the Earth, who today accused the UK government of championing "economic growth at all costs."

Environment Secretary defended Mr Cameron yesterday, claiming that he could not attend the conference as he is attend a G20 meeting which finishes the day before Rio+20 begins. She went on to say that the UK’s deputy PM will be present whilst many nations will be represented by an environment minister alone, which she maintained demonstrates commitment in itself.

Nevertheless, Ms Whalley pronounced, "The prime minister should attend the Rio+20 conference and make an announcement to that effect as early as possible, to demonstrate the government's commitment to the aims of the conference, within the UK and beyond,"

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