15 July 2008 - Responding to the news that the UK has today voted in Geneva to allow the People’s Republic of China to become an official buyer of African elephant ivory, Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucas commented:

"Today’s vote represents a dark and irrevocable stain on the UK’s wildlife conservation record overseas. China is already the world’s largest destination for illegal ivory and this licensing decision will only serve to increase the market for what is essentially a brutal and hugely damaging trade.

“So thanks to our Government and the other world leaders who failed to act, we can expect the illegal slaughter of endangered elephants across Africa to continue apace.

“If Gordon Brown and his Environment Secretary Hilary Benn had wanted to try and prevent the Chinese from gaining a license to buy ivory and thus drastically reduce the trading opportunities for illegal hunters, they could have done so."

She concluded: “Their failure to act demonstrates both unforgivable political cowardice and a preoccupation with putting economic interests with China above all other considerations. This is Britain’s day of shame, which will have consequences for years to come."

ENDS