All levels of government, and flavours, do not put enough emphasize on the environment. Some of the reasons for this are: The difficultly in quantifying and qualifying the value of return on investment. The length of time, and money, needed to properly observe and evaluate the results of environmentally initiatives, or the lack of. And our general lack of interest in paying for it via taxes, user fees, pulling tax $ from elsewhere, etc.
Even if the environment is a priority for one flavour can't be properly managed on 3, 4 or 5 year mandates. It needs to be near the top of the list, ALL the time and for every flavour of government.
The quotes goes: In a democracy you always get the government you deserve. The voters (that's us) need to make our feelings known, and then hold the governments responsible.