It is now generally recognised that much money and environmental damage can be saved if policies and decisions are geared to forestalling adverse environmental effects before they are implemented. This article looks at the arguments in favour of a more pro-active environmental policy regime, but cautions against too much optimism that it will occur quickly. There are a number of impediments in the way, mostly to do with separate implementing agencies, jealously guarded budgets and the sheer difficulty of persuading people to act ahead of scientific proof.