The UK government is in talks with some of the biggest companies in Europe on how best to undertake the creation of a low-carbon economy in the UK. It hopes business leaders will work with government to develop a framework on the premise that tackling climate change can help lift the British economy out of recession.
At the Low Carbon Industrial Summit in March – hosted by business secretary
Lord Mandelson and climate change secretary Ed Miliband – the government hopes
to create a “multi-trillion pound global market” on the back of a low-carbon
economy.
Lord Mandelson says he is optimistic that shifting to this model will create
an economic opportunity for the UK in two ways – by becoming more energy
efficient and “making the UK the best place in the world to locate or build a
low-carbon business, demonstrate or manufacture a low-carbon vehicle, recruit a
low-carbon venture capital expert or environmental consultant,” says Mandelson.
“The UK must show a greater sense of urgency if it is to rise to the
challenges and grasp the opportunities that lie ahead,” says Richard Lambert,
Director-General of the Confederation for Business and Industry.
But not everyone was convinced by Lord Mandelson’s commitment to the green
cause. As he walked into the summit, Mandelson had a cup of green custard thrown
at him by an environmental campaigner protesting against the third runway at
Heathrow.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.