UK Government urges British business to invest in low carbon economy

21 September 2009

Britain’s top 100 business leaders and top 100 media personalities are being asked to put their efforts and influence to push investment and growth in the low carbon sector.

With just under 80 days to go before the Copenhagen summit, British Cabinet Ministers Ed Miliband, Lord Mandelson and Ben Bradshaw have pledged their support to the campaign and written to Britain’s business and media leaders, and all MPs, asking them to back a global deal at Copenhagen.

The campaign is a global alliance of NGOs, trade unions, faith groups calling for a fair, ambitious and binding climate change agreement.

Ed Miliband, Climate and Energy Secretary, said, ‘Governments have to show leadership to get the deal we need at Copenhagen. But we also need all parts of society to show it matters to them.

He added, ‘It’s in everyone’s interests to back a deal to help make Britain a centre for green and low carbon jobs, and make our communities and homes greener.’

Kofi Annan, ex-Secretary General of the United Nations and leader of the campaign, recently wrote to 100 global leaders, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, to ask them to join the campaign for an ambitious global climate deal.

Lord Mandelson, Business Secretary, said, ‘Britain’s world-class businesses are global leaders in low carbon manufacturing. The tck tck tck campaign is an excellent catalyst for galvanising support from the sector and leading the way towards a low carbon economy.’

Richard Lambert, CBI Director-General, who co-authored the letter to businesses, added, ‘Business is looking to the Copenhagen talks to deliver a robust global agreement that gives companies confidence to make long-term investments in low-carbon products, while remaining internationally competitive.

‘If we can get the right deal, then companies will grasp the nettle by developing exciting new technologies that will reduce carbon emissions for both the developed and developing world.’

Truett Tate, group executive director, wholesale, Lloyds Banking Group, said, ‘The environmental, social and economic consequences of climate change mean that we urgently need an effective global agreement in Copenhagen.

‘Through such an agreement we will not only speed up the transition to a low carbon, low climate risk economy but we will also help to rekindle the confidence of businesses that is such a vital ingredient in any global recovery.

‘Lloyds Banking Group is proud to be a signatory to the Copenhagen Communique and we are delighted to be supporting this new campaign working towards securing the best possible agreement at the summit in December.’

Copyright © 2009 NewNet

Tags: policy

This story was published on Monday, September 21st, 2009 at 10:14 am and is filed under Europe, Features, policy. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply