News & Publications

Mandelson: Huge decisions need to be made to face up to climate change

5 June 2009

PETER MANDELSON stressed that “huge decisions need to be made now to face up to challenges like climate change” in a speech at ‘The Politics of Climate Change’, a Policy Network event held at the London School of Economics on 5 June.

Stressing the huge and growing market for low carbon goods and services, he asked how the Government could shape a positive business environment for low carbon in the UK and ensure that UK companies have the necessary skilled workforces, and clarity and certainty to invest in change. The answers, he explained, were in the three basic ideas at the heart of the New Industry, New Job paper and the Low Carbon Industrial Strategy due this summer.

• Read Peter Mandelson’s full speech

Maximising UK Opportunities from Industrial Biotechnology in a Low Carbon Economy

14 May 2009

The industry-led Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team (IB-IGT), chaired by Ian Shott published its report to Government today. The report sets out their vision for instrial biotechnology in 2025 and makes a series of recommendations to Government and industry on how to achieve this vision.

By 2025 the IB-IGT sees:

“The power and benefits of industrial biotechnology being fully evidenced across the UK chemical and chemical-using industries, driven by coherent manufacturing, skills, environment and technology policies, judicious investment, and a sense of urgency, to deliver innovation, jobs and prosperity”

• Read more on the IB-IGT website
• Download Maximising UK Opportunities from Industrial Biotechnology in a Low Carbon Economy

Low Carbon Summit captures views from Yorkshire & The Humber

13 May 2009

The latest Low Carbon Economy regional summit was held in Leeds on 28 April when Rosie Winterton MP gave the keynote speech.

Views were captured from roundtable and panel discussions on various aspects of the Government’s work on building a low carbon economy.

Read the feedback from Leeds in full soon

Some of the areas covered were:

• The comercialisation of start-ups
• Innovating in energy markets
• Access to information for businesses
• The work and role of RDAs

Rosie Winterton speaks at Low Carbon Summit in Leeds

29 April 2009

Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber,  delivered the keynote speech at the Low Carbon Economy Regional Summit on 28. April.  Addressing businesses and regional agencies at the regional  summit in Leeds, in partnership with Ernst & Young, Winterton outlined the Government’s commitment to a low carbon economy.

“The move to a low carbon economy is not an option - it is inevitable. I want to see businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region benefiting from the opportunities this change offers.”

• Read the full press release

Investing in a Low Carbon Britain

23 April 2009

The UK has begun the transition to a low carbon economy. The transition will change every aspect of our lives, our work, and our society.

Building on the Government’s vision for a Low Carbon Industrial Strategy published earlier this year, Investing in a Low Carbon Britain sets out a programme of targeted investment to provide real help now for businesses and households, creating and sustaining the jobs that will contribute to the UK’s prosperity in a new low carbon world.

• Download Investing in a Low Carbon Britain (PDF, 2.02 Mb)

Budget 2009 - Building a Low-Carbon Recovery

22 April 2009

Budget 2009 builds on the foundation of existing policies that are already enabling £50 billion of low-carbon investment over the three years to 2011, providing over £1.4 billion of extra targeted support in the low-carbon sector. It also sets the world’s first carbon budgets.

Together with announcements made since last autumn, measures announced will enable an additional £10.4 billion of low carbon sector and energy investment over three years, securing new jobs and new business, and placing the UK at the forefront of a worldwide low-carbon recovery.

• Download Budget 2009 Chapter 7 - Building a Low-Carbon Recovery (PDF, 192 Kb)

Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK

16 April 2009

The only sustainable future for transport lies in a transformative shift to low carbon. The Government has recently committed to placing low carbon vehicles at the centre of its vision for the UK economy.

The vision for ultra-low carbon vehicles in the UK will promote infrastructure, support technology development and encourage manufacture in the UK, whilst incentivising consumers.

• Download Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK (PDF, 1.75 Mb)