Industry welcomes first climate change budget

The manufacturers’ organisation EEF said the Climate Change Committee's first budget report set out a bold vision for meeting the UK's emissions reduction targets. It laid down the gauntlet to government to back this with leadership and develop a low carbon energy policy. “This should integrate environmental, economic and industrial objectives and help business maximise the opportunities from a low carbon economy,” said EEF. EEF chief executive Gilbert Toppin (pictured) said industry supported the emission reduction targets. He believed the report provided a once in a lifetime opportunity for the UK to change the behaviour of households and take advantage of the business opportunities available from a low carbon economy. "Climate change is a science and engineering problem and therefore industry will be the solution to the issues we face rather than the cause. It is now or never if we are to take advantage of the massive opportunities available and we need far bolder policies to force feed the development of new technologies."