Stern report welcomed by manufacturers

Adjust font size:

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com
Published : 30 Oct 2006 14:46
Free whitepapers: Achieve Lean Success | Supply Chain Solutions

Manufacturing organisations guardedly welcomed today’s report on the economic consequences of global warming by Sir Nicholas Stern today.

The review, which reports to the Prime Minister and Chancellor, was commissioned by the Chancellor in July last year. It has been carried out by Sir Nicholas Stern, Head of the Government Economic Service and former World Bank Chief Economist.

Sir Nicholas said today; “The conclusion of the Review is essentially optimistic. There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we act now and act internationally. Governments, businesses and individuals all need to work together to respond to the challenge. Strong, deliberate policy choices by governments are essential to motivate change. But the task is urgent. Delaying action, even by a decade or two, will take us into dangerous territory. We must not let this window of opportunity close.”

Commenting on the report, Sally Howes, director general SBAC said: “The Stern Review provides a valuable and important contribution to developing appropriate responses to global climate change. The UK aviation industry recognises the importance of this challenge and is making steady progress. The UK aerospace industry believes the UK Government must ensure that domestic policy initiatives encourage greater investment in cleaner technology, incentivise carbon emission reductions and maintain the international competitiveness of the UK aviation industry”.

Manufacturers organisation EEF welcomed the Review and has urged the government to step up efforts to secure wide-scale international agreement on targets that will reward the best performers and, raise the performance of the worst ones. It also stressed that all sectors of society must share an equal burden for tackling climate change and the review must not be used an excuse for the introduction of more punitive taxes on industry.

EEF director general Martin Temple, said: “Everyone has a responsibility for tackling climate change and we in manufacturing are no different in accepting our share of the burden. However, the UK cannot solve these problems alone and is it imperative that the government secures international agreement that will reduce emissions across the globe.

“Domestically there must be measures that will achieve cuts in emissions from the household and transport sectors, where results so far have been disappointing.”

EEF also urged measures to boost research and development into new technologies, and re-iterated its call for an action plan to remove barriers to greater investment by business in energy efficiency.

“We have always said that science and engineering will be the solution to climate change in the long run. Combating climate change in the next 50 years will not be possible with today's technologies. The Government therefore needs to lead a concerted drive to ramp up levels of research and development to accelerate the development if new technologies” added Temple.