The Carbon Trust fronted Green Growth Alliance's open letter to government which calls for priority on low carbon technology
“Sir,
The Prime Minister is right to make economic growth his priority for 2011. However, the United Kingdom will enjoy a healthy, long term recovery, only if business leaders put the environment at the heart of corporate strategies.
In the past, UK plc has too often regarded “sustainability” as an optional add-on, rather than an essential element of corporate and national economic success.
We have been changing. During the recession, costs worth hundreds of millions of pounds have quietly been cut through improved energy efficiency.
However, unless “green” business practices are taken to a new, higher level, Britain’s recovery could be compromised, as the economy is choked by rising energy costs and out-of-date thinking.
Globally, the low carbon economy is already worth some £3,000 billion annually and is forecast to grow by at least 4% a year over the next five years.
To capitalise on this opportunity, firms in every sector must go beyond cost-cutting to invest in genuine green growth.
This means retailers greening their supply chains, manufacturers shifting to lower carbon products and financial services providers seeking new low carbon, sustainable growth opportunities through the way they invest.
Worryingly, new research by the Carbon Trust reveals that only a third of business leaders say their companies are currently working on greener products and services. We must do better.
The coalition government can help by removing regulatory barriers and by providing the right incentives to low carbon investment but, ultimately, it now is up to business to show leadership.
Yours,
[Signatories]
Marc Bolland, Chief Executive, Marks & Spencer
Richard Evans, President, PepsiCo UK and Ireland
Dalton Philips, Chief Executive, Wm. Morrison Supermarkets PLC
Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive, British Sky Broadcasting Ltd
Lord Sharman, Chairman, Aviva
Ronan Dunne, Chief Executive, O2
Ian Cheshire, Group Chief Executive for Kingfisher
Mark Elborne, National Executive for North Europe, GE
Don Jordison, Managing Director of Threadneedle Property Investments
Mark Fairweather, CEO, Allied Bakeries
David Camp, Chief Executive, Stanhope plc
Terry Last, Chief Executive, Tarmac
Adam Fowle, Chief Executive, Mitchells & Butlers
Gonzalo Galindo, President, UK Operations for CEMEX UK
Paul Kelly, External Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility Director, Asda
Paul Lazarevic, Managing Director, RLtec
Simon Harvey, Managing Director, Benchmark Software
Chris Kirkby, Managing Director, Magnomatics
Chris Smith, Managing Director, G-volution
Mark Boocock, Managing Director, Econotherm
Herbert Piereder, Chief Executive Officer, Applied Superconductor
Peter Bance, Chief Executive, Ceres Power
Jonathan Luke, Chief Executive, Senselogix
David Palmer-Jones, Chief Executive, SITA UK
Martin McAdam, Chief Executive, Aquamarine Power
Patrick Dempsey, Managing Director, Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants
Martin Wright, Managing Director, Marine Current Turbines
Des Crampton, Chief Executive, Checkmate SeaEnergy
SB Cha, Chief Executive, ACAL Energy
Kevin Hurst, Marketing and Communications Director, Veolia Environmental Services”
