Pre-Budget report 'could have been greener'

News Article - 25 November 2008
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The pre-Budget report announced by the chancellor of the exchequer yesterday (November 24th) could have done more to lower the UK's carbon emissions measurement, according to an environmental group.

Friends of the Earth executive director Andy Atkins said that the government had missed a "golden opportunity" to tackle both the economic downturn and climate change at the same time.

Alistair Darling revealed that an extra £100 million would be provided to improve insulation in homes, lowering their energy needs and their carbon emissions measurement.

He said that "economic recovery must support our environmental objectives", adding that the policies in the report would lead to £50 billion being invested in the low-carbon economy.

However, Mr Atkins said: "Creating new jobs by insulating homes is a step in the right direction.

"But political ambition, of speed and scale equal to that shown to the economic crisis, was urgently needed to tackle global climate change and safeguard a clean and prosperous future for us all."

His opinion was echoed by Greenpeace executive director John Sauven, who said that there had been an opportunity to invest in a low-carbon future "but the chancellor blew it".

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