Low carbon vision must be translated into reality

As new figures showing the UK green goods and services sector to already be the 6th biggest in the world, Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson and Ed Miliband were meeting business leaders at a Low Carbon Industrial Summit in London to map out the UK's industrial priorities for taking advantage of the new global low carbon economy - currently estimated to be worth £3 trillion globally and employing over 880,000 people in the UK. A pamphlet published today, 'Low Carbon Industrial Strategy: a Vision', highlights a range of companies in the UK already taking advantage of low carbon opportunity and sets out the scope and ambition of the government's plans. Businesses and others with an interest are asked for their input through a new interactive website to inform a final Strategy to be published before the summer. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson (pictured) said: "Low carbon is not a sector of our economy, it is, or will be, our whole economy, and a global market. Today we are asking what more needs to be done to ensure these changes benefit the UK economy, and what needs to be done to equip British companies to compete for low carbon business in Britain and overseas. A low carbon industrial strategy must seize the opportunities that will come with change. That requires a new industrial activism for a new green industrial revolution." At the manufacturers' organisation EEF, energy adviser Roger Salomone said the government was right to look beyond this recession to the growth markets of the future and its commitment to place the UK at the forefront of the low - carbon industrial revolution was a good start. “The economic opportunities, especially in manufacturing, are potentially significant,” he went on. However, the hard work starts now. This vision needs to backed up by a clear strategy to translate it into reality with a priority to ensure that the UK is the number one destination for low - carbon businesses. These are extremely competitive markets and governments around the world are making equally ambitious plans. " The government's Low Carbon Industrial Strategy will aim for change in four key areas: * Energy efficiency to save businesses, consumers and the public services money * Putting in place the energy infrastructure for the UK's low carbon future - in renewables, nuclear, carbon capture and storage and a 'smart' grid * Making the UK a global leader in the development and production of low carbon vehicles * Ensuring skills, infrastructure, procurement, research and development, demonstration and deployment policies make the UK the best place to locate and develop a low carbon business and make sure international business recognises that. New independent research by Innovas also published today showed the UK is already the 6th largest low carbon and environmental goods and services (LCEGS) economy. In 2007/8 it was worth £107 billion to the UK economy, and could grow by another £45 billion over the next decade. There are already over 880,000 jobs in the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services sector when the supply chain is included. It speculates that if employment grows at projected rates, an additional 400,000 jobs could be created in the next decade. Just under one third (31%) of overall low carbon activity is in manufacturing.