Danny Alexander: “We can – and must – have both green and growth"
Thu 10 April 2014
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Speaking at an event in Westminster, ‘Green and growth; we can have both - lessons from the road transport sector’ hosted by sustainability hub in association with the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) the Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said today: “Green and growth objectives can and must be pursued together – as demonstrated by the five projects that the Technology Strategy Board has just identified to receive £11m funding to advance the use of green technologies in the production of cars and commercial vehicles.
“This funding will support the development of new and pioneering supply chains, demonstrating how the green growth agenda can help support jobs and investment now and in the longer term, and that this Government is doing everything it can to encourage growth in cleaner technology, to provide jobs and reduce emissions.”
The event, held in Westminster examined how the UK can secure and maintain a technological edge, encouraging industry to continue to invest in in low carbon vehicle technologies through an ongoing, consistent and long-term policy approach, avoiding calls to roll back commitments aimed at helping to achieve a low carbon future.
Experience from the road transport sector was compared and contrasted with experience from other sectors by a collection of leading policy and industry speakers and commentators.
Chaired by James Murray, Editor, Business Green, speakers included: The Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Iain Wright MP, Shadow Industry Minister; Stephen Crisp, Director of Global Government Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover; Joe Greenwell, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Investment Organisation; Professor Paul Ekins, Director, UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources; Jennifer Webber, Director of External Affairs, RenewableUK; Dave Sowden, Chief Executive, Sustainable Energy Association; John Sauven, Executive Director, Greenpeace UK; James Cameron, Chairman, Climate Change Capital.
Andy Eastlake, Managing Director of the LowCVP, also a speaker at the event said: “Road transport has delivered impressive carbon emissions reductions over the last decade or so; cutting overall emissions despite rising levels of motoring. The sector has also been delivering very high levels of investment and jobs. The experience of road transport shows that we really can – and must - have both ‘green’ and growth.”
Karen Potter, Project Director, sustainability hub said, ‘We are a collaborative initiative promoting engagement with political leaders, industry executives and third sector groups working towards a smarter, more sustainable future. The sustainability hub is pressing for political action on sustainable policy; clean tech investment and energy diversity.’
The proceedings were reported by the event Chair, James Murray, in an article in Business Green on April 11. An extended feature about the subject appeared in the same publication on April 17.
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