INFORM Finance
RESEARCH BUDGET 09 SPECIAL
Bees and other pollinating
insects have dropped in num-
ber by 15% in the last two
Budget’s green package
years, forcing the government
to announce an investigation of
possible causes.
is ‘timid and inadequate’
Like bees, butterflies and
moths play a vital role in put- With ambitious emissions reduc-
ting food on our tables through tion targets and an emphasis on
the pollination of crops. building a low-carbon UK econo-
But these insects are suscep- my, Alistair Darling’s Budget has
tible to a variety of disease and been criticised for being “timid”
environmental threats, some of and a “missed opportunity”.
which have increased signifi- A £1.4B package was
cantly over the last five to ten announced last month to reduce
years. UK carbon emissions and create
Climate change, in particular new green jobs. But environment
warmer winters and wetter and business groups described the
summers, has caused problems measures as “inadequate”.
to the pollinating insects. However, there was some praise
Hilary Benn environment sec- for the £525M package offered to
retary has announced funding support offshore wind power
of £10M. “This will give some schemes, as well as the £405M for
of Britain’s world-class low-carbon technologies. The £1.4B has been criticised by environment and business groups
researchers the chance to iden- “This budget fails to include an
tify the causes of the decline ambitious green economic stimu- and easiest” way to cut carbon.
BUDGET 2009
we’re seeing in bee numbers.” lus that would have supported job “These measures will support
THE KEY POINTS
creation, economic development employment and save 380,000
COMPETITION
and environmental protection,” tonnes of CO
2
and around £60M
■
£1.4B to fund “low carbon
Government has set aside said Environmental Industries in energy bills each year,” said the industries and green collar
£500,000 to help entrepreneurs Commission chief executive, Budget report. jobs”
develop technologies that could Adrian Wilkes. “The extra But Greenpeace said the meas-
be used to harness the tidal £1.4B is timid and inadequate – ures were too little, too late. “The
■
The world’s first carbon
power of the River Severn. and puts the UK at a competitive emissions saved per year from the budget commits the UK to
The Severn has one of the disadvantage.” energy savings represent about cut carbon emissions by 34%
highest tidal ranges of any river Friends of the Earth was two weeks’ emissions from by 2020
in the world and, if correctly har- similarly unhappy. “The govern- Radcliffe-on-Soar coal-powered
nessed, could meet a predicted ment has squandered a historic station,” said a spokesperson.
■
Pledge to build at least two
5% of the UK’s energy demands. opportunity to kick-start a green With carbon budgets set for the carbon capture and storage
Government has been hold- industrial revolution and slash UK first time, the UK hopes to reduce (CCS) demo projects. Plus, no
ing a consultation into the possi- carbon dioxide emissions,” said emissions by fuel duty increases, new coal stations will be built
ble technologies and has come executive director, Andy Atkins. energy efficiency measures and without CCS technology
up with a shortlist of possible Offshore wind developers were uptake in renewable energy. But
schemes including barrages of the biggest winners in the Budget. the chancellor’s announcement to
■
£4B new capital for renew-
varying sizes and tidal lagoons. Around £525M will be pumped recover a further two billion bar- ables projects from the
Before a final decision is taken into the market between 2011 and rels of North Sea oil and gas will European Investment Bank
on whether to take any of these 2014 through the government surely offset that.
schemes forward, the govern- temporarily raising subsidies. Other measures likely to see
■
New combined heat
ment says it wants to be sure Offshore wind farms will benefit emissions soar is the £750M ear- and power plants exempt
some of the newer technologies from increased Renewables marked for infrastructure building from Climate Change Levy
would work as intended. Obligation Certificates (ROCs) – only a third of which will be from 2013
It has set up the Severn which they can sell. low-carbon schemes.
Embryonic Technologies And £4B of new loans will also “The commitments on energy
■
£525M for offshore wind
Scheme to help smaller compa- be injected into the low-carbon efficiency and low-carbon indus-
nies get their ideas off the draw- technology markets by the try are obscured by a cloud of
■
£375M on energy efficiency
ing board. Climate change min- European Investment Bank. greenhouse gases spewing from for homes and businesses
ister Mike O’Brien said: “As well Meanwhile, building firms wel- the prop-ups given to the car and
as this shortlist, I am keen to comed the £435M pledged to oil industry,” said New
■
£100M to improve insulation
keep innovative options on the home energy and efficiency meas- Economics Foundation policy
table. That’s why we are inviting ures to be spent in the next two director, Andrew Simms. “It’s as
■
£100M for construction of
companies to bid for a share of years. And the chancellor said if the chancellor wants to have his new, energy-efficient homes
the funds to accelerate energy efficiency is the “quickest planet and eat it.”
progress.”
IN FACT THE WORLD POPULATION HAS GROWN BY MORE THAN 2.5 TIMES IN THE PAST 55 YEARS
12 May 2009 ❘ Sustainable Business
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36