IDLE THOUGHTS
Regulation still needs to
rule in low-carbon world
It will be a busy year for our political leaders and shadow wannabes.
By May, general election-fatigue will have reached its peak. We could
Editor Tom Idle 020 8651 7070
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have a new party in power or a hung parliament. Or the current
Sub-editor Richard Sharpe
Production Sharon Miller 020 8651 7104
regime might be given a reprieve to fight its way out of the recession
Design and production manager Luana Marca
it started and realise the transition to the low-carbon economy it has
been developing over these past few years. Whatever happens, when
Publisher Angela Himus 020 8651 7164
it comes to environmental protection and the battle against climate
angela.himus@fav-house.com
change, the new leaders need to up their game – and fast. Corporate partnerships Rob Barton 020 8651 7065
Despite the environmental goods and services sector not faring too
07852 220150
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badly during the economic downturn (amazingly, 49% of firms
Group advertisement manager Ella Westaway
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reported sales growth in 2009), there is a serious lack of faith in the
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Labour government. Only 3% think that Brown’s team has devel-
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When it comes to
oped the right policies to promote the industry. A not-much-better
Administration Clare Klos 020 8651 7121
climate change,
28% back Tory policies, of which we have seen very little, despite
clare.klos@fav-house.com
our leaders need
being just a few months away from an election.
to up their game
But half of the sector’s companies say that none of the political
The editorial board
parties have anything like the right policies in place to effectively turn
■ John Alker UK Green Building Council
’
– and fast the UK into a low-carbon hub. Whether it’s a government out of ■ Mark Barthel Wrap
steam or an Opposition devoid of concrete proposals, confidence in ■ Charlie Browne UK environment manager, Ikea
politicians’ ability to create an environment in which UK business
■ David Crowhurst BRE Environment
can thrive has reached a new low.
■ Anya Ledwith consultant, ESHCon
At the tail end of last year, Defra issued guidance on voluntary
■ Liz Parkes Head of waste, Environment Agency
greenhouse gas reporting. But given that only half of businesses that
■ Tim Pollard head of sustainability, Wolseley
make up the FTSE 350 currently disclose their emissions data, the
■ Bruno Zago UK & Ireland environmental manager,
Hewlett Packard
Aldersgate Group – made up of businesses like BSkyB and Barratt
Homes – has written to Lord Mandelson demanding that envi-
ronmental reporting is made mandatory for all big business. Magazine information
Meanwhile, the transport managers that participated in
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the latest SB Round Table Debate called on government
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B&Q’s director of social responsibility, Ray Baker, speak-
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NEC, BIRMINGHAM
ing at last month’s Green Monday urged government to
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increase regulation. “Business does want it. It helps,” he said.
And all of the chairs of the various working groups organised by
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incentives are the key. Chair of the energy and buildings group, Ant
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Wilson, referred to the need for better labelling of construction goods
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and for the Building Regulations to be ramped up so that there is a
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bare minimum requirement on the energy efficiency of new products
and services installed as part of refurb projects.
The incoming Carbon Reduction Commitment is positive, as are
the feed-in tariffs. But the UK needs to urgently develop policies and
incentives that will encourage – or force – businesses to do the right
thing. You only have to look at the number of banks that have
ignored the Equater Principles and are still investing in environmen-
tally-damaging schemes to question whether voluntary guidance FHG is a member of the
is working.
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TOM IDLE EDITOR
Sustainable Business 5❘ February 2010
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