皇冠体育app

I鈥檓 delighted to be here at this important event.

皇冠体育app sheer breadth of variety in the organisations present demonstrates:

1. How central to growth the sustainability agenda has become

2. How central to a resilient business model the sustainability agenda has become

3. How central to commanding the confidence of investors the sustainability agenda has become

I certainly believe that for the long-term health of the economy, green is essential.

But to maximise the opportunities for green growth, responsible businesses and governments must work together.

However it would wrong to think that green growth is limited to the green sector. New ways of looking at our environment are currently being pioneered by companies large and small 鈥� from start-up entrepreneurs to FTSE 100s.

皇冠体育appy recognise that nature is a provider of vital resources and services, and that its value needs to be accounted for in both their day to day operations, as well as in investment decisions.

As a result such businesses are making their companies more resilient and competitive.

Managing risk more effectively, concentrating on the right relationships with customers and suppliers and strengthening their reputations.

For the economy as a whole this shift in understanding I believe will drive innovation, improve resilience and enhance competitiveness.

Because we recognise the importance of this changing business paradigm, the Government established the Ecosystems Markets Task Force.

This is a practical, business led review of the business opportunities that arise from valuing nature correctly.

皇冠体育app work of the Task Force was a key commitment in the Government鈥檚 Natural Environment White Paper.

皇冠体育app White Paper鈥檚 ambition is to create 鈥渁 green economy, in which economic growth and the health of our natural resources sustain each other, and markets, business and Government better reflect the value of nature.鈥�

皇冠体育app CBI has estimated that green growth contributed at least a third of all the growth in the British economy in 2011/12.

In 2010-11 green jobs across the UK were estimated as close to one million: more than were directly employed in motor trades and telecoms combined.

We are sixth in the global league table of green goods and services with a 拢122 billion market share.

We have a 拢5 billion trade surplus in green goods and services.

Recognising this growth and potential, the Prime Minister recently said:

鈥淲e are in a global race and the countries that succeed in that race, the economies that will prosper, are those that are the greenest and the most energy efficient.鈥�

Today I want to tell you about:

1. Government鈥檚 commitment to investing in energy efficiency

2. Government鈥檚 commitment to investing in green energy generation

3. But Government can鈥檛 do this alone.

Government鈥檚 commitment to investing in energy efficiency

Greater energy efficiency and low carbon electricity is key to stimulating UK business growth.

皇冠体育app shift to low carbon will strengthen our exports, add value to the UK economy and stimulate the growth鈥�

鈥�But we鈥檙e in a global race for limited resources鈥�

鈥�and it is the most resource efficient that will win.

Energy consumption is set to grow by a third over the next two decades alone.

皇冠体育app businesses that are best insulated from energy price shocks will be competitive.

And the consumers who are least vulnerable to energy prices with lower household bills can have greater confidence in a more stable future.

Greater energy efficiency therefore belongs at the heart of a low carbon economy.

Pioneering new financial models such as the Green Deal will make doing more with less possible.

皇冠体育app Green Deal will drive innovation in the supply chain and support up to 60,000 jobs in the insulation sector alone by 2015, up from around 26,000 in 2011.

Embracing energy efficiency will mobilise the building sector and reduce bills.

By 2020, household energy bills will be 11% lower on average than otherwise because of the net effect of our policies.

皇冠体育app Green Investment Bank 鈥� the first of its kind in the world 鈥� has 拢3 billion available to support green projects and it will attract private-sector capital.

Partnership strategies between government and business on low carbon technology will bring benefits across the whole economy.

皇冠体育app 鈥榩ush鈥� from public innovation support is essential if we are to transition to a low carbon society cost effectively.

We expect to invest in excess of 拢1 billion in this spending review period to directly support a range of innovative low carbon technologies.

Innovation is key to keeping the UK ahead of the game. As an attractive place to base low carbon businesses, boosting jobs, expertise and skills.

Government鈥檚 commitment to investing in green energy generation

皇冠体育app energy sector is one of our largest infrastructure programmes.

Unlike other infrastructure projects, low-carbon investment is shovel-ready and geographically spread.

Crucially, it鈥檚 possible without adding to the Government鈥檚 balance sheet - by attracting private funds.

Our Electricity Market Reforms will put in place the institutional and market arrangements needed to attract private investment to deliver a secure future with a low carbon energy mix.

But Government can鈥檛 do this alone

To avoid future international shocks, we need a healthy economy that is built on resilience and sustainability, not risk.

Energy efficient and green economies will be the winners

Energy efficiency provides jobs now, cuts waste and makes our economy more productive. And it is vital that industry sits at the heart of this.

Replacing and upgrading our electricity infrastructure over the next decade will require huge amounts capital investment 鈥� roughly the equivalent of building 20 Olympic stadia every year until 2020.

We have to gain momentum and increase commercial deals to unlock investment decisions.

Government reforms to the electricity market and forward-think policies such as the Green Deal will create clear and certain frameworks for the transition we need.

We can make Britain a global champion for the green economy.

This will require us to mobilise private sector finance sooner, scale up quicker and learn to do more with less.

We will have to be speedier and more nimble, innovating to push promising technologies ahead.

In the words of the PM earlier this year:

To those who say we just can鈥檛 afford to prioritise green energy right now, my view is that we can鈥檛 afford not to.

Thank you.