Low-carbon strategy lacks focus

Britain needs to increase its efforts to become a leading location for low-carbon industries if it is to take a share of a £4.5tn low-carbon business opportunity.

This is the conclusion of a report released by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, which looked at how the UK rates as a location for low-carbon industries.

The report, entitled ‘Under the Microscope – Is UK PLC Ready For Low Carbon?’, said that despite the government’s low-carbon industry strategy announced earlier in the year, the UK is at risk of falling behind countries such as South Korea, who have laid out more ambitious carbon-reduction plans.

EEF Energy Adviser Roger Salomone said that the government needs to improve strategic thinking in order to actively engage with industry.

‘The last two years has seen more progress towards a low-carbon economy than in the previous 10, but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels,’ he added. ‘Whilst the UK now has a low-carbon industrial strategy that has laid the foundations, we cannot ignore the fact the UK is behind the curve and playing catch up in this area.’