Environmental analysis news: Emissions reductions 'will become more important after recession'

Implementing a policy to reduce carbon emissions will become a higher priority among many manufacturing companies once the economy recovers, an industry expert has claimed.

According to Adam Buckley, head of programmes at the Manufacturing Institute, the recession caused carbon output cuts to slip down the agendas of a large number of firms in the sector.

"A lot of businesses have got halfway - I think the reason for halfway is because they were taking it seriously before the recession and priorities changed," he said.

Mr Buckley added that, once the economic recovery stabilises, companies will begin to re-focus their attention on their environmental credentials.

On January 8th, the government launched its Going for Growth strategy designed to build on the New Industry, New Jobs initiative that was rolled out last year.

Investment in the infrastructure to support a low-carbon economy is one of the objectives of the project.

Mr Buckley commented that introducing legislation to drive the development of a low-carbon manufacturing industry would be a negative step.

Posted by Claire Manning