Defra secretary of state Margaret Beckett welcomed the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report, which emphasised the need to tackle global challenges, with climate change a key priority.
Chancellor Gordon Brown made it clear that the government is committed to promoting sustainable development, both domestically and internationally.
Key announcements included:
• a new Energy Efficiency Innovation Review to examine how technological, policy, financial and organisational innovation can best contribute to a step change in national energy efficiency performance
• a new £20m fund to accelerate energy-efficient technology managed by the Carbon Trust and designed to help focus the growing public and private investment in this area, by fostering new partnerships to accelerate energy efficient technology
• a package of measures to support the development of biofuels, including a feasibility study and consultative process on a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation
• positive evidence from the initial evaluation of environmental taxes which will provide a solid foundation for future policy decisions
• reforms to make the system of company car tax more environmentally sensitive
Beckett said: "The Chancellor has set out financial provision for policies which strongly support the Government's commitment to sustainable development now and for future generations. Especially welcome is the strong focus on global challenges which emphasises the key role we have to play in addressing climate change."
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