IEMA joins alliance supporting new carbon targets

An alliance of the UK's largest businesses and environmental groups welcomed the government's commitment to a legally binding target to reduce carbon emissions by 2027.

Following the announcement IEMA, plus the other 53 signatories that form the Aldersgate Group, stated that strong and clear action on climate change is essential for long-term economic growth, jobs and competitive advantage.

In an open letter to the prime minister, the Aldersgate Group warns that “failure to act at sufficient scale and pace would mean that the costs of tackling climate change in the future will be much higher and the UK will miss out on commercial opportunities associated with the low-carbon economy.”

Peter Young, chair of the Aldersgate Group, said: “The message of this letter is loud and clear: strong carbon targets protect both the environment and the economy. They are vital for future competitiveness and provide the overall framework to enable the UK to be a leader in the transition to a low-carbon economy. This will provide greater certainty for business to invest in green technologies and create jobs.”