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Green economy is only fair future for UK
17 August 2010
Commenting on Chancellor George Osborne's speech to city analysts today saying Government public spending cuts could deliver a fairer society, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:
"The only fair future for the UK is developing an economy based on low-carbon expertise, employment and investment.
"The Budget hit the poorest hardest by raising VAT, but shifting to a greener economy would lift millions of vulnerable people out of fuel poverty and protect us all from the worst impacts of climate change.
"The Chancellor must commit to investing at least £2 billion a year in a Green Investment Bank supporting energy efficiency and renewable power - this would create hundreds of thousands of green jobs and improve energy security for everyone."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Friends of the Earth's pre Budget briefing can be found at:
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/budget_june_2010.pdf
2. Friends of the Earth is one of 110 organisations supporting a Robin Hood Tax on financial currency transactions. Half the sum raised would be used to combat the domestic deficit, and the rest to help developing countries fight climate change and alleviate poverty. http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Aug 2010
