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Alistair Darling’s bold prediction at yesterday’s Budget that the economy will return to growth by the end of 2009, expanding by 1.25% next year and 3.5% in 2011, has generated an avalanche of criticism from opposition parties and industry leaders who have dismissed his predictions as “fantasy”.  Given that the UK is being buried by soaring unemployment levels and is set to borrow a record £175bn this year, it’s hardly surprising that Mr Darling’s judgement is being questioned.

However, the Chancellor’s decision to pledge approximately £1.4bn towards a first “carbon budget” could provide a glimmer of light in an increasingly darkened tunnel and encourage more businesses to invest in technologies which cut carbon emissions and improve organisation-wide efficiency. Darling himself has even stated that “Green technology will be one of the great growth sectors of the world economy over the next few years”.

Yesterday’s announcement has been greeted with predictable melancholy. Apparently pubs are in turmoil (so we can’t even drown our sorrows easily!) and some organisations have argued that the Government’s inaugural carbon budget won’t be sufficient to cut greenhouse emissions by the intended target of 34 per cent by 2020.

It’s easy to stand still and bemoan the misfortune that is currently affecting us all in some capacity. However, let’s be thankful that at last the Government is making a significant investment into the green economy – at least it’s a start! The new carbon budget will hopefully encourage businesses to invest in software which can both improve efficiency and cut costs as well as reduce excess and waste.

Trading conditions have seldom been tougher, however there is evidence to suggest that those organisations that are investing in the right software are seeing demonstrable and quickly realised financial benefits whilst also reducing their carbon footprints. Surely, we can all drink to that? (though not in the pub, of course!)

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Tags: 2009, budget, carbon footprints, Chancellor, darling

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm and is filed under Musings by Ben Carey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.