Yesterday the Aldersgate Group (AG) launched its “Growth Statement” at a parliamentary reception, which saw speeches by Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Defra, alongside leaders from business and academia.

The Statement urges HM Treasury to put the green economy at the heart of the Government’s forthcoming Autumn Growth Review. It calls for the Chancellor’s Financial Statement (to be announced on 29th November), to remove barriers to growth and shift the economy to a more resilient and resource efficient path.

To read the full statement, click here.

To read coverage in the FT, click here.

The AG welcomes BIS’ publication of “Skills for a Green Economy”, which demonstrates the Government's recognition of the importance of training and skills in managing the transition to a resource efficient economy. Particularly, the report reflects the assessment of Britain's skills requirements outlined in the AG's 2010 publication, Mind the Gap.

John Edmonds, who leads the AG's workstream on skills, said:

"The challenge for the Government is now to move from analysis to delivery. At the moment Britain's skills policy is demand led. This requires British business to give clear messages to training providers. However "Skills for a Green Economy" recognises that many businesses are very uncertain about their future skill needs. To help resolve this problem, BIS argues sensibly for the provision of more readily available information to guide business decision makers but, given the size of the task and the need for early action, there is a case for the Government also considering a more interventionist approach."

Research commissioned by the AG, in partnership with Christian Aid, The Co-operative and WWF, was referenced by the Shadow Secretary of State for Defra, Mary Creagh in a parliamentary debate on the green economy. Ms Creagh noted that "taking just one of the options, Option 3, Aldersgate found that DEFRA had overestimated the total costs by up to £4.6 billion and underestimated the benefits by £980 million."

Click here to view the full transcript of the parliamentary session. The report on the costs and benefits to business of carbon reporting can be viewed here.

Andrew Raingold, AG Executive Director, will be speaking at a parliamentary event on mandatory carbon reporting on 23rd November (4pm) in Committee Room 5, House of Commons. For further details or to register for the event, contact Tom Viita (tviita@wwf.org.uk).

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has published its report on Carbon Budgets, which contains several references to the AG’s evidence. It acknowledges:

(1) The AG's recommendation that greater transparency of the national carbon footprint would allow the UK's carbon budgets to be more effective;

(2) The AG's suggestion that to improve delivery of the carbon budgets, an independent body should monitor progress against the Carbon Plan and link the achievement of targets to annual performance reviews of senior civil servants;

(3) The AG's view that when accounting for the geographical shift in manufacturing production, carbon leakage poses a limited threat.

To read the full EAC report, click here. To see the full AG evidence, published by the EAC, click here.

We would like to welcome our new members, Landmark Information Group and the Energy Saving Trust.

Save the date for forthcoming events below.

RSVPs are only being accepted for events in November; the others will be publicised closer to the time.

• 14th November (6.30pm), “What next for the CRC", panel debate at Taylor Wessing LLP's offices.
• 28th November (6.15pm), "Pricing the Priceless", launch of the new AG report on business and biodiversity. Defra Minister Richard Benyon is the keynote speaker.
• 29th November (5.45pm), "Skills for a new economy" debate being held in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, kindly hosted by BT.
• 12th December (3.30pm), panel debate with Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment, Portcullis House, Westminster. More details to follow shortly.
• 12th January (7pm), “From Durban to Rio”, reception at the House of Commons with Rt Hon Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for DECC.
• 19th January (6.30pm), “Green ISAs”, launch of new report at HSBC’s offices
• 13th February (6pm), “Green Buildings”, launch of new AG report at Drivers Jonas Deloitte’s offices

Sponsorship opportunities are available for some of these events; contact Victoria on vfwilliams@aldersgategroup.org.uk for more information.

Peter Young, Chairman of the AG, is speaking at the Guardian Cleantech Summit on financing issues facing the market on the 22nd November.

Join investors, entrepreneurs and policy makers to discuss, “Where is the future growth from clean technologies”? The day will include expert presentations and interactive discussion. Speakers include Rt Hon Gregory Barker MP, Minister of State for Climate Change.

To book, with an exclusive discount for Aldersgate Group stakeholders, click here and use code: GP05.