Lord Mandelson gets taste of direct action

At the Low Carbon Industrial Summit in March – hosted by business secretary Lord Mandelson and climate change secretary Ed Miliband – the government hopes to create a “multi-trillion pound global market” on the back of a low-carbon economy.

Lord Mandelson says he is optimistic that shifting to this model will create an economic opportunity for the UK in two ways – by becoming more energy efficient and “making the UK the best place in the world to locate or build a low-carbon business, demonstrate or manufacture a low-carbon vehicle, recruit a low-carbon venture capital expert or environmental consultant,” says Mandelson.

“The UK must show a greater sense of urgency if it is to rise to the challenges and grasp the opportunities that lie ahead,” says Richard Lambert, Director-General of the Confederation for Business and Industry.

But not everyone was convinced by Lord Mandelson’s commitment to the green cause. As he walked into the summit, Mandelson had a cup of green custard thrown at him by an environmental campaigner protesting against the third runway at Heathrow.