Richard Ellis, Chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) - the lead regional development agency on matters relating to the environment, farming and rural affairs - has welcomed yesterday's commitment by government to cut UK GHG emissions by 2050

Richard Ellis, EEDA Chair, also said: "We welcome the decision to cut the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. As a region we are leading in this area and have already committed ourselves to meeting this target.

"Global climate change poses a very real threat to the UK, and especially to the East of England region. That is why the region's new economic strategy commits us to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 60% by 2031, which puts us on target for an 80 per cent reduction by 2050.

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"In the East of England we are urging businesses, communities and individuals to take resource efficiency seriously and demonstrating the opportunities it presents to businesses to gain a competitive advantage. This is especially pertinent in today's economic climate and with the global market for environmental goods and services due to grow by 48% by 2015, to $800 billion.

"We are reaching businesses through a range of measures including the new OrbisEnergy centre.

"This is a nationally important enterprise hub for renewable energy research and development. It is situated in the region on Britain's most easterly point at Lowestoft and is due to open in two weeks.

Through its flagship three-year, £2.5 million, 'Cut your Carbon' competition EEDA is also leading on community engagement based approaches to emissions cutting."

(JM)