Firms urged to take part in carbon survey

BUSINESSES in the borough are asked to take part in a survey which could help shape a national energy strategy.

The East Midlands Chamber has launched its quarterly economic survey for quarter three of 2017 and wants to hear from firms in the region how much of their turnover is currently generated by supplying low carbon goods or services and to what extent they have invested this year to reduce their carbon footprint.

The results will feed into future work carried out by the Chamber to encourage Government to invest in a 50-year energy strategy.

In a bid to drive cleanair initiatives, the Government announced in July that the sale of new diesel and petrol cars will be banned in the UK from 2040.

It also set aside £255 million to help local authorities develop policies to improve air quality in towns and cities, which could include the banning of diesel-powered cars and vans from some centres during peak hours within the next two years and the introduction of punitive daytime ‘toxin taxes’ to discourage their use.

However, a similarly- timed but apparently contradictory announcement, stopped electrification of the Midland Main Line, instead promising new diesel-powered trains for routes through Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.

The Chamber reacted to the announcement by calling on Government to create a proper, fully-costed, cohesive 50-year energy strategy to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of green technology and wants to back its calls by gaining an insight into local business and low carbon actions.

The survey is available via www.surveymonkey. co.uk/r/53CKR7K