"Thank you for those kind words.
"And for inviting me here today to speak to you.
"I am delighted that BT has taken the initiative in holding this event and it is excellent to see so many people participating.
"During the nineteenth century this country’s manufacturing base was transformed. And no more so than here in Loughborough where woollen stockings were no longer produced by homeworkers using practices largely unchanged for a hundred years but by a mechanised factory-based industry.
"Two hundred years later we face a further period of change no less radical. The days of cheap energy and resources have gone. We are caught in a vicious circle where man made climate change is reducing the natural environment’s capacity to heal itself. We must mitigate our carbon emissions.
"Ice sheets are melting, seas are rising and weather patterns are changing. It is not economic forces that are driving change this time but environmental ones. We need to adapt to these changes.
"The Prime Minister has pledged to put the UK at the forefront of the fight against climate change. Considering issues such as how we generate energy; how we use water resources efficiently; how we farm and source our food; how we protect the ecosystems so vital to our mental and physical wellbeing will all be essential.
"Internationally, we’ve done a huge amount - driving progress on emissions trading; biofuels; reducing deforestation; and developing ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
"The G8 summit last June saw for the first time a commitment from all G8 leaders to a process that could lead to a new climate deal among the highest emitters by the end of 2008.
"Environment Secretary Hilary Benn attended an unprecedented gathering of world leaders to discuss climate change, hosted by the UN Secretary General. This culminated in the UN meeting in Bali last December when after two weeks of intense negotiations an Action Plan was agreed for achieving a global climate deal by the end of 2009.
"But things aren’t just happening at an international level.
"Here at home we’re also working hard to tackle the threat.
"The Prime Minister has outlined how we plan to drive towards becoming a low carbon economy.
"The centrepiece is our Climate Change Bill. The first of its kind in the world. It is the spur for our international engagement but also the foundation for domestic action.
"It puts into statute the UK's targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. By setting carbon budgets it increases certainty for business planning and investment in the technology needed to move towards a low carbon economy.
"The situation is urgent. The Prime Minister has already confirmed that the UK’s 2050 target to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 60% may need to be tightened to 80%. Adair Turner as Chair of the Committee on Climate Change will provide advice on this and the first three carbon budgets, later this year.
"The Bill also sets out a framework for adapting to unavoidable climate change – and places a duty on this and future administrations to assess the risks to the UK regularly and take action as a result.
"But away from the international and national work real changes will need to be made by every one of us.
"To meet the targets and carbon budgets in the Climate Change Bill, Government, local authorities, communities, businesses and individuals must work together as never before.
"Central Government can help with this. We are already working with local area partnerships to develop Local Area Agreements (LAAs) which set out a local vision and priorities for the improved delivery of public services.
"LAAs have a strong focus on economic development and neighbourhood regeneration of the most deprived areas, tackling social as well as economic and environmental issues. And for the first time they include action on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
"This provides Local Authorities with the freedom to set ambitious targets on climate change, and set about achieving these with determination.
"To help this the Environment Minister Phil Woolas yesterday announced a new £4 million programme which will provide additional support and guidance for authorities to learn from the best practice that is already out there,
"This is not just about reducing emissions in Authorities’ own operations – important though that is.
"Local Authorities who want to be seen as effective leaders need to work in partnership with the people and businesses in the communities they represent to tackle climate change and cut emissions more widely.
"In the East Midlands every LAA is on track to contain a mitigation target to reduce CO2 emissions. Many also address adaptation. I welcome this. I am proud that the region I champion is at the front of this game. It is important to build on the strong leadership demonstrated when all local authorities in the region signed up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change – making this region the first to achieve that landmark.
"Here in the East Midlands, regional stakeholders are working to create a Programme of Action on Climate Change. This will coordinate actions to address the challenges that we face and support local authorities in their sub-regional activities. If we are ambitious and purposeful now, we can limit changes to our climate and much more easily manage the changes we can no longer avoid.
"For example, Local Climate Impact Profile assessments are planned for each LAA area. These will help identify adaptive measures that will need to be taken to make areas more prepared for future weather events. And help embed adaptation into mainstream council processes.
"We also need to move more rapidly to a low carbon economy. So it’s opportune that we’re in Loughborough today where the newly established Energy Technologies Institute has its headquarters. The Institute brings together some of the world’s biggest companies, including BP, Shell, and Rolls Royce, to help establish the UK as leaders in the development of secure, reliable, and affordable low carbon technologies.
"Businesses and investors need to lever all of their imagination and flair to develop the sustainable buildings, products and services at a quality and a price that people can afford.
"And in return we, as consumers at home and at work, must reward these businesses by buying their greener goods, placing longer-term contracts for their sustainable services, and choosing to live and work in a lower carbon environment.
"As a result of the Government’s Sub-National Review of economic development and regeneration, local government has been given a stronger role in working with the Regional Development Agencies to prepare the new single regional strategies. These strategies will provide an excellent opportunity to agree sustainable development as the priority for the region, and to set the region on a course towards a low carbon and sustainable future.
"It’s vital to keep the momentum going. It’s not just a priority for Government. It’s a priority for us all. Our knowledge of mankind’s impact on the natural world has increased. And we have a duty to put that knowledge to good use.
"The East Midlands has many examples of good practice. The UK’s largest ‘green’ Conference and Event Centre will be opening shortly in Lincolnshire. The Epic Centre demonstrates a construction ethos that focuses on sustainable materials.
"And Sherwood Energy Village recently won the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Silver Jubilee Cup, the top prize in planning. The award shows how serious planners are about putting the environment first.
•"Recently, Defra published new research on public attitudes to sustainable consumption. The research looks at how much people know, what they think, and what their future intentions are. It covers such areas as energy, travel, holidays, food and finances.
"Disappointingly, for many making the more sustainable choice is too often associated with ‘sacrifice’, higher costs and reduced quality.
"Overall, it shows that although individuals recognise they have a personal responsibility to change their behaviour to protect the environment, most expect government to take the lead on these issues.
"I’m afraid this rather misses the point.
"Ultimately all of us have to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions. Each government, each business, each individual must play a part. We all have to live within our environmental means.
"I can mention several clear examples of how citizens can be reached and engaged. Defra’s Climate Challenge Fund supported a number of projects in this region. The Wellingborough Toolkit has proved popular with local communities helping them understand what climate change means to them and what they can do about it.
“Everybody’s Talking About It” has been equally successful in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire with nearly 10,000 people pledging to cut their carbon emissions. While in Derby the city's biggest employers worked together to help change employee attitudes to climate change.
"So in conclusion, there are already some great initiatives taking place.
"But there is also room for many, many more. We can all be part of a sustainable future; tackling climate change – the greatest challenge we face and will continue to face into the future. We have the ambition, the know-how and the technology to deliver a low carbon future. I am sure that with the resourcefulness and endeavour that has characterised the East Midlands over the decades, that we will be able to achieve it.
"I look forward to working with you and the rest of the region in driving this agenda forward.
