Region’s firms support the green agenda

YORKSHIRE firms are bucking ‘green cynicism’ by showing their support at an event designed to share practical ways to cut carbon emissions.

More than 450 firms attended the second Low Carbon Best Practice Exchange event, which featured nearly 100 ideas for reducing carbon emissions.

Action topics included making transport fleets greener by using hydrogen fuel. Some of the region’s biggest firms such as Northern Foods gave presentations on how they are reducing energy and water costs.

A spokesman for event organiser CO2 Sense Yorkshire said that delegates were shown how the low-carbon economy presented big opportunities.

Up to 55,000 jobs could be created for engineers, construction workers and manufacturers if Yorkshire is successdul in creating a carbon capture and storage network.

“A range of companies were on hand to demonstrate products, made in Yorkshire, that can provide big carbon savings and cash savings too,” he added.

“For example, low-energy LED lighting, passive power-saving devices and green hydrogen-fuelled transport.”

The event comes on the back of new figures from the Chartered Management Institute shows that a mere 16% of managers are putting the environment at the top of their agenda.

In terms of embracing the green agenda, those at director and senior management-level appear to be thwarting the enthusiasm of junior and young managers, through a lack of leadership on the issue.

More than half of directors (54%) were identified as ‘climate change cynics’.