Environment Activists bemoan lost chance to create green economy

The latest budget will do little to meet the UK's net zero carbon goals, misses opportunities to create a green economy, and will saddle households with high energy bills driven by fossil fuel prices, say green campaigners and experts.

- Fiona Harvey

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, was a self-styled "green Tory" as a backbencher, and in his speech gave a nod towards the UK's green ambitions with a boost for nuclear power and for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

But missing from the budget was any hint of the hoped-for focus on home insulation, any strengthening of the windfall tax on record oil and gas profits, or removal of the barriers to onshore windfarms.

Instead, the continuing freeze on fuel duty will benefit drivers of fuel-guzzling SUVs, and will leave the UK on the starting blocks while other countries - including the US, the EU and China - are racing ahead in creating green jobs, according to analysts.