Environmental legislation 'needs clarity for businesses'

The government's environmental legislation needs to be clarified for businesses to understand how they can work with it, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Earlier this week, the CBI stated that the Green Deal, which will give financial motivations to improve properties' energy-efficiency, needs greater clarity on how it can be financed and promoted.

The environmental legislation aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases used by the country as one-quarter of the UK's carbon emissions comes from energy consumed in properties and homes.

However, a survey taken by the group showed that the energy-efficiency of a building is not a consideration to three-quarters of the public.

The CBI therefore stated that the government needs to promote the environmental legislation more to ensure that businesses that will deliver the initiative have a market they can work with.

CBI deputy director-general Dr Neil Bentley said: "The Green Deal is a good idea, but risks becoming a lame duck unless the government tackles the big questions of financing and uptake."

Posted by Claire Manning