16 Apr 2010 04:04:15

Google calls for price on carbon

Google has spoken in support of a price on carbon to tackle global warming, insisting it makes good business sense.

Dan Reicher, the organisation's director of climate change and energy initiatives, told the Guardian that carbon pricing would provide the incentive companies need to invest in green technology.

This would in turn create a new market for environmental innovations that Google and others could exploit.

"Putting a serious price on carbon will both get us closer to the serious energy reductions we need to make but also accelerate the domestic development and adoption of these technologies," he explained.

Mr Reicher said there are "various ways to get a carbon price" and insisted that it would not just be businesses that would benefit.

Households could save money by reducing their energy consumption and adopting energy efficiency technology, with carbon pricing encouraging them to do so.

Meanwhile, the Guardian has reported that the Aldersgate Group is putting together a report containing recommendations from a coalition of low carbon firms, which it would like to see implemented by the new UK government.

They include extending the role of carbon pricing in the country.

http://tinyurl.com/y5lu28c