HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : A greener future for Britain – Gordon Brown [December 2009]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 22 December 2009.

Gordon Brown has spoken of a “low carbon, greener future” for Britain in his latest podcast following the “tough negotiations” of the Copenhagen climate change summit.

The PM talked of the challenges of the summit and stressed that Copenhagen should mark the beginning, not the end, of efforts to keep climate change at the top of the political agenda.

The Prime Minister also looked to the opportunities that the fight against climate change could present for Britain’s economy:

“I am convinced that Britain’s long term prosperity lies in leading the necessary transformation to a low carbon, greener future.

“We must become a global leader not just in financing greener technologies but in the development and manufacture of wind, tidal, nuclear and other low-carbon energy.”

He also urged the global community to “learn lessons” from the previous week’s conference and called for the creation of a central body to chair future talks:

“I believe that in 2010 we will need to look at reforming our international institutions to meet the common challenges we face as a global community.”

In his penultimate podcast of 2009, the Prime Minister expressed his optimism about the coming year, with decreasing crime rates and the recent announcement of new opportunities for job seekers.