The 2003 Royal Society Report on Environmental Pollution concluded that stabilisation would only be possible if the current level of global carbon footprints were reduced by 60% up to 2050 followed by a further 80% reduction leading up to 2100, this is not business as usual. In the UK this is supported by the new legally binding Climate Change Act with Carbon Reduction Commitments directing 80% CO2 reductions up to 2050, here.

New EU 20:20:20 Directive driven legislation will drive the market to enable EU 27 countries to meet three new targets by 2020,

· to increase the share of energy generated by renewables to 20%,
· to cut total greenhouse emissions by 20%,
· to improve energy efficiency by 20%.

The Stern Report has quantified the opportunity and the size of the prize for enlightened organisations of more than £257bn by 2050 for low carbon products and services, a huge opportunity for employment, innovation and wealth creation in the new low carbon green knowledge economy.