Spring Statement: Chancellor unveils policies to 'build sustainability into the heart' of UK economy

Driving innovation

Environmental policies were at the centre of Philip Hammond's attempts to woo younger voters in today's Spring Statement, with the Chancellor unveiling a raft of new environmental initiatives covering housing, aviation, biodiversity and energy efficiency.

"Our challenge is to demonstrate to the next generation that our market economy can fulfil their aspirations and speak to their values," Hammond said, in a nod to waves of public protests in recent weeks, including strikes by UK schoolchildren, urging the government to take more radical action to battle climate change. But Hammond insisted the solution to the climate crisis lies in driving innovation in the private sector. "As with the challenge of adapting to the digital age, so with the challenge of shaping the carbon neutral economy of the future, we must apply the creativity of the m...