Have we all been talking total, utter nonsense?

So says David Cameron, who last night insisted the UK is “overachieving” against its carbon targets and well on the road to a green economy. 

It is somewhat ironic that the Prime Minister was speaking so emphatically about this from Westminster – which was this week reported to have failed to meet targets to cut its own pollution footprint – in London – which has already breached annual pollution limits just one week into 2016.

“If the Government can’t even cut its own pollution footprint, how can anyone have confidence they will cut Britain’s?” asked Labour’s Lisa Nandy this week. It’s a good question. But perhaps we should be looking elsewhere for the answer. Perhaps a more reliable answer to the big green economy question lies in business.

Over the past week, we’ve reported on some bold new collaborations between retailers, suppliers and technology firms. We’ve seen a host of carmakers rolling out longer-range EVs. And we’ve seen a flurry of organisations installing innovative new onsite solutions to slash emissions and increase efficiency.

Aside from the political debate surrounding the Government’s approach to energy and climate change, and aside from its own failings to meet sustainability targets, it’s good to see some businesses taking the lead and carrying the positive momentum of Paris into the New Year.