With the global market for low-carbon goods and services expected to be worth around £4 trillion by 2015, small and medium sized enterprises need to act now to develop new products, as well as taking steps to improve energy efficiency, the business organisation says.

The CBI’s Climate Change Summit will explore how moving to a low-carbon economy can foster economic growth across all sectors, from farming to accounting.

Dr Neil Bentley, CBI director for business environment, says: ‘SMEs will be the engine of the UK’s economic recovery and the low-carbon sector presents many exciting new opportunities for growth. The Summit will bring together businesses, banks and politicians to plot the course for the UK to become a world leader in low carbon technology.’