There must be no let-up in businesses’ drive to improve their environmental performance in spite of the economic slowdown, the CBI warned on Monday.

“Energy security and climate change are right at the top of the policy priority list for the CBI, and will remain there over the long run,” Richard Lambert, the organisation’s director-general, said. “Stuff happens in politics to distract the focus of attention, but we know that the scale of this challenge must make it a business priority for the next 30 years.”