More investors must send strong signals to the market over the importance of a company’s environmental record in making investment decisions, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Joan Ruddock said today.

Ms Ruddock emphasised the vital role played by investors in turning companies green.

Ms Ruddock said: “It is imperative for Government and businesses to work closely together to question our practices, challenge them and, more importantly, make business choices that reflect the importance of a low carbon economy.

“Investors have a particularly key role to play in this. They should give consideration to environmental and social credentials, sending out signals to the financial markets to say that carbon disclosure is vital and show companies that it will affect their investment decisions. Together we must work to drive down emissions.”