Rishi Sunak's spending review 'will fail to kickstart green recovery'

New infrastructure bank and emissions-trading scheme are insufficient, say campaigners

A new infrastructure bank, to be based in the north of England, and an emissions-trading scheme covering large portions of industry were proclaimed by Rishi Sunak as evidence that the government is aligning its aim of rescuing the UK economy from the Covid-19 slump with its goal of cutting emissions to net zero by 2050.

But for the most part, experts said the chancellor's spending review and infrastructure strategy failed to give the kickstart to the green recovery that economists have been advising and green campaigners have urged.