Tony Blair is to lead a new international team to tackle the intractable problem of securing a global deal on climate change which would have the backing of China and America.The former prime minister believes he can help prepare a blueprint for an agreement to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2050, and has the backing of the White House, the UN and Europe, including Gordon Brown.

There should be an overhaul of the way farming is regulated to reduce the amount of red tape farmers have to deal with, the Conservative Party has said.

Business leaders believe Alistair Darling's first Budget will make the economic slowdown worse and the Chancellor's reputation among them has sunk to a new low.

A coalition of magic circle, City and national firms joined forces with the Environmental Law Foundation and the Law Society this week to ‘lead the profession in the fight against climate change’. The Legal Sector Alliance will focus on developing environmental principles which can be applied to law firms of any size to help them reduce their carbon emissions.

£5 million is to be invested in attracting women into five career sectors where they are currently underrepresented.The Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative is to receive the funding over the next three years. The initiative works with Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) to introduce women into new career pathways.

Pick up a paper, turn on the television, visit the cinema or walk into a shop, and the chances are that you will be bombarded with information on the environment, ethical trading, sustainability and the whole carbon family comprising footprints, labelling, emissions and offsets.

The New Consumer rounds up the best comments sent to them by companies and environmental groups

Business in the Community responds to Lord Goldsmith's Citizenship Review - 'Investors in Communities'. In a report published this week, Lord Goldsmith,  former attorney general,  calls for a 'greater recognition of businesses that support civic participation for their employees.'

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