Chris Huhne has hailed a report recommending green investment internationally which “governments and businesses can’t afford to ignore.”

The report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said that governments had to look toward the green economy to find sources for jobs and growth.

The under-fire Energy Secretary said: “This is a landmark report by the OECD which makes a strong case for greening growth, and it’s one that governments and businesses can’t afford to ignore. Green growth can cut emissions, help insulate against oil price shocks and bolster the fast-growing market for green goods and services -providing jobs, growth and prosperity.”

The report was launched at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting on 25 May and claims commercial opportunities related to investments in environmental sustainability could run into trillions of dollars by 2050.

However Mr Huhne said that the international community would have to work in unison if the benefits of a green economy were to be realised.

He said: “We’ll all have to work together to encourage the massive investment that’s needed to benefit our planet and growth, and the OECD’s work on this agenda can make a real difference.”