Developing low carbon industries is not only about ticking the box marked 'being green.' It is a hard-headed business proposition which could generate thousands of jobs for the UK's stagnant economy. One English region, Leeds City, was the first to recently commission a study into the economic impact of low carbon investment, as Michael Burton reports.

The economy is stagnant, the eurozone is in crisis, public spending cuts have slashed regional employment levels, energy bills are soaring and deficit reduction is pushed back beyond 2014. Is there any cloud with a silver lining?