Carbon sectors is forecast to exceed growth in the more established Environmental sector, where many technologies (for example in Water and Waste Treatment) are already mature. The Renewable Energy and Emerging Low Carbon sectors currently show a much flatter growth than previously forecast for the period 2012 to 2015. It is anticipated that as economic uncertainty is reduced and investment funds start to flow, these growth forecasts will rise once again. The forecasts do not, and cannot, take into account any potential disruptive technology which might arrive on the market in the next eight years. If these forecasts are correct, the environmental economy will grow by about 45% over the next eight years, with much of this growth generated by Renewable Energy activities – a reflection of the drive to reduce carbon emissions under international targets, unstable energy prices and the desire to improve energy security. .
