It’s staring George Osborne in the face. It’s written in the Autumn Statement. But the Chancellor still doesn’t get it, says Jonathan Bartley. But the green challenge is central to developing a just, sustainable economy.

The Green Party has called for an end to "arbitrary, ego-driven economic policy-making". It wants an "open, rational debate" about sustainability.

The received wisdom perpetuated by the government is that deep and immediate public spending cuts are necessary and beneficial, says Simon Barrow. But there are strong economic arguments that point towards investment in long-term sustainability rather than hitting the most vulnerable to reduce the deficit.