A group of leading environmental and economic experts have today called for the launch of a "Green New Deal" capable of steadying the listing global economy and accelerating the development of a low-carbon economy.

The group - which includes former Friends of the Earth director Larry Elliott, Solarcentury founder Jeremy Leggett, Guardian economics editor Larry Elliot and Andrew Simms of think tank the New Economics Foundation - has released a wide ranging report arguing that major reforms to the global financial system are required to tackle the "triple crunch" of tightening credit conditions, rising oil prices, and accelerating climate change.

Read more about the Green New Deal here