The world market for environmental technologies is dominated by Germany, Japan and the US, whose governments have recognised this new industry＇s importance for jobs, profits and trade balances, and so have developed very supportive policies. They employ a range of schemes, notably on research and development funding, export promotion, investment incentives and regulation, to promote their domestic environmental technology companies. In contrast, the UK＇s government has few schemes to help ensure that British environmental companies compete on a level international playing field. These are the key findings of a new international report,＇Government Policies as the Catalyst for the British Environmental Industry＇, just published by the London-based Environmental Industries Commission. Here its public affairs director, Adrian Wilkes, reports on what needs to be done to encourage a competitive approach.