JONATHON PORRITT, considered to be one of the most influential green thinkers of our time, spoke in Liverpool last night.

The one-time director of Friends of the Earth gave a lecture staged as part of a series by the University of Liverpool to celebrate the city’s Year of Environment. Mr Porritt, who has just finished nine years’ work leading the Government’s Sustainable Development Commission, talked about being green in a recession.

Ahead of the lecture, he told the Daily Post: “At a time when every political party is planning savage cuts, I fear this will impact on the idea of investment in green technology and housing.

“These are increasingly important and can’t be done if public expenditure is being cut. We need to put in place investments in a sustainable, low- carbon economy.”

His lecture, titled Recession And Recovery: It’s The Ecology, Stupid took place at the Philharmonic Hall.

Mr Porritt caused controversy earlier this year when he said strict birth control was needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.