Moving to the Green Economy
The Government is taking action to cut carbon emissions, create the conditions for green growth, and improve resilience to climate change. This will help to bring about the transition to a sustainable green economy. Such a transition is essential for delivering sustainable growth, both economically and environmentally, not just in traditional environmental and low carbon sectors, but across the wider economy.
Businesses are the key to the transition to a green economy. Businesses can create growth and jobs as well as contributing to a cleaner environment through taking action on climate change, the more efficient use of resources such as energy, water and materials and minimising waste.
There will also be business opportunities for organisations of all sizes created by new and developing markets for more innovative green and low carbon technologies and processes that can help deliver the transition to a greener economy. UK businesses could save around £23 billion per year from resource efficiency measures that cost little or nothing, including approximately £18bn from using raw materials more efficiently and generating less waste.
Three different government departments – Defra, DECC, and BIS – work on issues relating to the green economy. They are all keen to collaborate with LEPs on such issues.
Defra
As the lead Department for the green economy Defra is keen to work with LEPs in this area via policies around waste, valuing the natural environment and adapting to and mitigating climate change. These all play an important role in delivering a green economy, and present opportunities and challenges for businesses.
Defra has a number of delivery partners who can help you to work with on issues such as wildlife, marine management and waste and resource efficiency. For information and contact details for Defra, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation, the Forestry Commission and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) see Further information on the Environment Agency and Defra’s other delivery partners (DOC, 51 Kb) .
BIS
The low carbon economy team in BIS works with industry and across Government to maximise opportunities and minimise costs arising from the transition to a low carbon economy for British-based businesses. The team leads work on how to maintain a competitive energy intensive sector whilst meeting greenhouse gas targets.
The team looks forward to working with LEPs on low carbon/green innovation, green infrastructure, stimulation of supply chains and green low carbon clusters.
New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership is leading on a Green Economy pathfinder in the Norfolk and Suffolk areas. Further details are available for download (PDF, 40 Kb) .
Contact to be added shortly.
DECC
DECC has developed a online source of information for LEPs on a local approach to issues relating to energy and climate change: Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs): The economic case for fighting climate change
Specific advice for LEPs who wish to lead renewable and low carbon energy projects and strategies is provided by Community Energy Online.
