South West Leads One Planet Economy Debate
15/02/2006 12:23Key stakeholders in the South West's future descended on Bristol last January for a regional debate looking at 'Leadership for a One Planet Economy'. The debate sought to establish how the region can deliver economic prosperity within environmental limits and, in particular, how we can inspire the leadership needed to deliver this 'one planet' economy. The theme of the event echoed those identified by the national sustainable development strategy, Securing the Future, and the region's new economic strategy.
High profile speakers were invited to kick start the debate including Andrew Simms of the New Economics Foundation; Peter Jones, Director of Biffa Waste Management; Simon Roberts, Chief Executive at the Centre for Sustainable Energy; Matthew Spencer of Regen SW - the South West's renewable energy agency and Michael Smith, Managing Director of the Venus Company - an ambitiously 'green' café outlet.
Initial ideas generated by the debate included providing a 'one stop shop' for information and best practice to deliver 'one planet' solutions and inspiring greater courage, creativity and competitiveness in securing the benefits of a low carbon economy for the region. An event report detailing the outcomes in full will also be available - contact us for more details.
The event was sponsored by the Environment Agency, supported by the South West Regional Development Agency and co-ordinated by Sustainability South West as the first of a potential series of debates on the region's future.
Simon Hooton, Director of Policy and Strategy at the South West Regional Development Agency, who chaired the event commented: "The South West's Regional Economic Strategy is setting the agenda already. Most partners agree that the South West needs a prosperous economy, increasingly delivered within environmental limits."
Leslie Watson, Director of Sustainability South West, said: "According to a recent study our region is running on an 'overdraft' of natural resources - as though we had three planets instead of one! The Leadership for a One Planet Economy event revealed a keen appetite for more commitment to ensure that our region gets ahead of the game."
Richard Cresswell, Regional Director of the Environment Agency, who have funded the event, added: "The RDA's economic strategy, together with the Government's sustainable development strategy, make our goals very clear. The South West needs a prosperous economy that protects and enhances our prized environment for future generations, and limits our contribution to climate change. This event was an opportunity for the region to get to grips with what would need to change for society in the South West to live within the resources available from a single planet - and we do only have one planet!"
© 2012 Sustainability South West - UK registered charity, no. 1106125 - info@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.