What is sustainable development?
The West Midlands faces a whole range of economic, social, environmental opportunities and risks, now and in the future. Sustainable development is an approach to navigating through these risks to create a strong, healthy and just society, living within environmental limits.
The role of Advantage West Midlands in sustainable development
The Sustainable Development team is committed to supporting regional businesses to maximise the economic opportunities and minimise the costs of the transition to a low carbon regional economy. By working with regional partners , Advantage West Midlands is coordinating investment in low carbon infrastructure and business support that will enable the West Midlands to create new green jobs and reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2007 Advantage West Midlands launched, on behalf of the region, the West Midlands Economic Strategy – ‘Connecting to Success’ - the UK’s first low-carbon economic strategy. This bold vision provides a clear strategy for the region to achieve its low-carbon ambitions and ensure that the economic future of the West Midlands is resilient to climate change, respects environmental limits and is prepared for the challenges of the future. By focussing on developing the region’s world class strengths in low carbon manufacturing, resource recovery and the development of ultra low carbon vehicles, the West Midlands stands at the forefront of the UK’s transition towards a low carbon economy and is well placed to maximise it’s share of the global market for low carbon goods and services worth more than £3 billion per year.”
Examples of low carbon programmes and our corporate commitment towards sustainable development include:
• The Waste Infrastructure Development Programme works with local authorities, waste and recycling businesses . WRAP support the diversion of waste from landfill; provide leadership on regional waste management issues and the recovery of valuable materials and resource from waste streams.
• The Smarter Working West Midlands project works with Coventry University and regional businesses to provide support for businesses to increase productivity and reduce carbon emissions by adopting new, more efficient technologies and working practices.
• The Increasing Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector project works with Salix Finance to provide interest free capital loans to public sector organisations such as local authorities and hospitals to install energy efficient technologies and measures into their buildings.
• RE:think Energy provide a grant scheme to raise awareness of the potential to deploy renewables and can provide funding for 50% of the capital costs for installation for SMEs situated within the Rural Regeneration Zone which covers areas in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The project is administered by Marches Energy Agency with Shropshire County Council as the accountable body.
• The Adaptation and Resilience for Business project works with regional businesses located within the six Regeneration Zones to assess vulnerability to fluvial and pluvial flooding, storm events and other extreme weather events. Building on the work of the UK Climate Impacts Programme, the project enables businesses to assess their vulnerability to climate change and plan risk assessment and mitigation strategies to allow for business continuity and resilience as the climate changes.
Waste: A Future Resource For Business - report
The primary focus of this study is to assess waste generated by the business sector within the region, however potential synergies in the management and treatment methods with those for municipal wastes has broadened the study scope to ensure a holistic approach to this strategy development is achieved.
It is anticipated that stimulation of debate and discussion with representatives from the waste management industry and other relevant stakeholders could be instrumental in assessing the above action list, prioritising and working towards ensuring the West Midlands has the future ability to sustainably manage the waste it produces. The full report can be downloaded from the 'Related documents' section above.
All financial support offered through Advantage West Midlands is provided in accordance with State Aid rules.