Scoping Devon’s Green Economy

Nigel Tremlett

20th April 2012

Aims of study

To obtain a strategic overview of Devon’s Green Economy

To help inform the development of a Devon LNP

To assess the challenges, opportunities and priorities for future joint working between a LNP and the LEP

o To scope out and assemble baseline data on the Green Economy

o To clarify the role of the Natural Environment

o To collect views on a Devon LNP

What is a Green Economy? United Nation’s definition:

“Improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.”

International Chamber of Commerce definition:“An economy in which economic growth and environmental sustainability work together in a mutually reinforcing fashion while supporting progress on social development”

Global Citizen’s Centre definition:

“A triple bottom line economy concerned with being environmentally sustainable, socially just and locally rooted”

What is a Green Economy? UK Government 2011:

“A green economy is not a sub-set of the economy at large – our whole economy needs to be green. A green economy will maximise value and growth across the whole economy, while managing natural assets sustainably.

Our vision is that our green economy will:

- Grow sustainably and for the long term

- Use natural resources efficiently

- Be more resilient

- Exploit comparative advantages”

Sector Definition

Devon’s Green Economy

Environmental Technologies

Points about Sector Definition Numerous difficulties:

• Some sectors “greener” than others• Uses economic, quantitative measures • Ignores much wider benefits , such as social & health impacts 

Also benefits:

• Allows progress to be measured  • Is easily promoted and highlighted • Uses language of business (jobs, GVA, etc)

The Role of Natural Assets in creating economic benefits

Additional economic benefits Many further economic benefits of high quality environment:

• Improves economic competitiveness– Generates inward investment – Attracts labour supply – Evidence that it increases labour productivity– House prices – proximity effects

• Improves economic security– Climate change mitigation – Reduces flood risk and other “natural” hazards – Reduces “downstream” cost of clean-up– Reduces urban heat island effect

“The MEBIE is focused on green infrastructure interventions … with benefits presented in

terms of major economic themes and ecosystems

services”

“The review can demonstrate the weight of evidence around a particular benefit……it cannot provide a formula which allows the production of values which relate to particular project…”

Green Economy Opportunities Main opportunities identified:

• Develop “Make it Local” (build/source/buy local)• Key sector/sub-sector support:

– Environmental technologies/Low carbon/alternative fuels/RE – Tourism: Eco-tourism, activity holidays, nature breaks– Primary: Diversification of rural industries

• Further development of successful “green” projects– Upstream thinking– Teignbridge Green Infrastructure Network– Ward foresters  

• Paid ecosystems services

Green Economy Threats Main threats/weaknesses identified:

• Fragmentation/silo mentality/lack of cluster• Number of micros and SMEs with less time to go “green”   • Lack of political support/changing policy• Skills issues in green sectors  • Poor understanding/awareness of value (and fragility) of NE• Continued impact of recession pushing green agenda down• Access to finance/lack of external investment

Devon’s Green Economy Key discussion points for workshop:

- How should we define the Green Economy?- What are the priorities for developing Devon’s Green

Economy? - How do we mitigate the weaknesses and threats to

Devon’s Green Economy?

The Role of the Natural Environment

The social and health benefits of Devon’s natural capital assets

How we can better “repay” the environment for the impact of our activities, economic and otherwise

Devon’s Natural Environment 1 Marine Nature Reserve (Lundy) 1 Ramsar Site (Exe Estuary) 1 UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (North Devon Biosphere) 2 World Heritage Sites (Jurassic Coast + West Devon Mining) 2 National Parks (Dartmoor and Exmoor) 3 Special Protection Areas (SPA) 4 Areas of Special Protection for Birds (AOSP) 5 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) 9 National Nature Reserves (NNR) 20 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) 50 Non-Statutory Nature Reserves 217 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (9% of Devon) 251 Key species of wildlife c.2,000 County Wildlife Sites (CWS)

•

State of Devon’s Nature Report produced last month assessing Sites of Special Scientific Interest

and County Wildlife Sites. Key points were:

60% of SSIs still require significant management to take place before the site can be regarded as fully in the favourable category; and

50-60% of County Wildlife Sites still need significant management work to be continued if the site is to be fully in the correct condition

Some issues:

Woodlands: non native species and improving structural diversity

Coastal: Sea cliffs/stabilisation and dunes/inappropriate management

Upland Bog: 83% SSSI is in Unfavourable Recovering condition

Grassland/heathlands: lack of grazing and scrub encroachment

Rivers: siltation and water pollution

Social and Health Benefits of Devon’s Natural Assets

Evidence for Social and Health Benefits of Natural Assets

• Green space = positive health outcomes• Exposure to Natural Environments has strong

psychological benefits• New or better green infrastructure increases physical

activity levels• Increased community cohesion reduces crime levels

and improves educational outcomes

National Trust: “Nature Deficit Disorder”

A lack of engagement with nature is resulting in our children:

- Being obese;- Having mental health

problems; and- Being unable to assess risks.

Our well being

…

Being happy yesterday

Likelihood of being anxious

…

UN discusses happiness, wellbeing and a “new economy”

• Discussion focused on attempting to realise the vision of an economic policy that embraces wellbeing, sustainability and environmental priorities.

An independent task force was established to develop the details of the new economic framework, which will be presented at the Rio+20 summit later this year

Cultural change Changing our attitudes towards “valuing” nature by better

demonstrating the cost to the environment of our activities Greater transparency over what it costs to maintain environment and

what the benefits are (taken for granted at moment) Promotion of collective benefits of the environment across all groups in

society (especially in business, health, education sectors)

Charging/payback schemes Using visitor/residents payback schemes Using business carrot and stick schemes Using localism agenda (local taxes, etc)

Trading the benefits with business, society et al

Main suggestions:

Much greater focus/support for “Make it Local” campaign Bring together relevant players in “blended package” of aims Environmental entrepreneurs fund/Green Investment Bank Paid ecosystems approach Business awareness campaign Schemes that reap both environmental and business benefits

(such as Devon wide carbon offsetting/foot-printing scheme)

Realigning resources and growing business opportunities

Main suggestions:

Triple bottom line/balanced score card approach Creation of a better “Green” USP to change perceptions Collaborative approach to addressing the matter Getting “whole life” costs/benefits brought into accounting Working with LEP/business groups Getting “Green agenda” on local strategies, planning

documents, etc

An economy that better reflects the value of natural capital

The Role of the Natural Environment

Key discussion points:- How can we better trade the economic and social

benefits of the natural environment with business, civil society and the public sector?

- How can we realign resources and grow business opportunities to pay for a healthy natural environment?

- How can we develop an economy which better reflects the real value of natural capital and services and that places natural capital at the heart of Devon’s accounting?