2. Our starting point:
What is a Green Economy?
“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.
It will help UK businesses take advantage
of new markets for environmental goods
and services, and to demonstrate the
strong stance the UK is taking
internationally to reduce carbon and
tackle climate change.”
3. Our Objectives
• Reinforce Norfolk and Suffolk’s ‘USP’ as the
government’s choice for the GEP.
• Deliver a ‘routemap’ for transition to a sustainable green
economy that will help boost growth, create jobs,
develop skills, increase resource security and better
position the UK in the competitive global marketplace.
• Deliver substance through ideas and case studies that
put low carbon at the heart of business opportunity and
success.
• Establish New Anglia as a green economy capital.
5. Key Partners include:
Academics
Business leaders, strategists,
entrepreneurs
Academia
Local authorities
6.
7. Making the Connections
Norfolk & Suffolk Local Nature Partnership
Business and Biodiversity
New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership
8. Vision & Mission
Our vision is to lead the transition towards a green
economy, delivering benefits across our region and
nationally.
Our mission is for Norfolk & Suffolk to:
•grow sustainably and for the long term
•use natural resources efficiently
•be more resilient
•build on current experience and exploit comparative
advantages
11. “
The natural capital of Norfolk and Suffolk is a key asset
for our economy, and the sustainable gilts or bonds
for the region; the ‘family silver’ if you like. We must
make sure we continue to invest in these reserves,
and grow them; the dividend
or surplus they generate must be reinvested in our
natural capital. Losing our equivalent to ‘triple-A
rating’ for the natural environment isn’t an option if
we want a sustainable green economy to flourish.”
Richard Powell OBE National Trust
12. Bank of Natural Capital -
Assets
Bank of Natural Capital - Assets
Bank of Natural
“The natural capital ‘bank’ of Norfolk and
Bank ofgood. Our natural capital assets
Suffolk is Natural Capital - Assets
provide food, homes and amenities for people
Capital - Assets
and wildlife, communities and businesses –
delivering productive agricultural land, the
highest density of important sites for wildlife in
England.”
13. Bank of Natural Capital –
Performance
• Employment
- 118,000 people employed in food & farming
• Tourism
- Broads - over 7 million visitors per year
• Income
- £437m income to the Broads
- £3.4bn – value of tourism sector
• Health
- Saving £2.1bn – UK Health Budget
14. Yellowstone Effect will......
• establish the full attractiveness and value of
the natural environment
• raise awareness in the business community
of how environment can play an important
role in business
• be beneficial to the economy of the area by
linking landscape, farming, tourism, wildlife,
recreation, heritage and local food.
15. Green infrastructure
1800
1600
1400
1200
Number of cyclists
1000
Burwell Fen
SB Lode Bridge
800
600
400
200
0
May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12 Apr-12
Month
Natural capital A Norfolk and Suffolk Local Nature Partnership (LNP) will provide local leadership to keep nature high on the agenda across the private, public and third sectors. The LNP will have a strong link to the New Anglia LEP – sharing a Business and Biodiversity Board to improve dialogue with planners and developers, and implement a green infrastructure approach. There are key challenges in this as in all relationships: Language Shared Goals & Mutual Interest
Our vision and mission Our vision Our vision is to lead the transition towards a green economy, delivering benefits across our region and nationally. This manifesto for achieving this important element of sustainable economic growth is being presented to the UK Government in the summer. Our mission Our mission is for Norfolk and Suffolk to: grow sustainably and for the long term – achieving economic growth, improved quality of life, and reduced emissions and other environmental impacts. use natural resources efficiently – and maintain the natural capital assets that support economic activity through effective demand management and efficiency measures for energy and other resources in homes, offices and businesses. be more resilient – securing supplies of energy and other natural resources with a significantly reduced reliance on fossil fuels. build on current experience and exploit comparative advantages – to deliver innovative low-carbon solutions at scale.
Valuing our natural capital Just last week the World Bank called on countries to take urgent steps to protect their natural capital Putting monetary value on natural ecosystems is a key step on the road to green economic growth Policies should ensure the pursuit of economic growth does not occur at the expense of future growth potential, by destroying natural assets such as water sources, or polluting air, rivers and soil We are in danger of undermining the basis on which growth has been achieved
GDP+ BUT not about stopping growth, or being a ‘condition’ of development – GDP Plus would incorporate both traditional ways of measuring GDP and measures of natural capital (in 2010 India announced that it would be the first country to publish accounts of its natural wealth as well as financial measurements). Natural Capital - a catalyst for sustainable growth Catalyst to unlock investment rather than barrier to growth At the heart of decision-making for a sustainable future Jobs dependent on natural capital provide sustainable, long-term employment – if we don’t depreciate the assets that support economic activity
The natural capital ‘bank’ of Norfolk and Suffolk is full. Our natural capital assets provide food, homes and amenities for people and wildlife, communities and businesses – delivering productive agricultural land, the highest density of important sites for wildlife in England
Tourism in Norfolk and Suffolk generates approximately £4bn each year, but there is potential to develop an even more compelling year-round offer. The Broads are visited by over 7 million people a year, and brought in £437m in 2010. The woodland in the East of England is calculated to be worth £1.3bn woodland contributes £345 million to the east of England economy every year through timber related industry – including direct market benefits from timber and wood products, renewable energy, recreation and tourism, and housing. When people have good access to green space, they are 24% more likely to be physically active, saving around £2.1bn for the UK’s annual health budget Natural capital By protecting and investing on our natural environment, we support proportionately more direct employee jobs in the green economy than the national average (estimated to be about 8% of the total in the New Anglia area). A key characteristic of the types of employment directly linked to the natural environment is that they are sustainable, long-term jobs in a sector that continues to grow. We have improved environmental literacy and connectivity between people and the natural environment. One in five households in Norfolk and Suffolk have someone who is a member of a wildlife or conservation charity – supporting increased investment in our natural environment. We have a tourism industry worth £3.4bn – largely dependent on a quality natural environment that attracts millions of visitors (7 million annually to the Broads alone). We have improved the quality of our accommodation and hospitality, driving growth in the market and increasing the value of the sector to the local economy. High-quality food and drink produced in the area attracts a premium due to its regional provenance.
“ We are seeking to establish the ‘Yellowstone effect’, in bringing together business and environmental interests, the ‘MIT effect’ for the development of clean technology and finance, and the ‘Texas Gulf effect’ in bringing together an all energy approach. This development of strong sub-brands for UK plc will provide unique selling points for Norfolk and Suffolk around important economic generators.” Iain Dunnett Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
When people have good access to green space they are 24% more likely to be physically active, with an annual health costs saving calculated to be around £2.1bn. This graph shows the number of cyclists using the Lodes Way in 2011. The ‘green infrastructure’ is a key part of the project – linking Wicken Fen Nature Reserve with local communities and the urban population in the city. We also run a popular Health Walks Scheme – 51 walks in 2011 – with 30-40 regular participants (3162 miles were walked in 2011!).
One of solutions = create new intertidal through Managed re-alignment (bank and breach re-alignments) Involves removal or re-alignment of sea defences to create new area of inter-tidal, backed by new defences or higher ground - Frieston Shore MRS – shows breach in sea wall and sea coming in to flood arable land behind it.
Case study: Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve – investing in the future Wicken Fen was the very first nature reserve to be owned by NT and has been in our care since 1989. It remains one of the most important wetlands in Europe – an iconic habitat, supporting thousands of plants, insects, birds and mammals, but at the heart of an area facing major pressure for new development. We have worked hard for more than 100 years to protect the rare species here through intensive management of the fen habitats. However, this became increasingly difficult and by the late 20 th century it had become clear that we could not protect this unique place because the wetland nature reserve was just too small and too isolated. The concept of extending the reserve was conceived. Wicken – key facts: Visitors 2011/12 = 52,818 FTE = 11
Wicken Fen Vision In 1999, we launched the Wicken Fen Vision. The 100 year Vision aims to extend the reserve to a maximum of 5,300 hectares by purchasing land to the south and east of Wicken, restoring its fen and wetland habitats and creating a landscape-scale space for wildlife and people. Wicken Fen Vision – creating space for wildlife and people On the doorstep of significant planned growth Part of a landscape-scale restoration project Attracts significant funding – catalyst for economic renewal and opportunities for local labour force Generate long term economic activity and opportunities for employment Contributing to the quality of life for local communities Already we have acquired sufficient land to more than double the size of the reserve to its current XXX hectares. We are now working with individuals and organisations at community, regional and national levels to create a unique series of habitats and a huge public open space for people to explore and enjoy. The WFV, along with the related Great Fen Project near Peterborough, are exciting, pioneering projects to put wildlife back into heavily managed fenland countryside. They will have international significance for the ecological transformation of landscapes and will form part of a new network of wetland habitats across the East of England. The Fens for The Future Partnership is seeking to establish an ecological network for the Fenland: The Link will provide a range of opportunities that will create a more diverse economy and increase the skills base of the local economy and will; Be a tourism asset in its own right and will provide a connection between existing and new attractions Act as a catalyst for economic renewal, including use of local labour force Increase development value and the opportunity for investment Focus and bring together regeneration opportunities Generate long term economic activity and opportunities for employment Be attractive to EU funding Help diversify the rural economy Promote innovation and technology, including access to broadband Central to the investment in this programme for regeneration is the economic benefit it offers the community. Through its stimulation of property development for residential, holiday properties, commercial and leisure opportunities, the area will attract businesses, long term investment, vacation spend and day trippers. The Link will provide a unique tourism asset that will provide real benefits to the local community through additional jobs and better transport facilities. It is predicted that the Link will attract: 200,000 additional day visitors per year bringing in nearly £10m per year to the area. 800,000 additional visitors owing to bird watching, jogging, photography, picnicking and general relaxation bringing in nearly £4m per year in the area. An income through boating holidays of over £3m per year. At least 600 new privately owned boats leading to an income of around £1.5m per year. Income generated through boat trips and restaurant boats of£0.1m per year Income generated by the hire of day boats at some £0.05m per year Over 1700 full time jobs created to construct The Link; 80% taken from local communities Links with new technology. Skills and training opportunities to increase the economic activity of the Fens.
These projects recognise that to deliver this kind of conservation vision requires integrating the requirements of wildlife with the needs of local people, the economy and tourism. Public access is at the very heart of the WFV and a key aim is to open up thousands of hectares of green space foe people to enjoy, escaping the pressures of modern life and seeing wildlife and nature on their doorsteps. The area has a network of minor roads and rights of way, but these do not always allow access to the most interesting areas. The central element of the access plan is a spine route running from Wicken fen in the north to Waterbeach and Anglesey Abbey in the south. In early 2008 a new bridge was installed over Swaffam Bulbeck Lode opening up new routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and linking with new paths on land recently purchased by NT. The bridge over Reach Lode (pictured) was completed in September 2010, and we hope to improve public access over Burwell Lode which will complete the north-south ink across the Vision area.
A ‘green print’ for a sustainable economy The true value of the natural environment is at the heart of decision-making, recognising the long-term, sustainable return in jobs and growth that this will provide. Promote the natural capital assets of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to attract business and investment to support growth and development Promote investment in environmental mitigation in parallel with infrastructure projects – embedding a ‘triple-bottom line’ approach for all developments. Add economic value by actively identify opportunities for ‘re-wilding’ of landscapes to promote biodiversity and associated tourism and recreation Highlight the potential impact from climate change on our natural capital asset and support business opportunities to create innovative solutions.
I think it would be correct to say that nature conservation is a big issue in the Uk, with parties ranging from the UK government to concerned individuals playing a role. At Government level, the UK is signed up to the Biodiversity Action Plan process following the UK Government signing the Convention on Biological Diversity at the 1992 Rio ‘Earth Summit’ in Brazil. In 1994, the Government published a document called 'Biodiversity: the UK Action Plan', this set up a process for taking forward biodiversity conservation in the UK. Nature conservation also has a legislative foundation. UK legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 seek to protect our important sites and species. Additionally, as part of the European Union we have European directives to contend with, many of these have wide ranging implications. In the UK, English Nature is the statutory conservation body whose role it is to ensure this legislation is followed. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are also important including RSPB (the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), a network of county-based wildlife trusts, the National Trust and other groups such as the WWF-UK, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and others. There are also many smaller organisations, such as the Otter Trust, Vincent Trust – for mammals etc