Walking the Talk: Can we DO it? Chris Crean Friends of the Earth A presentation given at State of the Region: Implications of Climate Change event, 20 April 2009. This presentation forms part of the Observatory’s ongoing State of the Region dialogue between policy makers and researchers on the theme of climate change.

Walking the Talk CAN we DO it?? How many planets support life? ONE Our lifestyle how many? THREE Does 3 into 1 go? WE HAVE A PROBLEM Climate Change, Resource Scarcity & Pollution Efficiency, Efficiency, Efficiency

How many planets support life?

ONE

Our lifestyle how many?

THREE

Does 3 into 1 go?

WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Climate Change, Resource Scarcity & Pollution

Efficiency, Efficiency, Efficiency

Climate Change Act 2008 and Copenhagen 80 % cut on 1990 by 2050 @40% cut by 2020 Need a real deal West Mids can act At home and abroad Have we the resolve??

80 % cut on 1990 by 2050

@40% cut by 2020

Need a real deal

West Mids can act

At home and abroad

Have we the resolve??

Regional Spatial Strategy Loads of houses Employment land Planes, Trains and Automobiles Resources How many planets?? Sustainability Appraisal

Loads of houses

Employment land

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Resources

How many planets??

Sustainability Appraisal

The Challenge Direction of Travel? Lower carbon??? Utilisation of land?? Food and Water?? Sustainability Appraisal “ Achieving the national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be a challenge that must be addressed not only at the International and national level BUT also through regional efforts.”

Direction of Travel?

Lower carbon???

Utilisation of land??

Food and Water??

Sustainability Appraisal

“ Achieving the national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be a challenge that must be addressed not only at the International and national level BUT also through regional efforts.”

Regional Economic Strategy Lower Carbon or is it?? “ It will mean the West Midlands taking a leading role in the move towards a lower carbon economy – and setting standards that others will aspire to” Will it do what it says on the Tin?? Our challenge is to track and challenge it Beware Green Snake Oil salespeople Biofuels and Offsetting?? Runway Extension??

Lower Carbon or is it??

“ It will mean the West Midlands taking a leading role in the move towards a lower carbon economy – and setting standards that others will aspire to”

Will it do what it says on the Tin??

Our challenge is to track and challenge it

Beware Green Snake Oil salespeople

Biofuels and Offsetting??

Runway Extension??

Regional Funding Allocation #2 Some public transport….. Big Trains v Little trains Old Road schemes Shrewsbury North West Relief Road Hereford Outer Distributor Walking, cycling?? Reducing the Need to Travel??

Some public transport…..

Big Trains v Little trains

Old Road schemes

Shrewsbury North West Relief Road

Hereford Outer Distributor

Walking, cycling??

Reducing the Need to Travel??

And Finally!!

Multiple dividend Not just climate emissions but also helps:- social cohesion poverty goals air pollution access to resources at home and abroad

Not just climate emissions but also helps:-

social cohesion

poverty goals

air pollution

access to resources

at home and abroad

Contact details Chris Crean Friends of the Earth E www.foe.co.uk/england/west_midlands/contacts.html T Web www.foe.co.uk/england/west_midlands John Walker Senior Research Analyst West Midlands Regional Observatory E [email_address] T +44 (0)121 202 3246 Web www.wmro.org Blog http://wmro.wordpress.com