A presentation on the leadership challenges faced in the West Midlands within sustainable development and the environment by Dr Simon Slater, Executive Director, Sustainability West Midlands. This presentation was given as part of the 'environment and economy' workshop at the Observatory's Annual Conference, 20th October 2009.

1. Leadership – mind the gap? WMRO Annual Conference October 2009 Dr Simon Slater Executive Director [email_address] sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk

5. Vision 2020 & Fit for the Future? Vision 2020 Fit for the Future Energy 20% Renewable energy Micro-generation & energy efficiency Large scale combined heat and power city schemes & biomass Emerging hydrogen fuel cells deployment Business parks generating own energy Energy technology supply chains Opportunities from energy technology

6. Vision 2020 & Fit for the Future? Vision 2020 Fit for the Future Land 40% of food from regional sources Less meat, higher premier for ‘Ecologically’ reared livestock New crops and ‘low-input’ farming land management for flooding & biodiversity, and local bio-fuel use High concretion of fruit & veg growing in and around urban areas e.g. Vertical farms & NHS farms Sell surplus food to ‘green grid’ More focus on greenspace and local produce growing for health , community, carbon benefits More use of the ‘marginal’ economy to deliver fundamental benefits to society from building trust & mass movement of local solutions Green Infrastructure

7. Vision 2020 & Fit for the Future? Vision 2020 Fit for the Future Housing Zero carbon new housing since 2016 and several large new communities since 2014. Pre-2016 housing being retrofitted on large rolling programme Smart meters / grids– networked houses & communities & local business Need for mixed tenure and stock to meet current & future needs

8. Vision 2020 & Fit for the Future? Vision 2020 Fit for the Future Travel Traffic volumes decreased 20% in urban rush-hour, through improved use of ICT & Central Congestion Charge for Birmingham Car sharing lanes & parking & Electric cars and charge points Coventry & Birmingham – bike share scheme More use of rail & improved joint logistics for road use Improved coach use & dedicated lanes on M6 & M1 & M42 Need for improved transport infrastructure

9. Vision 2020 & Fit for the Future? Vision 2020 Fit for the Future Work Regional income increased by 37% 50% of population over 50 addressed by changing HR practices & attracting younger talent Logistics, Financial services, Health, ICT, Manufacturing – diversification into green products and supply chains e.g. cars, buildings, energy, waste recovery plants Efficient in production and deployment of products Biogas stoves & trade links with ‘extended WM family’ Green manufacturing & R&D opportunities – cars, energy, aerospace, composite materials, biotechnology, service care and support of low carbon products Green growth too restrictive & narrow & ‘anti-growth’ OR covering up more fundamental problems. International competitors better placed in green technology Need for social enterprises to help tackle economic inclusion

10. Vision 2020 & Fit for the Future? Vision 2020 Fit for the Future Leadership More shared identity & pride in how collectively the businesses and communities have responded to challenges of a lower carbon economy for all. WM associated with a ‘can-do’ attitude, forward thinking & eco-friendly New statue every five years for ‘low-carbon’ pioneers to join Lunar society founders . Need more educated leadership able to deal with science, collective cross-boundary working, and inter-generational thinking Stronger leadership and management skills to realise opportunities and manage risks Innovate opportunities for the people who come after us and who we will never meet

12. Leadership – mind the gap? WMRO Annual Conference October 2009 Dr Simon Slater Executive Director [email_address] sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk