a low carbon west midlands

A low-carbon West MidlandsAnn-Marie Brouder

Forum for the Future

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.

A Low Carbon West MidlandsForum for the Future20 April 2009

What I’ll talk about

1. Introduction2. Thinking about the future3. A positive future for the West

Midlands?

Forum for the Future

• sustainable development charity• our vision is of business and communities

thriving in a future that’s environmentally viable

• our mission is to find practical ways organisations can deliver a sustainable future

JT Group

Thinking about the future

Thinking in a structured way about the future…

• Inspires and motivates• Attracts new people• Brings sustainable development ‘in

from the cold’• Speaks to strategists

• Improves decision-making for long-term success

Tourism 2023To deliver a shared view of the future challenges that the

industry faces and what the industry, and key players within it, need to do to be future proofed

Climate change• Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change 2007 report:

• Global average 0.4 degrees of warming 2007 – 2030

• Storms more intense and more frequent

• Drought• Heatwaves more intense• Agriculture – variable impacts• Biodiversity threat• Spread of disease• Sea level rise

IPCC 4th Assessment Report 2007

Climate change

• Since 2007: research data on high side of projections

• Arctic sea ice in rapid retreat

• Changes ‘in the pipe’already

National Snow and Ice Data Center 2008Nature Magazine

In the West Midlands…

• Winter rainfall could increase by up to 20% and summer rainfall could decrease by up to 30%

• By the 2020s a flooding event similar to the one experienced in Autumn 2000 could cost WM agriculture £20 million

• The cost of disruption to transport could be between £30 million and £80 million

Climate change…

• Acting means massive change• Not acting means massive change

• Conclusion…?

So why a vision of a low-carbon West Midlands?

• Show that a low-carbon West Midlands is a successful West Midlands

• Show that action on climate change doesn’t have to cost the Earth

• Start a debate

• Prosperous• Better transport• Better local environment• Stronger communities• Healthy

• Pride and unity

At the heart of the vision…

The Lunar Society, 1765 – 1813men and women who forged the industrial revolution

• New and transformed businesses• Alasco Ltd – low-carbon innovation• Haven Hotel, Ludlow• Green motoring

• Smarter, more livable places• Birmingham City Centre• Villages• Suburbs• Regeneration

• Happy people!

At the heart of the vision…

Energy

• 20% reduction in energy consumption on 2004 levels

• 20% of energy from renewable sources• Micro-generation & feed-in tariffs• Bio-digesters• Wind• Combined Heat and Power• Carbon Capture and Storage

Land

• Drier soils, flood threat

• Easier winters for livestock, new types of crop

• Land for adaptation• Local production• Urban farming

Housing

• New build is ‘zero-carbon’• Retro-fit is big business• Use of smart metering• Housing enables low-carbon lifestyles…

Transport

• Cars go electric• Investment in integrated public transport• Shift freight to rail• Roll-out of ‘velib’ model for bikes and cars• Demand reduction using ICT

Work

• More efficient office space• Seasonal working?

• Working from home

• Manufacturing low-carbon technology, green motoring

• Leveraging skills base for a new industrial revolution

Using the vision

• A starting point for debate• A guide for policy and strategy• What do you think?

thank you

Contact details:

Ann-Marie BrouderForum for the Future

a.brouder@forumforthefuture.orgTel: +44 (0) 773 068 0603

Contact details

Ann-Marie Brouder

Forum for the Future

E a.brouder@forumforthefuture.orgT +44 (0)773 068 0603Web www.forumforthefuture.org

John Walker

Senior Research AnalystWest Midlands Regional Observatory

E john.walker@wmro.orgT +44 (0)121 202 3246Web www.wmro.orgBlog http://wmro.wordpress.com