Low Carbon Economy in the West Midlands 15 January 2010

Outline  Context  Aims of the study  How it was produced  What are the key findings?  Recommendations  What does it say about local authorities?  Next steps

Why was the study commissioned?  2007 – first low carbon Regional Economic Strategy  2009 – Low Carbon Economy national reports  Low Carbon scale of the challenge work  What is the audience for the work?

Aims of the study  Understand the vulnerability to carbon constraints in the region;  Identify the sectors that have greatest opportunity for growth into low carbon economy;  Identify the barriers that will inhibit this;  Identify policy interventions to help growth;  How to monitor this.

How was the report produced?  Initial work by WMRO based on WMES – carbon constraints;  Analysis of business and employment by sector;  Prioritisation of sector opportunities;  Sub-regional strengths;  Degree of regional influence;  Barriers and solutions; Report produced by Atkins with steering group support from AWM, SWM, Warks CC, Carbon Trust, Institute of Chemical Engineers, WMRO.

Key findings  Vulnerable sectors – Health & Social work; Transport & Communications; Education; Construction.  Opportunity sectors – non-metallic mineral goods; automotive & transport equipment; metals & metal products; Construction; EGS; food & beverages; transport, storage & comms; Public services.  Importance of public sector – procurement practices;

Report recommendations  Vulnerable sectors and regions of the economy should be targeted for support in the transition to a low carbon economy.  Regeneration bodies work together to better understand the specific sectors in their areas where low carbon opportunities may be applicable.  A partnership approach is required to develop a coordinated policy response to the transition to a low carbon economy. Identifies specific and measurable interventions to address the barriers & seek to maximise opportunities region-wide.

What does it mean for local authorities?  Regional level report  Sub-region opportunities identified  Constraints and opportunities have been reviewed at local authority level  Evidence base to be built on at local level  Local economic assessments

Sectors by level of potential exposure to carbon constraints on operations in Shropshire

Sectors by level of potential exposure to carbon constraints on products & services in Shropshire

Low carbon opportunities in Shropshire Low carbon opportunity sectors

Sectors by level of potential exposure to carbon constraints on operations in Dudley

Sectors by level of potential exposure to carbon constraints on products & services in Dudley

Low carbon opportunities in Dudley Low carbon opportunity sectors

Next steps  Report to be published  City Region commissioned local profiles for constituent authorities plus analysis of opportunities for wider intervention  AWM to work with Business Link to identify opportunities for businesses  Inform regional evidence base  Conducted more detail analysis for key sectors?

West Midlands Regional Observatory 2009 Contacts John Walker t: e: website: blog: Level 3, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG.