1. The East of England and EEDA Paul Burall Board member East of England Development Agency 29 April 2006

2. One of the fastest growing regions

3. EEDA’s statutory responsibility set up in April 1999 under the 1998 RDA Act a non-departmental public body statutory responsibilities: - further economic development and regeneration - promote business efficiency, investment and competitiveness - promote employment - enhance development and application of skills relevant to employment - contribute to sustainable development in the UK

4. EEDA’s statutory responsibility set up in April 1999 under the 1998 RDA Act a non-departmental public body statutory responsibilities: - further economic development and regeneration - promote business efficiency, investment and competitiveness - promote employment - enhance development and application of skills relevant to employment - contribute to sustainable development in the UK

5. The vision for the East of England… …is for ‘a leading economy, founded on our world-class knowledge base and the creativity and enterprise of our people, in order to improve the quality of life of all who live and work here.’

6. The regional economic strategy a leading information society skills base that can support a world-class economy global leadership in developing and realising innovation in science, technology and research high quality places to work and live making the most from the development of international gateways and national and regional transport corridors growing competitiveness, productivity and entrepreneurship social inclusion and broad participation in the regional economy an exemplar in environmental technologies and the efficient use of resources

7. The regional economic strategy high quality places to work and live an exemplar in environmental technologies and the efficient use of resources

8. Priorities include environmental issues Strategic Goal 4, Priority 4 - Developing and enhancing green spaces and infrastructure to support economic growth Strategic Goal 8, Priority 4 - Establishing the region as an exemplar of environmentally sustainable development

9. Focusing on priorities improving skills for employment better business support success in science and innovation Growth Areas and urban renaissance regenerating communities sustainable economic growth, particularly in rural areas international quality transport and infrastructure promoting the region

10. Focusing on priorities improving skills for employment better business support success in science and innovation Growth Areas and urban renaissance regenerating communities sustainable economic growth, particularly in rural areas international quality transport and infrastructure promoting the region

11. Climate change is the biggest threat to biodiversity EEDA has a role both in: reducing global warming emissions ensuring that development is designed to support adaptation to the changes that are inevitable

12. Renewables East aims ‘to drive forward the deployment and development of a full range of low carbon energy solutions into the East of England economy whilst ensuring that the region exploits the best economic benefit’

13. Scroby Sands This 60 MW, 30 turbine project has been developed on a sand bank approximately 3 km east of Great Yarmouth

14. Wissington sugar plant British Sugar is building a plant to convert sugar beet into bioethanol motor fuel at its Norfolk factory. The plant will have a capacity of 50,000 tonnes of bioethanol a year

15. Key objective is ‘to drive up skills and knowledge in the related fields of regeneration and neighbourhood renewal’

16. Inspire East is developing an Excellence Framework to provide a guide for development. This will include a substantial environment section Wildlife corridor

17. Major regeneration projects EEDA is funding major regeneration projects around the region These are assessed for their environmental impact using the regional Sustainable Development Toolkit

18. The global challenge  The East of England’s environmental footprint is 5.64 global hectares per capita (gha/cap)  The UK average is 5.36 gha/cap  The world average is 2.2 gha/cap Source: Counting Consumption, WWF & the Swedish Environmental Institute, 2006

19. The regional challenge  Water resources are close to capacity  Climate change emissions are still rising  Biodiversity is declining  Sea level rise threatens key habitats  Fenland soils are losing their fertility

20. The regional challenge Development rates are increasing and include:  Nearly 500,000 new homes in the next 15 years  The Olympics  Major transport expansion at Stansted & Felixtowe

21. What more should EEDA do? The review process for the key Regional Economic Strategy will begin soon Need to better understand and work within the environmental constraints Wide consultation