Huw Robson from Forum for the Future talks to the SWO Future Skills Policy Seminar on how to embed sustainability into the skills debate.

1. sustainable economy
SWO seminar, 24 february 2010
Huw Robson | h.robson@forumforthefuture.org

2. forum for the future - who are we?
We are a charity committed to sustainable development.
Our vision is of business and communities thriving in a future
that’s environmentally sustainable and socially just.
Our mission is to find practical ways that private and public
organisations can deliver a sustainable future.
We work with business and organisations that have a top
level commitment to make their operations sustainable

3. JT Group

4. a sustainable economy:
robust, stable and one in which
healthy economy over resources are not
the long term used up faster than
nature renews them

5. global population figures
2008 2050
6 million 9 million
people people

6. reduction in emissions needed:
by 2050
80%

7. Global move to green economy
Global = Green economy $3,086B in 2007/8
USA = $100B of $800B stimulus package
China = McKinsey: China a ‘green’ economy by 2030
Clean-tech predicted to outgrow automotive
Germany =
by 2020
BERR: “Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an industry analysis” 2009
McKinsey: —"China's green revolution: Prioritizing technologies to achieve energy and environmental sustainability“2009
UNEP — “Silver Lining to Climate Change - Green Jobs“ 2008

8. Global Market – LCEGS Sector
BERR: Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an industry analysis 2009

9. LCEGS Sector – Top Ten
Market £Bn
United States (20.6%)
107
93 China (13.5%)
128 629
191 Japan (6.3%)
191 India (6.3%)
411 Germany (4.2%)
United Kingdom (3.5%)
France (3.0%)
BERR: Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an industry analysis 2009

13. Photovoltaic Environmental
Consultancy Contaminated
Additional Land
Energy Renewable
Sources Alternative Water & consulting
Fuel Vehicle Waste Water
Energy
Management Waste
Marine Management Building
Pollution
Environmental Noise & Technologies
Control Vibration
Monitoring
Control Geothermal
Air Pollution
Wave & Tidal Biomass
Wind Carbon Hydro
Recovery & Capture
Contaminated & Carbon Finance
Recycling Land Storage

14. the south west
good
fundamentals

15. the south west
good necessary but
fundamentals not sufficient

16. LCEGS by region
BERR: Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an industry analysis 2009

17. the race has started ...
Economic Development Investment Plan
Thames
focused on environmental research &
Gateway
innovation + Institute for Sustainability
Pushing green New Deal for NE. New and
Newcastle renewable energy industry. 3:1 leverage of
RDA funding.
Strategy: “Capturing the Potential – A green Jobs
Wales Strategy for Wales”. Steering regeneration
budget to green skills & Innovation.
‘Sustainable Glasgow’ consortium, led by the
Glasgow University of Strathclyde, supported by
Scottish Govt. Aiming at most sustainable city.

18. Strong SW green sector – what would it look like?
Global
reputation
Attracts Attracts
employees businesses
Strong
Attracts
supporting
investment
eco-system

19. How do we do it?
Commit : ambition for SW to be Green jobs/Clean-tech leader
Prioritise: areas where SW has strong comparative advantage
Cross-link: to other strong regional sectors (creative/IT?)
Simple early interventions
– media/materials; web; UK conference?

20. robust dimensions
Engineering
Design Business

21. a SW sustainable economy?
enormous prize
long term opportunity
some starting advantage
plan to win – take action

22. thank you
Huw Robson | h.robson@forumforthefuture.org
forumforthefuture.org | registered charity no. 1040519

23. Sector groupings
Environmental Renewable Energy Emerging Low Carbon
Air Pollution Control Hydro Alternative Fuels *
Environmental Consultancy Wave and Tidal Alternative Fuels for Vehicles
Environmental Monitoring Biomass Additional Energy Sources
Marine Pollution Control Wind * Carbon Capture and Storage
Noise and Vibration Geothermal Carbon Finance
Contaminated Land Remediation Solar PV* Energy Management
Waste Management Renewable Consulting Building Technologies*
Recovery and Recycling
Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment*
Purple text = leading sub-sectors in SW
* = leading export subsectors in SW