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SEEDA Welcomes Renewed Political Will to Tackle Climate Change
15 November 2006
Proposals for a Climate Change Bill to cut UK carbon emissions, outlined in today's (November 15) Queen's Speech, were given a warm welcome by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
The commitment on climate change (specifically to cut the UK's carbon emissions by 60% by 2050) is a cornerstone of the Queen's Speech and a core component of the Government's new legislative programme, with proposals for an independent Carbon Committee and new enabling powers to put in place far-reaching carbon reduction measures.
SEEDA has already prioritised climate change in its recently launched Regional Economic Strategy (RES), which sees sustainable prosperity as a key challenge for the South East and aims to reduce the region's ecological footprint. The RES sets clear targets for the South East's CO 2 emissions – a 20% reduction by 2016, with a 10% increase in the use of renewable energy by 2010 and 20% by 2020.
There is a strong emphasis in the RES on the need to nurture and support environmental technologies, enabling South East companies to realise the wealth of business opportunities on offer through a proactive response to climate change. The environmental sector is an estimated world market of some $600 billion and the UK, especially the South East, already leads the world in these technologies. SEEDA's overriding message is that the challenge of climate change represents an opportunity for the South East economy, not a threat.
Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Margaret Hodge, last week visited Kent, accompanied by SEEDA Chairman Jim Brathwaite CBE and Chief Executive Pam Alexander, to study the potential for alternative energy generation in the region, and to discuss plans for wind farm development in the Port of Ramsgate and other parts of Kent. The proposal for a 270-turbine wind farm in the Outer Thames Estuary, some 20km offshore, is expected to make a significant contribution to the supply of renewable energy in the South East, as well as having a major impact on the local economy by creating 800+ new jobs over four years.
SEEDA Chairman Jim Brathwaite said today: "SEEDA welcomes the Government's proposals for a Climate Change Bill. This is a major issue for the UK and the world, and the South East of England is willing to play its part in helping to meeting the challenge. New environmental technologies, especially in alternative energy, offer enormous potential for the South East's businesses, and SEEDA wants to work with businesses and partners to ensure that the region embraces the commercial opportunity offered by this new area. This is a key element of the RES."
Mr Brathwaite will be meeting the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, David Milliband, together with the Chairs of all the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to discuss the English regions' role in helping the UK to meet its climate change targets.
SEEDA also welcomed other proposals in the Queen's Speech, including the announcement of a major consultation on planning reform – following the current Barker Review – and a Further Education Bill which aims to integrate employer needs into FE provision, support employers and area partnerships, modernise and streamline the Industrial Training Boards, and re-structure the Learning & Skills Council to provide greater emphasis on the role of the regions.
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