WWF-UK: One planet challenge for the West Midlands
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One planet challenge for the West Midlands
Tuesday 6 June 2006
A new WWF report mapping the true environmental impacts of UK consumption and production, shows Birmingham and the West Midlands to be operating at a "three planet lifestyle".
The new report, Ecological Budget West Midlands - Counting Consumption, funded by Biffaward as part of their Programme on Sustainable Resource Use, is the first complete set of comprehensive, reliable and current physical resource flow accounts to date. It is a significant step in understanding how the way the economy is managed and the decisions we make every day, directly affects the environment around us.
The report provides individual Footprint data for all the local authorities in the West Midlands. Twenty three local authorities were analysed in total including Birmingham, with the Malvern Hills and Stoke-on-Trent, revealed as the highest and lowest Footprint local authorities respectively.
The West Midlands total ecological Footprint - an aggregate indicator of environmental impact - is 5.36 global hectares per capita or the equivalent of nearly six football fields in area - requiring just over three planets for the West Midlands to sustain itself. Birmingham's footprint comes in at little higher than the West Midlands average at 5.40, still significantly lower than the highest Footprint total of the Malverns at 5.8.
While the three planet data reveals a need for the region to take a long look at its environmental performance and reduce is impacts through more sustainable planning, the West Midlands does fare well in the overall UK picture.
The West Midlands footprint is the fifth lowest in the UK - three places ahead of the East Midlands - comparing favourably, for instance to the South East, which comes in at 3.5 planets. CO2 emissions from production are 13 per cent lower than the UK average, while emissions from consumption - the more significant indicator in the Footprint analysis - are 4 per cent lower than the UK average.
The consumables and durables footprint for the West Midlands of 0.54 global hectares per capita is one of the most striking results from the report, around 17 per cent lower than the UK average. This is due to residents buying on average fewer products such as electrical equipment, household goods and textiles.
Overall, however, the level of resource usage is clearly unsustainable and a key question is how can the West Midlands grow and develop in a sustainable way that doesn't mean increasing ecological footprints, global impacts and consumption. By imbedding the Footprint principles into key planning applications such as the Regional Spatial Strategy, the West Midlands can begin to move towards a more sustainable future.
Paul Mosley , WWF England Footprint Project Manager, said: "Regional decision makers in the West Midlands must now make the idea of a 'One Planet Economy' a reality and ensure that key regional economic strategies take the findings from the report on board. The West Midlands has a real opportunity to turn things around and become a world class leader in sustainable development, creating new business and industry opportunities linked to a one planet low carbon economy."
Like many other regions, CO2 emissions from home maintenance and energy use are the largest single sector in consumption, slightly higher than the national average. This highlights the potential for reducing overall CO2 emissions by focusing on the home and energy sector.
Transport is the other big factor in the West Midlands CO2 emissions and makes up for 21 per cent of the region's overall Footprint. Car travel accounts for the largest proportion of Footprint in the West Midlands and national trends suggest this pattern is set to continue. By targeting transport, through 'soft policies' such as car clubs, car sharing schemes and travel awareness campaigns, it's possible to bring about an 11 per cent reduction in car use - a significant contribution in stemming the increase in Footprint through transport.
This report demonstrates how a 'One Planet Economy' will require a 75 per cent reduction in Ecological Footprint. Whilst this is an incredibly challenging target, it is essential for long-term sustainability.
The next industrial revolution must be characterised by low carbon, low consumption, resource efficient economies and this evidence base should be part of it. The West Midlands should rise to this new challenge!
The report provides individual Footprint data for all the local authorities in the West Midlands. Twenty three local authorities were analysed in total including Birmingham, with the Malvern Hills and Stoke-on-Trent, revealed as the highest and lowest Footprint local authorities respectively.
The West Midlands total ecological Footprint - an aggregate indicator of environmental impact - is 5.36 global hectares per capita or the equivalent of nearly six football fields in area - requiring just over three planets for the West Midlands to sustain itself. Birmingham's footprint comes in at little higher than the West Midlands average at 5.40, still significantly lower than the highest Footprint total of the Malverns at 5.8.
While the three planet data reveals a need for the region to take a long look at its environmental performance and reduce is impacts through more sustainable planning, the West Midlands does fare well in the overall UK picture.
The West Midlands footprint is the fifth lowest in the UK - three places ahead of the East Midlands - comparing favourably, for instance to the South East, which comes in at 3.5 planets. CO2 emissions from production are 13 per cent lower than the UK average, while emissions from consumption - the more significant indicator in the Footprint analysis - are 4 per cent lower than the UK average.
The consumables and durables footprint for the West Midlands of 0.54 global hectares per capita is one of the most striking results from the report, around 17 per cent lower than the UK average. This is due to residents buying on average fewer products such as electrical equipment, household goods and textiles.
Overall, however, the level of resource usage is clearly unsustainable and a key question is how can the West Midlands grow and develop in a sustainable way that doesn't mean increasing ecological footprints, global impacts and consumption. By imbedding the Footprint principles into key planning applications such as the Regional Spatial Strategy, the West Midlands can begin to move towards a more sustainable future.
Paul Mosley , WWF England Footprint Project Manager, said: "Regional decision makers in the West Midlands must now make the idea of a 'One Planet Economy' a reality and ensure that key regional economic strategies take the findings from the report on board. The West Midlands has a real opportunity to turn things around and become a world class leader in sustainable development, creating new business and industry opportunities linked to a one planet low carbon economy."
Like many other regions, CO2 emissions from home maintenance and energy use are the largest single sector in consumption, slightly higher than the national average. This highlights the potential for reducing overall CO2 emissions by focusing on the home and energy sector.
Transport is the other big factor in the West Midlands CO2 emissions and makes up for 21 per cent of the region's overall Footprint. Car travel accounts for the largest proportion of Footprint in the West Midlands and national trends suggest this pattern is set to continue. By targeting transport, through 'soft policies' such as car clubs, car sharing schemes and travel awareness campaigns, it's possible to bring about an 11 per cent reduction in car use - a significant contribution in stemming the increase in Footprint through transport.
This report demonstrates how a 'One Planet Economy' will require a 75 per cent reduction in Ecological Footprint. Whilst this is an incredibly challenging target, it is essential for long-term sustainability.
The next industrial revolution must be characterised by low carbon, low consumption, resource efficient economies and this evidence base should be part of it. The West Midlands should rise to this new challenge!
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