Resource Efficiency
Benefiting from a low-carbon, low-resource economy
Global climate change poses a very real threat to the East of England. Our low-lying geography, vulnerable coastline and already scarce water resources make us the region most at threat from climate change and degradation of ecosystems services in the UK. Following the Stern Report, climate change has become a central matter of economic policy. As energy and carbon emissions become constrained, businesses, communities and individuals contributing to regional economic development must take resource productivity seriously as a source of competitive advantage.
In response to changing demand, tighter regulation and scarcer natural resources, the market for environmental goods and services is growing sharply. The global market was worth $548 billion in 2005 and is expected to grow by 45 per cent by 2015. This presents a huge opportunity for sustainable wealth creation, reinforced by the increased focus of governments on carbon pricing that will impact on all sectors of the economy in the East of England.
Getting more from less is essential if we want to enjoy improved living standards in a way that significantly reduces carbon emissions, use of resources and increases competitiveness. To do so requires large reductions in the use of energy, fuels, water and other materials such as packaging, as well as more effective and efficient use of those resources that are required. We also need to minimise the use of resources in the manufacture and full life-cycle of products through improved design and development. Finally, we must de-carbonise and de-centralise our energy supply, for reasons of both efficiency and security.
RES toolbox
