In this podcast we talk about:

• Electric cars: Are these cars, ‘cars for the future?’
• HS2 Rail Line: Why has there been so much opposition and what are the potential benefits that the line will bring to the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands?
• Carbon emissions: What can be done to reduce carbon emissions?

The festival will take place between June 5-7 and the underwear that is collected will be sold by local recycling company BCR Global Textiles to women who may not be able to afford these garments in developing/Third World countries. BCR will also contribute the proceeds of the sales to causes in Britain like the Breast Cancer Campaign charity.

Special ‘Bra Banks’ similar to those which are used to recycle empty bottles will be placed across the city to allow women to discard their unwanted underwear.

The famous ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ statue in Victoria Square will be wearing her own bra and there will also be photo and filming opportunities near the statue.

Cllr Paul Tilsley of Birmingham City Council feels the event will go a long way towards the city’s target of making Birmingham green.

“The Birmingham Climate Change Festival is a fun, entertaining and informative way for people to learn about what is being done to make Birmingham green for those that live, work and visit the city.

“Everyone has a role to play when it comes to cutting carbon emissions and making Birmingham green. I hope the wide variety of activities that we have organised will lead to a good turnout inspire people to do their bit.

“The bra bank is a wonderful no-frills idea which has so many benefits – we avoid sending unwanted items to landfill and help people in developing countries. Combined this perfectly captures the spirit of sustainability.”

A green solar-powered circus, eco-technology demonstration stands as well as theatrical performances for schools will be some of the activities and attractions on offer during the three day event.

Organisations like Birmingham Friends of the Earth, Northfield Eco Centre, Veolia and RSPB will also be at the festival with information and activities.

The BRMB Walkathon will be taking place to help promote walking as a sustainable method of travel for citizens. It will be staged on June 6. To find out more click here.

Visit my blog to watch Sharon Lea the city council’s Strategic Director of Environment and Culture encourage women to recycle their bras.

In a joint venture, the Observatory and Atkins compiled this research project commissioned by Advantage West Midlands to have a better understanding of opportunities the low carbon economy can create in the West Midlands.

Within the research project the low carbon economy has been linked with the high-tech industry and high levels of technology and investment. The Observatory’s research found that there are a number of opportunities within the region’s economy and there are openings that stretch beyond hydrogen cells, solar panels, electric cars and science parks.

John Walker who is the Senior Research Analyst at the Observatory said that before the research was conducted, the strengths of the region needed to be considered.

‘From the outset, we were very clear that the report needed to look beyond the standard views of what makes up the low carbon economy for example wind turbines, hydrogen cells and electronic vehicles.

We felt there was a need to understand whether our existing businesses had opportunities for growth via the low carbon economy.

The research itself was conducted in two stages. Stage one was an assessment of the potential levels of vulnerability to future carbon constraints at local authority levels.

Stage two of the work was to identify the opportunities that exist and the barriers that potentially prevent these opportunities from happening.’

Some of the key findings from this research include:

• The low carbon economy can create a number of opportunities across a wide range of business sectors, not just within the traditional environmental technology sector.
• Sectors that have opportunities in the West Midlands include: Automotive & transport equipment; Metals & metal products; Construction; Environmental Goods & Services; Transport, storage & communications; and Public services.
• Businesses can gain from the low carbon economy in two ways: Firstly expand new low carbon products and secondly become more competent in their current processes (decarbonise).

To find out more click here to see how the research is being used and what opportunities are being provided for growth in the low carbon economy in the West Midlands.

The aim of the plan is to create 30,000 jobs through increased investment in wind energy, energy efficiency and green housing. The Lib Dems have vowed to invest in low-carbon projects and infrastructure over the next year.

The environmental issues that are featured in the Lib Dems’ manifesto are similar to the issues that are mentioned in the manifestos of the Labour and Conservatives parties.

These include increasing investment in UK ports by supporting the offshore wind industry, a green home loan scheme for every household as well as creating a low-carbon infrastructure bank and green savings scheme.

General election

Nick Clegg’s admirable performances in the General Election debates have led to the Lib Dems gaining popularity. Jon Hunt who is a Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Perry Barr Ward has been pleased with how Clegg has performed in the live debates.

‘He has been terrific and has surpassed everybody’s expectations. When it came to the climate change topic in the second debate, he did not come across well on that issue.

However this particular subject did not really encourage politicians to go far enough.’

Hunt added that it is pivotal that the plan addresses a number of issues.

‘We are seeing petrol and oil prices rising and this will continue to happen once we have come out of recession. We need to switch to renewable sources.

Investing in the economy to create jobs is vital.’

The environmental issues that are highlighted on the Lib Dems’ manifesto also include plans for a key energy efficiency programme that would lead to 250,000 homes being refurbished and brought back into use.

£400m in interest free loans will also be put forward to help schools improve their energy efficiency.

The money would go towards low carbon industries such as wind energy as well as wind turbine production. This sector already employs approximately 8,400 people from the West Midlands.

£1 billion would be raised from the sale of assets including the Channel Tunnel rail link and the other half will come from private investment.

Government funding of £60m will be used to improve offshore wind farms and help improve ports that are understood to act as manufacturing centres for the new offshore developments.

Chris Crean who is a West Midlands Campaigner for Friends of the Earth feels the plan is a step in the right direction.

‘We can start to move towards a greener economy and reduce carbon emissions. I welcome this move and have campaigned for this to happen for some time now.

By investing in jobs for local people this will lead to more job opportunities and training.’

However Crean still has his doubts about the plan.

‘The devil is in the detail. Two billion nowadays in not a lot of money and we need to drive forward green issues.’

Jon Hunt who is a Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Perry Barr Ward believes that the plan is a positive move but feels there are potential drawbacks.

‘It won’t provide serious capital unless it is backed by the main banking industry. The government doesn’t have the resources and £2 billion is minuscule as a nationwide investment.

We need a much more significant shift of resources and government capital investment.’

Hunt also added that the money is likely to go towards power stations.

‘The Chancellors comments seemed to major on ‘energy security’ which suggests he is actually expecting the money into power stations.’

The agency has said that the LCVT programme will create between 3,000 and 11,500 jobs in the UK by 2020.

The South West and the North East are already Low Carbon Economic Area’s and the Midlands is set to follow.

Automotive industry

Roger Allonby, who is Head of Tourism Development Policy, feels that the automotive industry has a huge part to play in making the West Midlands a Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA).

‘We need to build on the strengths of the automotive industry.

We already have an Automotive cluster group who work with Jaguar, Tata Motors and Land Rover. Car manufacturers will have a key role in the LCEA.

The purpose of the LCVT initiative is to accelerate the number of Low Carbon Vehicles produced.”

Advantage West Midlands have already invested £50 million to low carbon vehicle initiatives along with EMDA (East Midlands Development Agency). Both agencies will advance low carbon solutions for technologies such as aerodynamics and motors.

Jobs

Allonby added that the programme will generate a new merging market of Low Carbon Vehicles and hopes that the number of jobs created will grow.

‘I’m confident that this programme will create many job opportunities for the people of the West Midlands.

We are already collaborating with the Universities of Aston, Birmingham, Coventry, Loughborough and Warwick as well as other regional development agencies.’

West Midlands Regional Observatory found that over 70,000 people from the Midlands are already working in environmental technology.

Approximately 400 companies were surveyed and half of them are looking to recruit more staff.

Andy Phillips who is Head of Skills Research at the Observatory said it is only a matter of time before companies look to take on more people.

Opportunities

“There will be a significant number of job opportunities in the future and companies will expect a rapid growth in the number of staff.

We are still coming out of the Recession but within the forthcoming months, job opportunities will occur.”

Converteam, Veolia, and Valeswood were some of the companies that were interviewed in-depth. The Observatory also managed to conduct an online survey to find out basic information about various organisations.

Effects

Phillips also believes that a rise in jobs created will have a huge affect on the people of the West Midlands.

“Companies are still looking to employ people and recruitment will gather momentum within the next couple of months.

The jobs that are made available will strengthen links between businesses and universities to help development.

It will also raise awareness of careers in environmental technology companies.

There will be jobs that will require highly skilled people. However there will also be jobs for students that have left school.”

The MiEV took to the streets of Walsall in December last year under a new scheme created by the Government.

It features the West Midlands Police logo and is estimated to be worth £30,000.

Sergeant Kelvin Rowlands who is from the Walsall Community Safety team, said that the car has more advantages than disadvantages.

Different Avenues

“Since the car is silent, this enables us to have a silent approach to how we go about doing things.

The car is used by a different number of officers and it gives us an opportunity to explore avenues away from diesel vehicles.”

Advantages

Kelvin said that the car had many benefits:

“It produces zero emissions and is very economical. For £115 pounds of electric, you can have 12,000 miles from the vehicle.

It is an urban vehicle and it has good acceleration.

The only negative is the distance you can cover. It has a range of 80-100 miles but once it has reached its distance, it will need charging.”

He also added that the Mitsubishi MiEV is a sign of things to come.

Advancements and Taxation

“Five years ago, we didn’t think we would be using diesels. Car manufacturers are now piling out the technology of tomorrow today.

Citroen have announced that they will be releasing the CO later this year and that Jaguar are currently experimenting with an electric car.

Peugeot in 1993 released a Pilot vehicle and they were ahead of the game. The range however was limited to 40-50 miles.

Since 1993, technology has advanced hugely.”

Kelvin also pointed out that car tax may be one reason why people may consider purchasing an electric car.

“Taxation of an electric car is tax free and the majority of people are now thinking about how much their car tax is.”

The 320ED produces CO2 emissions of 109g/km and a combined fuel consumption figure of 68.9 mpg.

Martin Timmis, who is a Sales Executive at the Sutton Coldfield branch, believes car manufacturers are starting to take notice now more than ever of what is being done to produce low emissions and that green cars are the answer.

“Manufacturers are trying to do what is right for the environment and are coming up with ways to save fuel.”

Despite a 10% drop in sales, Timmis claims BMW green cars are still popular and has nothing but praise for the 320ED.

“As well as the 188d and the 1 series, the 320ED produces low CO2 emissions and is great for fuel consumption. It is a very quick car.”

Efficient Dynamics

Even though the 320ED is one of the most recent green cars to have been sold, it is also an Efficient Dynamics car.

Efficient Dynamics reaches a certain benchmark when it combines the performance of a BMW model with the fuel consumption and the emissions of a modern small car.

Timmis adds that the significance of Efficient Dynamics is essential to saving fuel as well as reducing emissions.

“Active aerodynamics closes the car vents and helps the engine reach its operating temperature faster. By having low friction fluids, this will lower the wear in the engine.”

The Driver

“Whenever the car is stationery, the engine is automatically switched off and by having intelligent brake energy this lessens the demand on the engine and fuel consumption.

Optimum gear changing enables the driver to adopt a fuel efficient driving style. Lightweight materials reduce the weight of the vehicle which enhances driver dynamics.

Distortion materials are used inside the side walls and treads of tyres which ease tyre flexing and provides low emissions.”

More green cars

The 320ED wasfeatured at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.

The German car manufacturer has also announced that the Concept Active E will be available in 2011.

The Active E car was at the North American International Auto Show, Detroit last month and for the first time electrical energy will be stored in a lithium-ion battery pack.

To find out more about the BMW 320ED visit the following website: http://bit.ly/9laa0X