Low carbon economy on the up?

• May. 11 by Manish Patel (0)

The construction industry as well as recyclers could profit from existing and future low carbon legislation according to the West Midlands Regional Observatory’s latest research.

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.