As we approach 2025, SWM is preparing for a comprehensive review of our Sustainability Roadmap to 2030. This marks a key moment – five years since the roadmap’s creation and halfway to its 2030 targets. It’s the right time to reflect on what’s working, where gaps remain, and how we can ensure that the roadmap continues to serve the needs of the West Midlands effectively.
By Louis March-Smith, Project & Data Officer
When the roadmap was designed in 2019, we knew it would need regular updates to keep pace with evolving regional and global challenges. Our business plan reflects this commitment, calling for a thorough review in 2025 to ensure that the roadmap remains fit for purpose, with themes and targets that are both relevant and achievable.
The roadmap was designed to illustrate and highlight success as well as areas where progress is poor and action is needed. SWM views the roadmap not just as an internal tool, but as a crucial resource for the entire region. By continuously refining it, we hope to offer information that can influence change across the region and provide independent data for local businesses and organisations to prioritise their own areas of action.
I joined SWM as a Project & Data Officer in July, with one my key roles being responsible for annually updating and publishing our Roadmap Monitoring Report. Having published our 2024 Report, we have now begun our in depth strategic review, aiming to fulfil the following aims:
Filling in the Gaps
One of the primary goals of this review is to address any gaps or targets that are not currently being monitored in our current process. Whilst most themes in our roadmap are actively tracked and updated annually, due to a lack of data or relevant target there are 3 themes that we are unable to monitor currently. These 3 themes are Natural Environment, Sustainable Energy Use and Adapting to Climate Change. Over the coming months we will be working to identify appropriate targets for these themes, engaging with our network of stakeholders and SWM members for their insight and assistance.
Reviewing Existing Targets
We will also review the targets that are currently being monitored to ensure that they still align with the needs and priorities of the region. What was relevant in 2019 may no longer be the best approach today, or may now be unrealistic due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we will evaluate whether adjustments are needed to keep us on the right track towards a sustainable West Midlands. This may involve adjusting numbers to align with the latest national policies or guidance, or may require new targets to be created or added. We are currently in the process of an extensive literature review of current local and national strategies relevant to each of our roadmap themes to determine whether the current targets are still up to date and relevant. For some of our themes, having just one target may not provide the required analysis, so we appreciate the need for multiple targets for a number of our areas.
Full Structural Review
In addition to reviewing the themes and targets, we’ll be assessing the overall structure of the roadmap itself. Our roadmap themes aim to mimic the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and we are still happy with this as an approach. However, we will be analysing our themes, report structure and monitoring processes to ensure they represent the West Midlands in the best way possible, and the roadmap can continue to act as a tool to serve the region.
How You Can Help
As previously mentioned, our roadmap is designed to help stakeholders in all sectors, across the region. Because of this, we are keen to hear from those who have used the roadmap or have opinions on how it can be improved. Your input will help us ensure that the roadmap continues to serve the West Midlands in the most effective way possible. If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or experiences to share, or have access to any datasets that you think might be useful, please email us at louis.marchsmith@swm.org.uk, we would love to hear from you!
