SWM News February 2018: Is the 25 Year Environment Plan good for the West Midlands?

In January the government published the much anticipated 25 Year Environment Plan. This helps deliver their manifesto pledge of being the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it. The Plan targets reducing the use of plastics, improving the standards of new builds, making 2019 the Year of the Environment to raise awareness, and improving green spaces to provide habitats for native species as some of the major ways of achieving their goal. The plan has been viewed positively by most but with an almost unanimous view that more needs to be done.

The West Midlands has various opportunities to help meet targets set in the 25 Year Environment Plan. For example, the region has a high concentration of waste recycling companies due to our manufacturing base and location as a national logistic hub. The drive for higher environmental standards for housing will help our work with the West Midlands Combined Authority and our members such as the Sustainable Housing Action Partnership. With SWM already providing independent annual sustainability monitoring for the West Midlands Combined Authority, could this be expanded with partners and members to include a measure of natural capital? To find out more read ‘Our Comment’.

Gareth Evans, Volunteer Communications Officer, on behalf of the SWM team.

• By 7 March 2018. Up to £30million of match funding is available through APC9: Anchoring low carbon technology development in the UK.
• By 7 March 2018. Apply for business growth funding to support business growth and development, new markets, developing and promoting new products.
• By 30 March 2018. Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP is looking for proposals to its Sustainable Urban Development programme. £11m of ERDF is available.
• By March 2019. SMEs can obtain free energy audits and 40% grant funding towards energy efficiency measures in Greater Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country areas.

Since 1 April 2017, we have promoted £510 million of accessible funding.

• Worcestershire County Council’s event on 6 March will help organisations in Worcestershire gain funding to help deliver projects on clean growth.
• SWM’s ‘Inspiring Behaviour Change’ event for our Public Health and NHS Networks on 8 March in Coventry is now fully booked. You can be placed on a waiting list.
• Climate Change Solutions is running its annual Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Conference on 13 March at the NEC.
• SWM is convening the latest Innovative Low Carbon Working Group meeting on 15 March in Birmingham. A waiting list is now in operation so contact us for info.
• Warwick University is running a physical sciences industry day on 19 March to demonstrate their research capabilities and help you engage with the university. 
• EAUC is convening a Midlands Sustainable Education Network meeting on 19 March at University of Birmingham, with a focus on transport.
• SWM will be speaking at the Environment Agency’s flagship Flood & Coast Conference on 21 March about our climate adaptation research for LEPs.
• Energy Capital is launching the Regional Energy Policy Commission on 28 March at the University of Birmingham.

A full list of our members is on our website.

• Win SWM membership! But be quick- only two more days to enter our competition.
• The Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands, our partners in running the Innovative Low Carbon Working Group, has launched its new website.
• SWM and the Innovation Alliance ran a workshop on 13 February looking at how we can stimulate innovation in the sustainable construction sector.
• SWM has produced a case study reflecting the work we carried out for BEIS analysing the low carbon and energy commitments made by LEPs, Core Cities and combined authorities.
• The Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) WM Awards recognise excellence in innovation within civil engineering and include a sustainability category. The deadline for entries is 15 March.
• ICE are reaching out to the wider community to explain how civil engineers transform lives through the Café 200 initiative, and launching their Lunch and Learn series of online talks.
• Transport for West Midlands and Coventry City Council have received government funding to implement low emission buses into their fleets to improve air quality. 
• Ecuity, on behalf of SWM, have published the latest policy update. Ecuity assess the policy landscape following the Clean Growth Strategy and changes to support for renewable heating.
• Mott MacDonald are searching for a new Senior Environmental Consultant to join their core team in Birmingham.
• Groundwork West Midlands are recruiting for an Environmental & Health & Safety Advisor to join their team in Tipton. Closing date is 9 March.

SWM members can send their events, research or other contributions to enquiries@swm.org.uk to be included in the next issue for no extra charge. Not a member? There are many advantages to SWM membership; find out more here.

• Consultation. The government is consulting on the Adaptation Reporting Power, a requirement under the Climate Change Act 2008.
• Sustainable Development Goals. A study looks at challenges that companies face when trying to achieve the SDGs as well as the benefits of achieving these goals.
• Climate Action Network West Midlands are holding six workshops addressing concerns such as transport, food, energy housing employment and education.
• Business Growth. The Global Business Accelerator Programme from Innovate UK provides opportunities to explore opportunities in specific countries and market areas.

We hope you enjoyed reading our newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, are interested in becoming a member or have news stories, events, case studies and reports, please visit our website or contact us.