Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

Where are we now?
Long-term trends and
strategic challenges
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Managing the environmental impacts of growth
The region needs to ensure that economic growth is environmentally
sustainable – which means ensuring that the natural resource needs of
future generations are not compromised by current activities. The threat
of global warming is very significant for the region as it is very vulnerable
to the increases in sea levels associated with climate change. There is
increasing evidence that, to limit global warming, industrialised economies
may need to make an 80 per cent cut in their 1990-level CO 2 emissions by
2050. This represents an annual reduction in the order of 3.5 per cent.
The region also needs to:
• radically change patterns of resource-use – energy, materials, water –
to reduce our unsustainable ecological footprint and carbon emissions
• conserve existing landscapes, biodiversity and heritage assets and
prevent habitat fragmentation
• develop a network of new and restored, large-scale habitats, bringing
major ecological, leisure and tourism benefits
• encourage and support businesses to better understand the risks posed
by climate change and adapt. Some of the effects of climate change
will be specific to certain locations (eg industrial developments close to
fluvial or coastal environments) or sectoral (eg on agriculture and food
processing), however others will have effects across the economy – for
instance, through disruption to supply chains, utilities and the transport
system. It will be key for businesses to build the skills for adaptation and
for all sectors to work together to build a more resilient system.