In 2021, the region’s Environmental Principles broke new ground. Ambitions on net zero agenda, biodiversity and nature recovery, we had over 100 partners come together to establish a wide-ranging framework for regional action to underpin a national vision that put the region’s key economic sectors on an international stage for investment.
Now, in 2024, as we see a new national vision of growth and economic prosperity, the imperative for action that delivers real transformation for nature, natural systems, and the economy remains.
For a healthy and vibrant economy to be achieved, the preconditions of a high-quality, functioning natural environment and a healthy workforce rooted in the region by a firm sense of place must first be met.
Our Partnership has long had bold ambitions for economic growth and development that are innovation-led and environmentally distinctive. We will have succeeded when the rest of the world looks to our region as an exemplar.
As the government moves at a pace to reset agendas and relationships to pursue a new growth agenda, we are taking the opportunity to reset our regional agendas and relationships to articulate a new ambition for environmentally sustainable, inclusive economic growth – growth that attempts to work within the bounds of natural environmental limits.
To this end, and as one of the Government’s pan-regional delivery partners, we are pleased to welcome the review of the Environment Improvement Plan and stand ready to share the best practices that are already in the region. From requiring new builds to achieve net zero carbon or secure20% biodiversity net gain in development – twice the statutory minimum – to using nature-based solutions to tackle flood risk and promote aquifer recharge in water-stressed parts of the region, the partnership is working hard to provide regional and local policymakers the tools to make the case for environmental sustainable progressive growth agendas across all places and communities.
Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Board member and Chair of the pan-Regional Partnership’s Environment and Sustainability Oversight Group states, "for the economy to thrive so must the environment, and we have an opportunity in our region to be trailblazers for low carbon living and working alongside largescale nature enhancement making our region the best place to work as well as to live."
Government’s review of the targets in the Environment Improvement Plan can’t come soon enough. A new invigorated environmental imperative is needed, and the timing of the pan-regional Environment Principles couldn’t come at a better time.
With Bioregional's expert guidance and support, we are working with the same coalition of partners—local authorities, universities and colleges, environmental bodies, government agencies, and businesses—who came together to create the 2021 edition of the Principles to reset, reframe, and recommit to an updated set of Principles that go hand in hand with the new national imperative.
Across five themes—adapting to climate change, nature and land, the circular economy, net zero, and water—our partners are reconvening to refresh our approach and see how they can go further, provide more clarity to local decision makers, and double down on the regional intent for sustainable growth.
Commenting on the early phases of work, Nina Wallace, Sustainability Consultant said, “Bioregional are thrilled to be supporting the pan-Regional Partnership in the renewal of its environment principles. We have strong ties to the region having worked with a number of the partnership’s members over our 30-year history.
“Throughout July, we have been convening regional stakeholders to collaboratively co-create a refreshed set of environmental principles that respond to the current political and environmental context. We know that there is an urgent need for a political agenda that responds to the climate crisis in a holistic and effective way whilst creating benefits for both nature and people.
“We also know that we need bold, nature-led solutions that support innovation and opportunity, and we are looking forward to supporting the partnership to articulate this agenda over the coming weeks.”
Already, these discussions have surfaced some core themes. Our partners want to know:
· How can we include a human dimension?
· How can the Principles be extended to more sectors?
· How can we recognise the role that innovative solutions offer in reacting to the impacts of climate change?
· What can the Principles support economic growth across the region’s core sectors?
Over the summer and early autumn, we will create a suite of Principles that capture a renewed sense of purpose for environmental sustainability, articulate a new collective level of ambition, and create a wide-ranging framework for the region to move forward and engage positively with the Government on the raft of legislative and policy changes promised over the coming Parliament.
If you’re interested in this work, do get in touch.
Nathan Vear CEnv MIEMA FCMI
Lead: Environment and Sustainability
nathan.vear@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
Oxford to Cambridge pan-Regional Partnership