Exploring the Green Economy: Issues, Challenges and Benefits

In considering how we can meet environmental targets, crucial to delivering Net Zero and fulfilling our commitments to the Paris Agreement, and in the context of the fact that we are holding the COP26 Climate Conference later this year, we must now focus on action and on increasing the pace of our response.

Faced with impending catastrophe, action is urgently required. It is imperative that radical reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases is central to whatever processes are carried out in the future. Every facet of our existence has an impact on the environment. Greenhouse gases, regardless of their origin, impact on the planet as a whole.

It is vital that we stimulate both discussion and action and this book is both a call to arms and a celebration of what is already being achieved, written by a wide cross section of experts in this field.

The book is divided into two parts. The first, ‘What are the Fundamentals of a Greener Economy?’, is intended to consider how change leading to a green economy may be facilitated.

Part Two of this book, ‘Principles in Action’ presents a number of chapters written by those who have engaged in achieving green initiatives in their organisations.

Edited by Dr Steven McCabe and Beverley Nielsen of BCU IDEAS, the book has a Foreword by The Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Professor Dame Julia King, DBE FREng FRS, formerly Deputy Chair, Climate Change Committee (CCC), Chair CCC Adaptation Committee; Chair of the Carbon Trust and Non-Executive Director of renewable energy company Ørsted and of fuel cell and electrolyser company Ceres Power.

There are contributions from: Vicky Pryce, Economist and Visiting Professor, BCU; Tony Juniper, Chair, Nature Conservation Agency and Fellow, the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership; Sir Jonathon Porritt, Environmental Campaigner; Tom Field, Chief Executive Officer, UVTech-Hygienics; Lisa Trickett and Bryan Nott; Matthew Rhodes, Chair of West Midlands Energy Capital; Margot James, Executive Chair, WMG, Hopi Sen, Research Fellow, WMG, Dr Vannessa Goodship Associate Professor, Materials and Manufacturing Group, WMG, University of Warwick; Tor Farquhar, Ex-HR Director, Tata Steel, Europe; David Seall, Independent Director, Advisor and Chartered Engineer; Richard Haynes, Franco Cheung, Paul Nicol; Craig Sams, co-founder of Green & Black’s, advocate of sustainable farming and leading voice for Carbon Gold; with an Afterword by Jack Dromey MP, Vice Chair APPG for the Environment, House of Commons