Green recovery task group during COVID
About this good practice
The problem addressed was the local economy being hit hard by Covid, and the national government issuing calls for recovery measures that chimed with Net Zero policies. Wwithin the wider context of expediting and maximising the economic recovery of the County post-Covid. Activities sought to address the problem of policy being developed in silos, with activities addressing the “green” agenda and activities looking to provide economic development being compartmentalised.
At the time, early in Covid, the national guidance on decarbonation was contained in the 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, published in advance and in the expectation of a full net Zero Strategy.
The practice reached its objectives through bringing together a dedicated sub group on green recovery and
(a) ensuring representation from each partnership on the Boards of the other;
(b) highlighting ways in which activities which sought environmental improvement could also bring economic additional economic benefit and vice versa and through flexing delivery methods to reach both objectives simultaneously and
(c) leading to the creation of “off the shelf” projects which could be brought forward in response to forthcoming funding opportunities, the first of which has already attracted funding.
The main beneficiaries of this are the residents and businesses of County Durham through increased economic and environmental wellbeing.
Resources needed
Human resources included convening and chairing by the acting Chair of the Economic Partnership, staff support from the Business Durham and Low Carbon Economy teams, and the Councils MS teams account to run meetings. Approximately 200 hours were spent by the Chair and low carbon experts.
Evidence of success
In c) above, the projects referred to that were delivered are:
• A series of 2 webinars with businesses on getting into low carbon home retrofit opportunities, co-hosted with Business Durham
• A series of 4 webinars on green tourism for tourist businesses, co-hosted with Visit County Durham the Tourism provider
• A shared Prosperity Fund Bid was initiated (the fund became titled the Community Renewal Fund) though it did not proceed
In addition, a briefing paper was provided.
Potential for learning or transfer
It is important that activities to address climate change, to react to net zero ambitions and to deliver a green recovery are not seen in isolation from – or more problematically, in conflict with - the need to develop economic growth. The two can be addressed symbiotically if mainstream environmental activity “bakes in” economic positives through its mode of delivery and conversely if mainstream economic development policy plans its delivery in ways that maximise positive environmental outputs. This can be best achieved by building in synergy from the outset rather than attempting to retrofit it to pre-determined programmes of activity.
The webinar output could be easily replicated across other partners.
Further information
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Good practice owner
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Durham County Council