In April 2022 Hertfordshire Futures (as Hertfordshire LEP) launched the Clean Growth Strategy with a principal aim of building a greener, more sustainable Hertfordshire economy and lead the way forward for clean economic growth.
The broader agenda for improving Hertfordshire’s environmental performance is a truly collective endeavour. Working in partnership with educators, businesses, communities, climate change groups and more, Hertfordshire Futures aims to:
- Accelerate enterprise and innovation
- Develop skills
- Attract Low Carbon Environmental and Goods Services Sector
With regard to wider issues linked to infrastructure, transport and natural capital, it will support the work of Hertfordshire Growth Board.
Key concepts
Net Zero
Achieving clean(er) growth is critical vis-à-vis progress to Net Zero. This will have been achieved when there is a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it.
Green Economy
This refers to the low carbon environmental goods and services (LCEGS) sector. The 'business' of this sector is either:
- To reduce/mitigate environmental impacts (e.g. dealing with pollution)
- To provide radically lower carbon solutions (e.g. based on wind power, rather than fossil fuels)
Innovations
Cleantech and Envirotech – are innovations within the LCEGS and they include activities which reduce water consumption, air and land pollution, and energy use. They are linked to greater sustainability.
Natural Capital
The stock of natural assets (water, minerals, soils, woodlands, and wildlife, etc.) that underpin essential ecosystem services (such as food, timber, pollination, climate control). These assets, both directly and indirectly, contribute to the health of our ecosystems and to human wellbeing.
Principal aims
Two main pillars of activity
- Growing and attracting low carbon businesses
- Supporting existing businesses, communities and places as they transition to Net Zero
Why?
These pillars, or strands of work will help to:
- Futureproof businesses, communities and places to be resilient towards climate change
- Provide support as transitions are made to meet the UK Net Zero targets and challenges
- Accelerate enterprise and innovation, collaboration and skills development to grow and attract a greener economy
Fundamental principals
Accelerating enterprise and innovation, collaboration, and skills development to grow and attract the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Sector.
Hertfordshire Futures has the responsibility of driving this forward.
Improving the environmental performance of businesses, communities and places in Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire Futures drives elements of this pillar with support from partners including Hertfordshire Growth Board and the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP).