The Green Economy in Bristol and the West of ... - Miguel Mendonça

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Annex A
Conclusion: The Need for
Strategic Collaboration
The ‘greening of the economy’ is an essential task of
the era in which we live. The costs of decarbonisation
are vast, and the challenge of doing this successfully
with regard to containing climate change, in the face
of the desperation of indebted governments to
reignite economic growth, is equally daunting.
Trying to decide which measures to invest in, and
how to push through policy support in an era of
austerity, are the specific challenges which relate to
the bulk of this report. The closing section, however,
attempts to illuminate some of the many other
elements that are critical parts of the picture. It is
not just what we do, but how we do it, and how soon,
that will make the difference. Making preparations
for the disruptions to be caused by peak oil in the
decades to come is of major importance to the
resilience of the region. The development of resilient
local food and transport systems will require greatly
enhanced integrative systemic thinking.
Bristol and the West of England still have the luxury
of choice as to the shape these things can take.
However, an analysis of the converging crises of the
era makes indisputable the claim that we will need
to attempt to plan for an economic situation we have
not yet encountered. The social, political and
technical complexities around the integration of so
many factors, and the matter of creating sufficient
investment to support these changes are challenging
enough. However, it is likely to be our vision, and our
will to work collectively on planning concretely for a
reality that does not yet exist, that will be the major
hurdles. Making the leap of imagination, out of our
immediate concerns and constraints and into action,
will require the energy of true inspiration.
The Green Economy in Bristol and the West of England