01 July 2009
NWDA plans for action with Department of Energy and Climate
Change
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has today
signed an agreement with the Department for Energy and Climate
Change (DECC) on behalf of England’s Regional Development Agency
(RDA) Network.
This agreement sets out the strategic partnership arrangements
between DECC and the nine English RDAs, to ensure strong and
effective arrangements for collaboration on shared priorities.
As lead RDA for DECC, NWDA Chief Executive, Steven Broomhead
today met with Moira Wallace, Permanent Secretary at DECC to agree
a set of shared actions to promote energy and climate change as
part of securing sustainable economic development.
RDAs will provide regional leadership on energy and climate
change through proactive and practical activities, engaging
directly with businesses and communities.
In 2006 the Stern Review highlighted a £30 billion opportunity
for British business over the next ten years. The increasing need
for environmental measures such as waste management, renewable
energy, pollution control and energy efficiency, will reap economic
and environmental rewards for all regions.
RDAs are well prepared to embrace the opportunities the
environmental sector will provide in the coming years.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA) said:
“On behalf of the NWDA, the RDA network and the businesses and
communities of England’s Northwest, I am delighted to put pen to
paper and commit to working closely with DECC on its important and
critical agenda.
“Energy and climate change are inextricably linked and are
acknowledged as one of the most significant challenges facing the
world today. These issues are now being widely recognised across
all communities – they are now a fundamental global priority
affecting the environment, economy and energy supplies not only in
this country, but the world over.”
“As lead RDA for DECC, the NWDA will ensure all RDAs are
committed to supporting Government targets to cut greenhouse gas
emissions by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. We can show strong
leadership on this agenda through developing the new Regional
Strategies, by supporting energy and other low carbon technology
through innovation, supply chain and skills development, as well as
securing energy efficiency and carbon reductions for businesses
through Business Link and related services.”
DECC’s Permanent Secretary Moira Wallace said:
“Regional Development Agencies are crucial when it comes to
tackling climate change at a regional level. Both DECC and RDAs
want to see the development of low carbon regional economies, to
secure sustainable energy supplies, to achieve climate and energy
targets and to make sure businesses know what they can do to save
energy and money on fuel bills.
“By signing this strategic partnership agreement DECC and the
RDAs are demonstrating their commitment to making this work
together.”
The agreement highlights four areas where DECC and RDA
priorities are strongly linked:
1. Developing low carbon, energy-efficient regional
economies, with secure and sustainable energy supplies, well placed
to exploit new opportunities and drive economic recovery.
2. Supporting the achievement of national climate change and
energy targets through regional action.
3. Stimulating market, supply chain and skills development and
innovation to deliver renewables, energy efficiency, nuclear power,
clean fossil fuels and other low carbon technologies.
4. Ensuring businesses are well informed about carbon
reduction and energy efficiency opportunities/support and deliver
reductions in practice.
The Low Carbon Economy Team of DECC and NWDA, as lead RDA for
DECC, will be responsible for ensuring that this agreement is
implemented and for monitoring its effectiveness and
impact.
The agreement also highlights the need for close and effective
working relationships at all levels to provide the basis for strong
collaboration on our shared priorities. This will be based
on:
• Mutual understanding of our distinctive roles and
responsibilities, the ways in which we work and our shared
priorities;
• Establishing strong networks and other arrangements for
regular and open communication at all levels, including with other
key DECC delivery partners such as Carbon Trust, Energy Saving
Trust and Government Offices;
• Developing strong dialogue on policy development and
implementation, with opportunities for each partner to contribute
their experience and ideas at all stages;
• Ongoing sharing of information, knowledge and good
practice;
• Collaboration on areas of mutual interest to influence other
departments, organisations and partners on broader agenda;
• A commitment to developing proactive, innovative and
responsive ways of working together, including secondments, work
shadowing and other means of staff interchange.
--- ENDS ---
Notes to Editors
DECC’s objectives include:
• Secure global commitments which prevent dangerous climate
change
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK
• Ensure secure energy supplies
• Help the most vulnerable to meet their household energy
needs
• Meet energy and climate change objectives at home and
abroad
• Ensure that the UK economy benefits from business and
employment opportunities of a low carbon future
• Manage energy liabilities effectively and safely
• Develop DECC’s capability and capacity, systems and
relationships so that we improve engagement with and deliver
effectively for the public
RDAs provide regional leadership on energy and climate change
through:
• the development and delivery of Regional Strategies,
including energy and carbon reduction plans/targets and supporting
regional partnerships.
• supporting the delivery of energy efficiency and carbon
reduction across the business sector through Business Link
brokerage, advice and coordination of resource efficiency business
support for SMEs;
• supporting the growth of key enabling sectors, such as
construction, transport and low carbon technologies, to encourage
progress towards a low carbon economy;
• leading regionally specific R&D, innovation and
demonstration activity on low carbon energy technologies, efficient
energy use/transmission and climate change;
• improving the sustainability of physical developments
through low carbon design of regeneration investments (more
generally, RDAs are committed to estimating and publishing carbon
savings from their programmes);
• supporting the development of a skilled low-carbon and
nuclear energy workforce, including improving sector skills and
maximising local opportunities from energy investment and
infrastructure, including nuclear legacy management;
• encouraging the reduction of fuel poverty though joint
working with local and health authorities on community scale
projects.
For further information please contact Shelley Tattersall, Press
Officer on 01925 400256 or mobile 07500 128482 or shelley.tattersall@nwda.co.uk
For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925
400259.
For further information and to view previous press releases
visit us at www.nwda.co.uk/press
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the
economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is
responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging
investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and
communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life