Regional pilot projects
Ecological Budget UK provides an ideal opportunity for local authorities, government agencies and strategic partnerships to engage communities in ways that will directly impact on and improve their local environment, while also contributing to the ‘sum total’ of reduction in global consumption.
The programme is currently focussing on pilot projects in the North East and the West Midlands regions, as well as in Scotland and Wales. The North East and West Midlands projects are being treated as a test bed for the application of Mass Balanace Analysis at the regional level specifically in assessing its application to influencing policy development and decision making. Learnings and evidence from the projects will help us in our application of the programme elsewhere in the UK.
In the West Midlands, WWF is working with key partners on a ‘regional-to-local’ project called ‘The Ecological Footprint of a Sustainable Community’. This research will analyse how regeneration initiatives can help reduce a community’s Ecological Footprint by examining five case study communities – city centre, inner city, suburban, market town, rural village – each of which have differing types of housing and community infrastructure. The project will examine both construction methods as well as the lifestyles of individuals within the community and will produce a model for the sustainable regeneration of communities, which can be used throughout the UK. Also in the West Midlands, the ‘Application of the Ecological Footprint to Regional Policies and Strategies’ will allow the West Midlands Ecological Footprint Steering Group to ascertain which key policies/issues most need to be analysed with the Resources and Energy Analysis Programme (REAP) software tool in the region.
In the North East, WWF is working with partners on a ‘local-to-regional’ project examining how the adoption of the Ecological Footprint as an indicator within a local authority, Sunderland City, can affect strategic planning and policy development. As a result, a wide range of initiatives based on the use of footprint will be implemented, with a focus on community participation and capacity building.
In Scotland, WWF Scotland is working with Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and North Lanarkshire Councils to measure their footprint, use the REAP tool, develop footprint reduction projects and produce education materials for schools. The Ecological Footprint will be used to inform Strategic Environmental Assessment, best value and engage with community planning partners.
In Wales, WWF Cymru has been working with the Welsh Assembly and other key partners to launch the Reducing Wales Footprint report. As well as updating the Welsh Ecological Footprint, it compared the footprint of a rural council (Gwynedd Council) and an urban council (Cardiff Council). The project will also be piloting the REAP tool.