Delivering Eco Island

Astrid Davies & Jim FawcettIsle of Wight Council

Barriers to Environmental Sustainability,University of Southampton,

23 September 2009

The ISP’s membership is wide

• The Island Strategic Partnership (ISP) spans the public, private and third (voluntary and community) sectors, plus faith groups and Parishes/Towns

• There are around 50 different organisations in the ISP, all with an important role to play

• The ISP is chaired by the Leader of the Council.

The Sustainable Community Strategy

The Island’s Sustainable Community Strategy is “Eco Island”

The vision is:

We want the Isle of Wight to become a world renowned Eco-Island, with a thriving economy, a real sense of pride and where residents and visitors enjoy healthy lives, feel safe and are treated with respect

The four themes of Eco Island

• Healthy and Supportive Island

• Inspiring Island

• Thriving Island

• Safe and Well-kept Island

Healthy and supportive Island– what we have been doing

Inspiring Island– what we have been doing

Thriving Island – what we have been doing

Safe and well-kept Island– what we have been doing

Environmental Sustainability

An Ambitious Island

• By 2020 we aim to have the smallest per capita carbon footprint in England

• We aim to be self-sufficient in electricity from renewable sources

• We aim to reduce our ecological footprint as much as possible through radical action on waste, transport, water, consumption and environmental technologies

• We aim to have the support of the local community in bringing about this radical transformation

• We aim to IMPROVE people’s QUALITY OF LIFE

About our MoU

• Memorandum of Understanding, between University of Southampton and the Isle of Wight Council, signed 15 May 2008

• IW Council signed on behalf of its wider Strategic Partnership colleagues – broad multi-agency base

• It has established a sound basis for future joint working, on any subject covered by the Council, its work with its Island partners, or the University

• The point is to offer the University a site for research, which benefits the Island community

Joint working “under the MoU”

• Summit meeting September 2008 to review progress – VC and Heads of School, plus IWC Directors & Island NHS

• “Isle of Wight Group”, led by William Powrie (Civil Engineering & the Environment)

• 23 projects in different stages, from idea to delivery• Participation in bid to run new Cowes secondary

school as community enterprise hub

Some examples of cross-workingSome ideas …

• Science Park?• Waste Strategy?• Older People?• Teenage pregnancy

rates?• ISP board

memberships?

Some actual Projects!

• Tidal energy test centre• Thermodynamic model• Raising educational

attainment• Employer Engagement• Participatory Budgeting

& engagement• Climate change impacts

on S. Coast

What we have to offer

A platform

to put sustainability theory into practice

Because…..

• The Island is a defined geographical area• It is a ‘closed’ system allowing accurate

measurement of inputs and outcomes• It has a strategic commitment to environmental

sustainability• It is a microcosm• There is access to Council services, ISP partners,

residents’ data and surveys• The Council has a research governance function

Delivering Eco Island

Astrid Davies & Jim FawcettIsle of Wight Council

Barriers to Environmental Sustainability,University of Southampton,

23 September 2009

Eco Island – Workshop

Jim Fawcett & Astrid Davies

“Wedges of Opportunity”

•Energy

•Water

•Waste

•Transport

•Consumables

•Tourism

•Built Environment

•Environmental Technology

Energy / Carbon

2020 Ambition:

Smallest per capita carbon footprint of any local authority area in England

Carbon emissions 2005-07

822 ktCO2 - 773 ktCO2

6.0 t - 5.5 t per capita

Reduction target = 4% per annum, including BAU growth

Require >15% demand reduction from domestic + industry by 2020.

Renewable Energy

2020 Ambition:Self-sufficient in renewable electricity

Current installed capacity = 2.4 MWPlanning consent for small wind farm (1.8MW), landfill gas utilisation project and

small tidal turbineTarget = c.170MWOpportunities identified in offshore wind, tidal energy, biomass and energy from

waste

Water

2020 Ambition:Self-sufficient in water supply

Current consumption = 122l/p/dCross Solent main delivers 10-12ml/d = 25-33% of demandCurrent metering at 93% domestic properties

Waste

2020 AmbitionZero non-essential waste to landfill (by 2015)

Current waste arisings:MSW 97,000 tpaC&I 147,000 tpaGasification Plant takes 30,000 tpa household wasteNo facilities for hazardous waste or fallen stock

Transport

2020 AmbitionA leading region for ‘next generation’ vehicles

Carbon emissions (included in footprint) 2005-07143 ktCO2 - 141 ktCO260% of journeys <3kmHuge increase in bus journeys (one of the highest in England)Little significant impact on car use

Other Ambitions

• One of Northern Europe’s leading destinations for low ecological impact tourism

• European centre for environmental technologies and best practice

• Delivering class leading quality of life and sustainability performance from our urban and rural environments

Research Opportunities 1Technical solutions• Energy efficiency retrofit• Implementation of renewable energy systems• Low carbon fuel infrastructure – electric /

hydrogen• Increase local water supply – desalination,

agricultural reservoirs, on-site systems• Systems for processing commercial waste for

recycling / reuse

Research Opportunities 2 Behaviour change• Green citizenship – permanent change to

lifestyles of residents and business practices (energy, water, transport, waste)

• Sustainable tourism destination e.g. car free tourism

• Impacts of behaviour change• Local food networks

Research Opportunities 3Financial modelling• Island ‘Balance Sheet’ – cost of transition

compared to financial savings for residents and businesses

• Community investment• Local production and consumption• Recirculation of finance

Research Opportunities 4 Holistic approach• Evaluation of projects• Impacts on quality of life• Does environmental sustainability make a

difference – indicators?• Opportunities to strengthen educational

attainment and skill levels• The Island as a KTP

Discussion

• What are the immediate opportunities?

• How can holistic research projects be devised?

• Who should be involved?

• What do researchers need from us?

• What next?