Sustainable South, a new Business South Action Group has launched with a commitment to share best practice and join forces to make things happen.
Building on the sound work of the Green Halo partnership, which encompassed local authorities, the New Forest National Park and academia, Sustainable South Action Group plans to endorse and develop the Greenprint priorities.
Sustainable South brings businesses to the table with the public sector, academia and New Forest National Park. Together they will be using these five priorities to focus debate and activity.
- Net zero with nature – providing the leadership necessary to reduce carbon emissions, taking a more integrated and holistic approach by working with nature to build a zero carbon economy and zero carbon communities.
- Natural health service – improving physical and mental health and wellbeing and tackling health inequalities through greater access to our world class natural environments and bringing nature into our urban communities.
- World class blue/green environments – protecting, restoring and improving our distinctive, high quality blue and green environments, enabling the natural capital and ecosystem services they offer us to contribute fully to a strong economy and a healthy, inclusive society.
- Creating great places through quality in design and build – encouraging an innovative approach to creating high quality, inclusive and sustainable places for people and nature, adopting a low-carbon, sustainable approach which will make the region an exemplar.
- Centre for excellence in green skills and jobs – tackle local skills gaps and economic inequalities by building a future workforce which can seize the opportunities offered by innovation in key sectors of our economy, including zero carbon economy, land management and the visitor economy.
Chaired by Kamile Nesteckyte and Dan Walster from AtkinsRéalis, the dynamic duo have promised the group will be a focus for action and not just a talking-shop for those concerned with the environment.
Kamile said: “The first meeting saw leading businesses and voices across the Central South looking at how we can work in a unified approach and begin implementing some really positive initiatives and tracking impacts.”
Dan added: “It was positive to see so many businesses wanting to be involved and make a difference.”
Leigh-Sara Timberlake, Business South Group CEO, said: “We feel sure that with such a dynamic duo at the helm the Sustainable South Action Group will be in safe hands.
“Sustainability is a key issue for the Central South. Sharing best practice and working in partnership with others is the way forward if we really want to make a positive impact.”
Initiatives under discussion include:
- Carbon literacy sessions for businesses to join
- Weetings – walking meetings to ensure we get out of the office to embrace nature
- Support for events such as Heartbeat charity’s Heart & Stroll event
To find out more go to www.businesssouth.org
