APPENDIX 2

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT NETWORKS IN EUROPE

There are a number of examples across Europe of regions taking local action involving all sectors of the community in societal change, so as to achieve more sustainable natural resource use. A key theme of these programmes is developing partnerships with the business sector to take advantage of the fact that sustainable resource use can increase profits and create business opportunities, as well as being good for the environment.

The Leader of the County Council recently hosted a meeting of key European regions where it was agreed to establish a European Regions Natural Resources Network to share experience of best practice, the key focus being on engaging the business sector in maximising its role in terms of the economic development opportunities associated with sustainable natural resource use.

Two of the leading regions in this field are the city of Graz in Austria and Noord Brabant in the Netherlands. They are partners in the proposed Network and there are opportunities for Hampshire to share ideas and best practice with them and the other Network members. Brief summaries of the approaches adopted by Graz and Noord Brabant are set out below.

Graz

Graz has won a number of awards for its sustainability achievements, including the title of European Sustainable City in 1996. It is Austria's second largest city, located in the south of the country with a population of 250,000.

The trigger for the development of the Graz sustainability agenda was very severe smog that occurred in the winter of 1989, a problem exacerbated by temperature inversions related to the geography of the city. This was the critical point in that everyone recognised that drastic action was needed.

The outcome was a new approach to developing a sustainable urban environment based on the following principles:

· A preventative environmental protection approach rather than corrective action.

· Sustainable strategies rather than traditional `end of pipe' solutions.

· Adoption of a networked rather than a one-sided approach.

· Joint solutions through active participation of the community given preference over statutory requirements.

All political parties signed up to the agenda and challenging targets were set. Local delivery programmes and projects were implemented to support the concepts. The programmes/projects include:

Ecoprofit

A programme to support the sustainable development of companies through:

· Improving performance on energy consumption, emissions, waste.

· Reducing material, energy and waste disposal costs.

· Increasing profits by reducing costs.

· Bringing motivation and team spirit to companies.

· Creating a better understanding of laws and regulations.

· Building partnerships with the local authority.

· Increasing performance and reducing costs through public support.

· Creating the right image both in Austria and overseas.

An average return of 1:10 return on the initial outlay (in terms of savings) is claimed.

Graz has developed Ecoprofit into an international brand and 50 towns and 500 enterprises all over the world now adopt it.

Cleaner Production Centre Austria

Based in Graz and promotes new industrial processes and opportunities to create new jobs. Documents the economic success of enterprises participating in the Ecoprofit programme.

Ecodrive

A programme to collect waste cooking oil from restaurants and households in Graz and convert it to ecodiesel for use in buses. 56 buses are currently converted and a further 54 will be converted in 2003.

The technology was developed in conjunction with the local universities and is now being marketed worldwide by a local company. Collection of the cooking oil is undertaken by an ecosocial enterprise which aims to provide employment and training to the long-term unemployed.

From next year all bus services in the city will be required to use this ecodiesel fuel.

Thermoprofit

This is a local energy concept aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions whilst stimulating investment and employment (aim to achieve 1,000 jobs for 10-15 years).

LA21 Programme

A comprehensive public awareness programme supports the sustainability agenda. It is based on the following principles:

· Pollution prevention pays.

· Service and support above regulation and punishment.

· Convincing rather than absorbing.

· Hedonistic approach.

One of the features of the LA 21 programme is an annual `green week festival' to raise awareness of sustainability and natural resource issues.

Waste Management

Graz has a waste management plan based on the following principles:

· Avoiding waste.

· Separate collection of hazardous waste.

· Separate collection of recyclable and compostable waste.

· Energy recovery from residual waste.

The household waste recycling rate is 65%.

More information on the Graz environmental programme is available on their website: www.graz.at/umwelt

Noord Brabant

As the administrative layer between National Government and local authorities, the Province of Noord Brabant has the task of translating the decisions of Government and interpreting this for its own territory.

A range of plans is produced aimed at the sustainable preservation of the province. These include the regional plan, water management plan, environmental policy plan and traffic and transport plan. However, drawing up plans is not the end objective - the actions need to be realised and subsidised.

These actions include acquiring nature preserves, developing the ecological network, fighting dehydration, reinforcement of public transport and the lay out and establishment of sustainable industrial sites.

The Noord Brabant European Partnership for Sustainability

This partnership utilises the expertise from the regional level in Noord Brabant with European knowledge to create a sustainable future.

Currently nine partners meet on a quarterly basis from across the region and from specialist European organisations. This group has developed directly from discussions on the so-called Manifest Brabant 2050, a manifesto on the desired future of the province of Noord Brabant drawn up through consultation.

The partnership has put down four major themes including:

· The furthering of discussions on sustainability.

· Activities in the field of Sustainable Site Management.

· Research into and the monitoring of sustainability.

· Awareness raising activities for sustainability.

A new programme of activities is drawn up each year, and cooperation and partnership is sought from organisations who share the partnerships objectives, including partnerships from the economic and commercial sectors.

For more information see the Noord Brabant website: www.brabant.nl