Good growth – how do we look beyond GDP to support the charge to net zero?

23 Jun 2022 - Online via Zoom 2-3pm

Good growth – how do we look beyond GDP to support the charge to net zero?

Thursday 23^rd June 2022, 2-3pm

Following on from our ‘Economic Development: How can we reconcile growth ambitions with net zero?’ webinar in November 2021, we take a closer look at the issues emerging six months on from the high-profile international COP26 conference. 

Our first webinar highlighted the biggest challenges in ensuring that economic recovery delivers on net zero targets and limited examples of local government working with a partner or partners to tackle the drive for net zero. More widely, a recent report by the Public Accounts Committee has expressed concern that the Government has still not clearly defined the roles and responsibilities of local authorities in delivering net zero objectives. It outlined a lack of net zero delivery capability at the local level and said that some councils continue to struggle to access central government money to fund net zero activities. 

In this webinar, we will explore the issue of growth and whether the very blunt metric of output GDP or GVA is something that needs a rethink, in line with aspirations to bring climate and economic development strategy together alongside investment strategy. ‘Good growth’ is a concept being championed, but what does this mean and how can we champion/fund it? We will also consider related economic development skills, how these can be plugged to support good growth, and systemic changes within local government strategy and delivery mechanisms which may provide a more joined-up approach.

Confirmed speakers: 

• Paul Frainer, IED Director and Partner Local Government, TPXimpact
• Joe Sarling, Director of Research, New Local
• Owen Garling, Knowledge Transfer Facilitator, Bennett Institute for Public Policy – University of Cambridge
• Zoë Billingham, Director, IPPR North

To register in advance for this webinar, please click the link here.