Briefs
The Green Knowledge EconomyThis Brief outlines a new model for sustainable economic development that integrates two paradigms – the Knowledge Economy and the Green Economy. We refer to this model as the “Green Knowledge Economy” (GKE). The GKE model reflects emerging UK and EU policy trends. The Coalition Government is committed to building ‘a low carbon and eco-friendly economy’ – a Green Economy. The goal of the EU 2020 Strategy is to make Europe ‘a competitive and greener knowledge-based economy’. These long-term policy directions are evident in North America and other regions of the world. Within countries, cities and regions are actively planning ahead for ‘carbon-free prosperity’, and marketing themselves to investors and citizens as ‘green cities’, ‘eco-towns’ and ‘low-carbon economic areas’. The first areas of the UK to adopt the GKE framework for economic development are: the Sub-Region of Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (where a Multi Area Agreement is in place) and Taunton, the county town of Somerset. Both of these areas are located in the South West of England. The GKE concept refers to the ‘greening’ of the existing economy through product and process innovations that are used to tackle climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve resource efficiency and conserve ecosystems and biodiversity. Given the consensus definition of our existing economy as a Knowledge Economy (wealth creation is driven by investments in intangible capital), I coined the term ‘green knowledge economy’ to reflect the new policy directions mentioned above. We hope this Brief will stimulate widespread interest in the GKE model of economic development. To download the pdf version of the report, please submit your full name and email address.
Please see also Mark Hepworth's presentation on sustainable business development and the Green Knowledge Economy here. |
Latest News
Mark will co-chair a session on the Geography of the Green Economy at the Royal Geographical Society’s IBG Annual International Conference 2011. Mark is a keynote speaker at this year’s Institute of Career Guidance’s national conference in November 2011. The conference Insight into green and sustainable careers focuses on the green economy and career opportunities in green/sustainable occupations. Our second joint report with Oxford Economics on "The Economic Contribution of BAE Systems to the UK Economy in 2009" was launched at Westminster in April of this year. It is essential reading to all policy makers interested in the government's ambition of rebalancing the UK's economy by sector and by region. The report is available to download here. We are pleased to learn that our clients Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole have been given the green light to establish a Local Enterprise Partnership. "Dorset LEP" will use our original Green Knowledge Economy model to guide its strategic activity. The Dorset LEP Prospectus is available to download here. Geoeconomics is delighted to be working with international consulting engineers Buro Happold on a major study of the West of England ‘low carbon economy’. The study has two research strands: a baseline assessment of the sub-regional economy’s carbon profile and the creation of 2050 scenarios; and, case studies of innovation that aim to understand the dynamics of customer-supplier relationships in markets for environmental goods and services. We are delighted that Bracknell Forest Council is implementing its new economic development strategy for which Geoeconomics were the principal consultants. Arab Spring: In July Sarah Forster begins working on microfinance and economic development in Egypt for the World Bank. Geoeconomics Brief 3 on the Green Knowledge Economy is continuing to generate a lot of interest within the UK and internationally. Integrating two paradigms – the knowledge economy and the green economy – the GKE model is unique, thought-provoking and resonates with UK and EU policy at all levels. You can download the Brief here. All Geoeconomics news items can be found in our News and Publications section
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