The Stern Review demonstrates that ignoring climate change will eventually damage economic growth.  However, this is not portrayed as a "doom and gloom scenario".  On the contrary, tackling climate change is seen as the pro-growth strategy for the longer term and the earlier effective action is taken, the less costly it will be.

With this in mind, research recently released by CLES considers the connections between economic development and climate change.

Across the country local authorities are waking up to the challenge of climate change, but research shows that the approach taken varies from area to area.

In Yorkshire and Humber, for example, Yorkshire Forward has pioneered Carbon Action Yorkshire to accelerate development of a low carbon economy in the region.  Whilst Manchester's economic development service is supporting green business advice through the green business pledge, delivered through partner organisations.

Local Area Agreements (LAAs) potentially provide a vehicle for connecting economic development and climate change targets.  However, the research indicates that whilst most areas have climate change targets included within their LAA, none had specific climate change targets within the economic development theme.

The research concludes that although most local authorities have climate change firmly on the agenda, action led by economic development teams tends to be more limited.

As momentum to move towards a low carbon economy continues to build, it will become vital for economic development departments to take greater ownership of the climate change agenda in order to place their areas in the best position to capitalise on green economic development.