The Natural Powerhouse

Utilising natural resources to deliver clean growth and wellbeing across South West England
Wheal Coates abandoned tin mine on Cornish coast at sunset. St Agnes. Getty

Natural capital comprises the elements of nature that directly or indirectly produce value to people (1). Natural assets lie above and below ground – comprising ecosystems, landscapes, soils, minerals, heat, winds and tides and are intimately entwined with our cultural heritage.

South West England has been endowed with the finest stocks of onshore and offshore natural capital in the UK which have been utilised to benefit of the economy and sustain life for many generations (2).

Natural assets like the wind, critical minerals and heat lie at the heart of the journey to net zero and the Green Industrial Revolution policies – which include offshore wind, the shift to zero emission vehicles, greener buildings, sequestrating carbon and protecting our natural environment (3). The challenges of national and regional competitiveness and resilience, decarbonisation and the climate emergency compel us to take a strategic, inclusive view of our natural assets with renewed focus on their potential contribution to addressing clean growth, sustainable development and well-being challenges.

The South West Natural Powerhouse

At present, governance and management of our natural assets is fragmented and uncoordinated, whilst knowledge is dispersed and inconsistent. Acting in combination, these factors conspire to frustrate access and full delivery of social, economic and environmental value to the South West (4).

The answer is to take a role in stewardship of the natural resources – leading the national and international agenda. Inefficiencies and barriers to accessing the benefits of natural assets should be addressed by a new approach to resource governance - progressive strategy; the breaking down of traditional sector and responsibility boundaries, to share learning, processes and practice through partnerships.

The South West Natural Powerhouse is an independent consortium formed from industry, academia and local government who work in collaboration to facilitate net zero in the South West. The consortium fosters responsible stewardship of our natural resources, whilst promoting sustainable and accelerated development of the blue and green economies.

The South West Natural Powerhouse is based on a shared, fresh, cohesive vision which puts the value of its remarkable natural resources at its heart. Clean growth will be achieved through creating supportive conditions that promote sustainable development and embrace the circular economy through;