Research Festival 2020

Natural Capital for Clean Growth

Building a framework around the South West’s natural assets in onshore and offshore clean energy.

The South West has a wealth of untapped potential as a natural resource centre with a national offer, particularly for emerging sectors. How can these assets be harnessed for clean growth?

In this session Professor Iain Stewart and Dr Ian Selby from the Sustainable Earth Institute will take a national view, but with an eye to the remarkable onshore and offshore natural assets of the South-West, which lie above and below ground – the ecosystems, landscapes, soils, minerals, waves, winds and tides.

These natural assets are connected to the heart of the Industrial Strategy, and are critical for UK competitiveness and resilience, sustainable development, decarbonisation and the climate emergency.

We plan to link sectors that rarely mix and explore governance, energy, infrastructure, georesources, policy and investment through diverse lively presentations, insights and stimulating debate with a connected and informed audience.

We are delighted to welcome keynotes from Hugh McNeal (CEO Renewable UK), Rob Booth (General Counsel and Company Secretary The Crown Estate), Jeremy Wrathall (CEO Cornish Lithium Ltd) and Iliana Portugues (Head of Innovation National Grid).

Along with their insights, there will be commentary by diverse expert panels and open Q&A sessions, the meeting promises to explore new territory with the ambition to identify opportunities and forge new linkages across sectors through clarifying common elements, highlighting new directions & defining next steps.

More information, including the day's programme, can be found here.