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Green Economy: Analysis and market intelligence

The transformation to a green economy will have significant impacts – providing both opportunities and challenges – across all households and all sectors in the UK. New low carbon and environmental industries will grow, with a rebalancing towards green investment and jobs, whilst other sectors will face significant challenges from increased prices of energy and other resources. BIS is working to make sure that UK business are well-prepared to meet these challenges and take advantage of the opportunities presented by a transition a green economy and delivering green growth.

In 2009/10 the global low-carbon and environmental goods and services (LCEGS) sector was estimated to be worth around £3.2 trillion, after growing around 1.8% from 2008/09. The UK is currently the 6th in the world in this sector, with an estimated value of close to £117 billion (approximately 3.7% of the global market). The UK sector employed an estimated 914,000 people in 2009/10, and the market experienced growth of 4.3% from 2008/09.

The original market assessment commissioned by BIS (then BERR) on the size of UK and international LCEGS sectors can be found here along with subsequent updates of the data.

Links to additional analysis published by BIS, or commissioned from external contractors, on areas relating to the green economy are provided below.

Cumulative Impacts of Energy and Climate Change Policies on Carbon Leakage (Feb 2012)

Carbon leakage occurs when climate change policy aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions in one country leads to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions in a country that is not bound by these policies. Given that climate change is a global issue, carbon leakage impacts upon the effectiveness of climate change policies. This independent study by AEA, in partnership with CE Delft and commissioned by BIS examines the cumulative impact of climate change policies on carbon leakage. The report (PDF, 555 Kb) brings together findings and analysis from a wide range of primary literature in this area and where possible, conclusions relevant to the UK are drawn.

Cumulative impacts of energy and climate change policies on carbon leakage (PDF, 555 Kb)

From waste management to resource recovery: a developing sector (May 2011)

This independent report by Ekosgen consultancy identifies key activities comprising the waste management sector, outlines key policies and regulations affecting the sector and highlights sectoral drivers and barriers to growth. It aims to develop an enhanced understanding of official statistics on waste management sector which do not fully reflect the recent evolution or diversity of the waste management sector, due to recent shifts in activity in the waste management sector for business and households.

From waste management to resource recovery: a developing sector (PDF, 1.4 Mb)

Please address all queries to authors of the report, Ekosgen: Sundeep.Aulakh@ekosgen.co.uk

Business Action to Influence Consumer Demand for Low Carbon Goods and Services (March 2010)

The shift to a low carbon economy will bring significant business opportunities and this will be driven by the demand for low carbon goods and services. Businesses drive demand and influence consumer purchasing through a number of levers including: marketing, branding and the products that are available within the market. The aim of this research is to explore this relationship and the factors, which influence the successful business promotion of low carbon goods and services.

The specific objectives were to:

Understand the drivers and enablers behind business actions to encourage the uptake of low carbon products and the consumer barriers and market failures to inhibit these actions.
Identify and assess the success of business actions and strategies have on consumer demand for low carbon products and the wider implications these can have within those markets.

Business action to influence consumer demand for low carbon goods and services report (PDF, 2.3 Mb)

BIS Economics Paper No. 1: Towards a low carbon economy: economic analysis and evidence for a low carbon industrial strategy (July 2009)

This paper sets out the economic rationale for policy intervention to support the development of a UK low-carbon economy; the evidence and conclusions from recent research on the UK’s strengths; and how UK businesses are already responding to the challenge of climate change. It then considers the pivotal role innovation, skills, finance, consumer demand and key sectors will have in developing a low carbon economy in the UK.

Towards a low carbon economy: economic analysis and evidence for a low carbon industrial strategy

Sectoral Progress on Sustainability (July 2009)

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was commissioned by BERR to produce a consolidated assessment of the current status of sectoral plans and progress. The outcomes from this research work are intended to contribute to the evidence base on how different business sectors are currently performing as well highlighting areas of best practice, identifying key barriers to progress and opportunities to drive higher levels of sectoral engagement on sustainable development.

Sectoral Progress on Sustainability

UK Business Carbon Top3Map (July 2009)

The March 2009 Carbon Top3Map review was commissioned by BIS (formally BERR) in order to provide an initial view of SME capability in the UK to measure and monitor carbon foot printing in the wake of the creation of the PAS (Publicly Available Specification) 2050 on carbon footprint measurement in 2008. The results will contribute to the evidence base supporting ongoing policy development on how to ensure that UK makes the transformation to a low-carbon economic base as smoothly as possible.

UK Business Carbon Top3Map

Comparative advantage and green business (June 2008)

Ersnt & Young was commissioned by the former Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to gather evidence on the potential business opportunities for the UK economy in a move a ‘green’ or low-carbon, resource efficient economy and to inform the policy discussion about to assist businesses to make that transition. The scope of the project covered four areas: