Infrastructure Focus Welcomed But Don’t Overlook Climate Change : UK Government Urged to Consider Benefits of Resource Industry in Wake of Autumn Statement

As part of his Autumn Statement, the UK’s chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond has said that the government accepted that the National Infrastructure Commission’s Economic infrastructure (transport, energy, flood defences, water, waste, and digital communications) is crucial for the economy and for people’s daily lives.

The government claimed that it has put infrastructure at the heart of its economic strategy and set up the National Infrastructure Commission to provide expert advice on the country’s strategic infrastructure needs and independent recommendations on how to meet them.

Following the UK chancellor’s autumn statement, the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM), Dr Colin Church said that Hammond’s attention has been rightly focused on setting a stable course for the economy in light of the current state of the UK’s finances and Brexit uncertainty, and the targeted funding support for innovation and infrastructure is welcome.

However, he added: “CIWM is concerned that the Chancellor’s speech made no reference to climate change proofing future UK industry and infrastructure, or to any imperative for low carbon, ‘green’ growth. It is also disappointing that there was no more detail on the new industrial strategy.

“Productivity is not just about how much we can ‘make’ but also about how we make it. Ultimately, sustainable growth is predicated on UK industry having access to a range of appropriate resources, and this includes the valuable secondary feedstock materials and energy products that the waste and resource management sector can deliver.

“It is to be hoped that somewhere in the emerging detail over the coming months, resource productivity will be clearly identified as one of the priorities, especially given the impact that volatile commodity markets and potential Brexit-related raw material price rises could have on UK plc.”

The thoughts are also echoed by Resources & Waste UK - a partnership between the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and Environmental Services Association (ESA) - which called on the government to increase its focus on the interplay between economic growth and the environment needed

R&WUK director general, Steve Lee said:

“In light of Brexit uncertainty, one of the Chancellor’s key tasks today was to outline measures to ensure that UK industry is competitive, efficient and resilient in the future, and R&WUK is pleased to see the commitment to infrastructure and to the important work of the National Infrastructure Commission, which has waste as one of its six priority areas.

“The £23 billion for a new National Productivity Investment Fund also augurs well – although the initial spending breakdown does not provide enough detail to know how much attention will be paid to resource productivity.

“In the context of promoting growth, however, there was no mention of the forthcoming industrial strategy, and no reference to the important interplay between the economy and the environment.

“Sustainable growth must be viewed through a lens that takes account of future resource constraints and climate change impacts. Given that there is growing recognition of this imperative across the globe, it is disappointing not to see this reflected, at least at a high level.

“Our industry will hope to see a stronger focus on these issues in Defra’s 25 year Environment Plan and BEIS’ industrial strategy and this will be an area where R&WUK is concentrating its efforts.”

Read More

Professor Margaret Bates Inaugurated as Chartered Institute of Wastes Management President

The 2016/17 Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM) President, Professor Margaret Bates, was inaugurated yesterday in front of over 150 guests in Terrace Pavilion of the House of Commons.

CIWM’s Steve Lee Calls for Clarity Over Brexit Impact on Waste & Resource Sector

Following speeches made yesterday by Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom at the Conservative Party Conference, the CIWM has called for greater clarity on the likely impacts of Brexit on the waste and resource sector.

Year Long Campaign to Tackle Waste Crime Backed by CIWM & ESA

As the New Year comes into full swing, the UK’s Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM) has launched a coordinated 12 month campaign to tackle the financial and environmental cost of waste crime.