We carry out research assessing progress towards a low carbon economy in the West Midlands. Through this work we're helping advance the evidence base related to the low carbon economy and sustainable development.
Recent research includes:
Opportunities in the low carbon economy for local authorities
These reports highlight the opportunities that the low carbon economy can deliver across local authorities in the West Midlands.
- Birmingham* (pdf, 914kb)
- Coventry* (pdf, 876kb)
- Dudley* (pdf, 908kb)
- Herefordshire (pdf, 388kb)
- Sandwell* (pdf, 911kb)
- Shropshire (pdf, 389kb)
- Solihull* (pdf, 875kb)
- Staffordshire (pdf, 409kb)
- Stoke-on-Trent (pdf, 339kb)
- Telford and Wrekin* (pdf,893kb)
- Walsall* (pdf, 893kb)
- Warwickshire (pdf, 319kb)
- Wolverhampton* (pdf, 901kb)
- Worcestershire (pdf, 667kb)
* These reports were produced as part of the City Region: opportunities in the low carbon economy project published May 2010. Other local authority profiles published January/February 2011.
Risks and opportunities for the low carbon economy: a sub-national and local analysis
Published 15 November 2010
This report identifies the proportion of businesses and employment across the risk and opportunity sectors for the low carbon economy at sub-national and local levels. We're interested in benchmarking the following:
- The West Midlands' current position with the rest of the English regions.
- The current position of the 14 strategic local authorities in the West Midlands with the rest of the local authorities in England.
Download the report (pdf, 414kb)
Fit for the future: what's your vision of a low carbon future?
Published 14 October 2010
A collection of articles exploring the opportunities to be provided to the West Midlands by a low carbon future. We've also made this report available as a commentable website.
Download the report (pdf, 351kb)
City region: opportunities in the low carbon economy
Published 18 May 2010
A detailed review of opportunities in the low carbon economy relevant across the City Region. This project also includes reports for eight local authorities in the City Region, and a technical report with the background data and evidence for the study.
More about this project »
Low carbon economy in the West Midlands
Published 8 March 2010
This study looks at the economic risks and opportunities across the whole of the West Midlands economy. It aims to help approaches to targeted support to help sectors diversify or become more efficient, not just high profile R&D or high-tech specialist green companies.
More about this project »
Monitoring reports
Published April–July 2010
We produced several monitoring reports considering progress in the West Midlands on key climate change and sustainable development indicators (supporting datasets and charts are available on the downloads tab at the top of this page).
Strengthening the evidence base
Published 2008/2009
Over 2008/2009 we focussed on strengthening the evidence base around low carbon and sustainable development, building on existing research and drawing strands of evidence together.
A synthesis report (pdf, 358kb) summarises the highlights.
These are the full reports:
The Observatory is a partner in the Sustainable Consumption & Production Network.
Opportunities in the low carbon economy for local authorities
- Birmingham* (pdf, 914kb)
- Coventry* (pdf, 876kb)
- Dudley* (pdf, 908kb)
- Herefordshire (pdf, 388kb)
- Sandwell* (pdf, 911kb)
- Shropshire (pdf, 389kb)
- Solihull* (pdf, 875kb)
- Staffordshire (pdf, 409kb)
- Stoke-on-Trent (pdf, 339kb)
- Telford and Wrekin* (pdf,893kb)
- Walsall* (pdf, 893kb)
- Warwickshire (pdf, 319kb)
- Wolverhampton* (pdf, 901kb)
- Worcestershire (pdf, 667kb)
* These reports were produced as part of the City Region: opportunities in the low carbon economy project published May 2010. Other local authority profiles published January/February 2011.
Growth into low carbon economy
Published 15 November 2010
Risks and opportunities for the low carbon economy: a sub-national and local analysis (pdf, 414kb)
Published 14 October 2010
Fit for the future: what's your vision of a low carbon future? (pdf, 351kb)
Published 18 May 2010
City Region: opportunities in the low carbon economy (main report) (pdf, 968kb)
City Region: opportunities in the low carbon economy (technical report) (pdf, 2.8mb)
Published 8 March 2010
Low carbon economy in the West Midlands: main report (pdf, 771kb)
Low carbon economy in the West Midlands: technical report (pdf, 2.4mb)
Monitoring reports
Published 26 April 2010
Understanding the regional index of sustainable economic well-being in the West Midlands 2009 (pdf, 480kb)
West Midlands climate change action plan monitoring report 2009-2010: full report (pdf 460kb)
West Midlands climate change action plan monitoring report 2009-2010: dataset (xls, 4.5mb)
West Midlands climate change action plan monitoring report 2009-2010: charts (pdf, 570kb)
West Midlands greenhouse gas emission monitoring report 2009-2010: full report (pdf, 450kb)
West Midlands greenhouse gas emission monitoring report 2009-2010: dataset (xls, 89kb)
Strengthening the evidence base
Published 15 May 2009
Low carbon economy synthesis report 2008–2009 (pdf, 358kb)
Published 4 March 2009
Understanding the West Midlands' carbon gap (pdf, 334kb)
Published 27 March 2009
Decoupling into a low carbon economy (pdf, 448kb)
Published 26 February 2009
Understanding the regional index of sustainable economic well-being as an indicator of economic growth (pdf, 263kb)
Monitoring the climate change action plan
Published 25 February 2009
Monitoring the climate change action plan - stage one (pdf, 800kb)
Published 27 March 2009
Monitoring the climate change action plan - stage two (pdf, 966kb)
Published 26 March 2009
Key sustainable development indicators 2008–2009 -(poster) (pdf, 83kb)
Key sustainable development indicators 2008–2009 (commentary) (pdf, 32kb)