Tomorrow's earth, today's journey: Exploring pathways to sustainability
Market View
Produced by:
Interview with
Edward Barlow
DIRECTOR - CLIMATE, LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS LLP
Tomorrow's earth, today's journey: Exploring pathways to sustainability
Market View
Produced by:
Interview with
Edward Barlow
DIRECTOR - CLIMATE, LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS LLP
About Edward Barlow
Edward Barlow is the Director of Climate at Local Partnerships LLP, a position he has held since September 2023. With extensive experience in environmental and governmental sectors, Edward previously worked at Buckinghamshire Council and Buckinghamshire County Council. His expertise lies in guiding and implementing climate-related initiatives and strategies, with a focus on sustainable practices and local climate solutions. Edward's recent involvement in discussions about residential EV charging at the EV SUMMIT underscores his commitment to advancing sustainable transportation.
What challenges do local authorities face in implementing sustainable practices, and how do you balance environmental goals with other priorities?
The main challenge is the constant pressure on resources, both financial and human. It's not just about financial constraints, but also competing priorities for that funding. Some services, like social care or education, are demand-led and non-negotiable, which decreases resources available for sustainability initiatives.
Balancing environmental goals with financial and operational objectives is complex. Most local authorities have climate change targets and plans, providing a clear direction. However, it comes down to individual decisions at the project level. When environmental sustainability is considered late, that's when problems arise. Even for difficult projects, early consideration allows for better justification of decisions.
Public sector organisations must deliver value for money, so we balance economic, social, and environmental benefits on a case-by-case basis. The more an environmental benefit costs, the less likely it is to win that argument. That's why integrating environmental considerations from the outset of any project is crucial.
How are local authorities collaborating with private sector partners on sustainability projects, and what environmental goals have they achieved?
Collaboration is crucial, particularly in areas like building retrofitting. At Local Partnerships, we focus on the corporate estate, for example using energy performance contracts such as those through the Re:fit framework. The contracts cover the full project lifecycle, from measure identification and feasibility through to delivery and maintenance, but what you're really acquiring is a long-term partnership, typically spanning 3-5 years, to deliver multiple phases of work across an estate.
This approach offers significant value for both sides. For the private sector partner, there's more value in a long-term engagement. It reduces bidding risks and allows them to develop a rhythm with their customer, understanding internal processes and which measures work best in specific buildings.
For local authorities, it's about recognising the scale of the challenge. Even smaller estates often have over 50 buildings, while larger ones can have 500 or more. You need a long-term strategy and a reliable partner to work with over multiple years.
In terms of environmental goals achieved, we've seen significant improvements in energy efficiency and reductions in carbon emissions across corporate estates. The exact figures vary, but long-term partnerships have allowed for continuous improvement and optimization over time.
When environmental sustainability is considered late, that's when problems arise. Even for difficult projects, early consideration allows for better justification of decisions.
How do you measure the impact of sustainability programs, particularly in terms of energy efficiency in buildings?
We use the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP). It's a defined process for setting the baseline period, agreeing on how to model it forward, and accounting for operational changes.
The process involves establishing a baseline, creating a forecast of change in usage, and then comparing the actual usage. You should see that the actual usage is below what would have happened without intervention. Imagine three levels: the highest level represents the 'do nothing' forecast, the lowest level shows the projected usage after improvements, and the actual usage should fall somewhere between these two, ideally closer to the projected improved usage.
This approach is critical because buildings' energy consumption can vary year to year, even if the form of operations remains the same. Weather can significantly affect it, particularly when you see changes in buildings' operational hours or the types of services running from them.
The IPMVP allows us to account for these variables and provide a more nuanced and accurate assessment of building performance improvements. It's crucial for both public sector clients and private sector partners in ensuring that energy efficiency contracts deliver real, measurable benefits.
How are local authorities addressing the challenges of biodiversity net gain regulations, particularly in establishing baselines and preventing environmental degradation?
The biodiversity net gain regulations present both opportunities and challenges. For baselines, there's a metric in place. You conduct an appropriate survey, which provides the baseline. However, there's a significant risk of gaming the system, where people might buy a site, degrade it, then conduct the survey, making the 10% improvement in biodiversity a real terms reduction.
The legislation includes provisions to address this, allowing for the baseline to be set at 2019-2020 levels. However, proving the state of the land in 2019-2020 can be very difficult without a robust evidence base.
To prevent environmental degradation, we need to consider alternative approaches. One idea could be increasing the net gain requirement to 20% in cases of enhanced uncertainty regarding the baseline. This would create a financial incentive for maintaining the land quality and avoiding an enhanced requirement.
The key is providing evidence of changes over time, particularly using historical data and imagery. Geospatial technology and historical records can play a vital role in supporting fair and accurate baselines for biodiversity improvements.
In terms of environmental goals achieved, we've seen significant improvements in energy efficiency and reductions in carbon emissions across corporate estates.
What emerging trends or technologies in sustainability management are you most excited about, and why?
I'm particularly enthusiastic about the emerging trends in investment and financing for large-scale projects to deliver net zero. We've seen a stronger emphasis on this area recently, especially with the new government.
For example, we saw three solar farms approved within the first week or ten days of the new government. The GB Energy initiative and the National Wealth Fund are leaning heavily into renewables. There's also a local power plan aiming to drive investment in renewables along with local authority action.
Green finance has been developing, and we can expect to see an acceleration in that area. This trend of more private funding being encouraged into the sustainability sector, through the use of public funds to underpin or initiate it, is really exciting.
This shift towards blended finance models and increased private sector involvement in sustainability projects could really accelerate our progress towards net zero goals. It's a trend that I believe will shape the future of sustainability management in local authorities and beyond.
Geospatial technology and historical records can play a vital role in supporting fair and accurate baselines for biodiversity improvements.
About Local Partnerships LLP
Local Partnerships LLP is a renowned organisation dedicated to supporting public sector entities in achieving their operational and strategic objectives. Specialising in infrastructure, environment, and local government efficiency, the organisation provides expert consultancy and strategic advice to ensure sustainable, cost-effective solutions across the UK. Local Partnerships LLP focuses on delivering tangible results that promote resilience, innovation, and improvement in public services, helping local authorities and other public sector bodies enhance their impact on the community and environment.
