Local Economic Solutions for Sustainability

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Localise West Midlands
The Warehouse
54-57 Allison Street
Digbeth
Birmingham
B5 5TH
Tel: 0121 685 1155
Fax: 0121 643 3122
Email: info@localisewestmidlands.org.uk

Registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (not for profit) no: 6239211

Extending Localisation

- steps towards localisation for sustainability in the West Midlands

Localise WM is currently working on our Extending Localisation project, which is funded by the Polden-Puckham Charitable Trust. By analysing good localisation practice around the region and the roadblocks to turning excellent pilots into a regional norm, the project aims to identify the policy changes and local support mechanisms required to ensure this happens.

Increasingly, the case for more localised economic activity - on a global scale - does not need to be argued at most levels of government and amongst communities. Climate change and impending global energy and food constraints are radically changing perceptions of what makes a good model of economic development, and there is increased understanding of how important small-scale business and local money circulation are for healthy economies and communities.

But what is needed is to learn from existing activities in the region to demonstrate what steps we need to take to move towards a model of economic activity that minimises transport and other resource impacts, maximises local money circulation and works towards global equity. In these economic activities, local supply chains and money flow can be the strength of the business model, rather than an altruistic and subsidised 'alternative'.

The Extending Localisation project will include recommendations for local, regional and national government, support agencies, businesses, communities and NGOs. The main sectors focused on are energy, food, retailing, finance and manufacturing.

By 'localisation' we mean mechanisms to source local materials, sell to local markets, ensure that money flow circulates locally and use local employment. The ensuing benefits also correspond closely to existing regional and national Government policy objectives, such as:

• ensuring regeneration benefits those who need it
• job creation
• reducing transport and consequent CO2 emissions
• contributing to sustainable communities and land use.

Localise WM will use the material resulting from this study with sustainability and education groups, and local and regional decision makers. We will also use it for productive regional linkages and for global collaboration with similar organisations in other countries, and to direct the future work of LWM.

The work will be groundbreaking in demonstrating the role of such work as part of a serious and long-term social, economic and environmental solution that deserves much greater policy attention. The focus will be on practical ideas for mainstreaming good practice.

For more information, or if you would like to tell us about work you are involved with which might contribute to this research project, please feel free to contact us.