DURHAM University’s Water Hub, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, will lead a sprint at NWG’s Innovation Festival (9-13 July) exploring opportunities for green growth and ways businesses and communities can contribute and benefit.
This year the government launched their 25-year plan for the environment, pledging that we will be the first generation to leave our environment in a better state than we found it.
The team from The Water Hub at Durham University will be joined by representatives from the water company, the Environment Agency, Durham County Council, the North East England Nature Partnership and businesses from across the region to explore how, by working together, we can protect and enhance natural capital in the North East, grow a green economy and support resilient communities.
How is the environment already adding value for business and how can we share and build from this?
Where are the unmet needs that provide opportunities for business growth?
How should we celebrate 2019 the year of Green Action in the north east?
These questions, and more, will be looked at in the ‘2019 the year of Green Action’ sprint at the 2018 NWG Innovation Festival.
The Water Hub’s Innovation Manager Anna Gerring, who is leading the sprint, said: “The 2019 Year of Green Action is a fantastic opportunity for the North East to celebrate our natural environment and explore how businesses, communities and practitioners can all benefit.
“The Water Hub and Durham University are committed to taking forward ideas and concepts from this sprint in collaboration with business, communities and practitioners. What better opportunity to bring these parties together than at the 2018 NWG Innovation Festival.”
NWG’s Conservation and Land Manager Miranda Cooper, who will be involved in the sprint, said: “The potential outputs from this sprint fit really well with Northumbrian Water’s Wider Environment Strategy.
“A healthy natural world is vital to Northumbrian Water’s business and working in partnership to help deliver the aims of Defra’s 25yr Environment Plan will help us ensure we can leave a positive legacy in the work we do.”
To find out what the ‘Year of Green Action’ sprint team comes up with during the festival you can follow all of the action on social media by following @Northumbrianh2
To find out what the ‘Year of Green Action’ sprint team comes up with during the festival you can follow all of the action on social media by following @Northumbrianh2o on Twitter and Facebook or by visiting www.innovationfestival.org
#InnovationFestival2018
People can find out more about what’s taking place at the NWG Innovation Festival, and how they can get involved, at https://innovationfestival.org/.
