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© 2009 Bradwell Area of the Diocese of Chelmsford
















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The Church in the

Thames Gateway

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What is an eco-region?

 

Eco issues are part of a worldwide agenda and the idea that TG should lead the way among developed nations is admirable. In 2008 the Government published a prospectus called “Thames Gateway Eco-region”. This document comes with the signatures of the Ministers from DCLG, Housing, Environment and Energy & Climate Change.

An eco-region is defined as a place where:

  • local communities shape, lead, own and benefit from sustainable development
  • economic, social and environmental ambitions and actions are integrated and mutually supporting
  • high environmental and ecological standards are sought for existining and new development and in making best use of natural resources
  • innovation in response to environmental challenges is fostered and spread, as an exemplar for others to follow, and
  • a wide range of partners – local, regional, national, international and private, public, academic, third and community sectors – collaborate ambitiously to support and embed sustainability.

The prospectus is said to be an invitation to all stakeholders to:

  • engage with us [government] and the new HCA in further refining and enhancing the eco-region vision and developing it into a deliverable programme
  • work together to implement the actions we propose for starting to make the eco-region a reality
  • explore opportunities in your own policies and programmes for making further contributions to realising the vision

The prospectus then paints a picture of what would be the stucture of an eco-region covering environmental economic opportunities, community involvement, environment, flood risk, energy usage, sustainable infrastructure, waste management, transport and sustainable development. It ends by bringing it down to the local level by painting a picture of an eco-quarter – a small local community and what it might look like.

The prospectus is very comprehensive and certainly covers the ground and sets the challenge. Have we the will to implement it? And that must mean all of us looking at how we live and the resources we consume! Do we consider it our problem or other people's?