Leicester has outpaced rivals, including London, Bristol and
Brighton to become the UK's second most sustainable city.
It's another step in building the city's reputation as one of
the best places to live and work in the future.
It follows a major event in the city where more than 200
creative thinkers shared ideas and set ambitious goals to shape
society and business in the next decade.
The city earned its sustainability accolade by hitting targets
for reducing its impact on the environment and by seizing new
opportunities in the green economy.
Leicester has the lowest ecological footprint of any UK city,
producing the least household waste. Successful management of
biodiversity, coupled with a strong local plan to tackle climate
change, also contributed to its high ranking in Forum For The
Future's Sustainable Cities Index. Other factors were high
recycling rates and an emerging new business sector pursuing
opportunities in sustainability and the environment.
Nick Carter, Chairman of Prospect Leicestershire, said:
"Leicester and Leicestershire have the drive and ideas to change
attitudes and create places that top the list of people's choices
of where to live, work and do business."
He pointed to the Vision2020 event, which featured 12 visionary
speakers in fields including technology, transport, place making,
communication and sustainability. Delegates at Phoenix Square, the
city's new digital media centre, debated predictions, aims and
aspirations over the current decade.
Ian Borley, Senior Partner at KPMG and Chairman of Leicester
Business Voice, said "The content was genuinely thought-provoking,
and the speakers were all first-rate. Vision2020 is the best
conference that I've been to for many a year."
A mini 'unconference' run by members of the Amplified Leicester
group gave delegates the opportunity to lead their own discussions
and create wish lists for the future of Leicester. The main proviso
was that they must not rely on major Government funding. Ideas
included free wi-fi in the city, allowing not-for-profit, voluntary
and creative groups temporary leases for empty buildings, greening
of empty spaces, more local produce and small-scale shops and
industries with more pedestrianisation in the city centre.
A keynote speaker John Thackara, who has been described by Wired
magazine as "A visionary voice for the wired era", set the tone
with a revolutionary take on how Leicester can make a radical
response to the economic climate.
Nick Carter said: "This was a real partnership effort, and
the need for that spirit of partnership to extend to even more
areas of Leicester and Leicestershire life was clear throughout the
day. The challenge now is how the organisations involved can
continue to work together to encourage, support and lead the
different strands of activities discussed on the day."
Professor Sue Thomas, of De Montfort University's Institute of
Creative Technologies, said "Delegates were very empowered by
the chance to meet others beyond their usual networks and generate
ideas they can take forward themselves. There was a sense that
these people will really make things happen."
Vision 2020 was organised by a partnership between De Montfort
University and the Amplified Leicester team, Leicester City
Council, Prospect Leicestershire, Leicester Creative Business Depot
and Phoenix Square.