Ecological empowerment and Enterprise Zones: pain free transitions to sustainable production in cities or fool's gold?. (15th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monaghan, Philip; North, Peter; Southern, Alan
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 134(2016:Oct.)Part A
• Page Start: 395
• Page End: 405
• Publication Date: 2016-10-15
• Subjects: Sustainable cities -- Industrial strategy -- Deregulatory incentives; ABI Area Based Initiative -- BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology -- EEEZ Ecological Empowerment and Enterprise Zone -- EIP Eco-Industrial Park -- EZ Enterprise Zone -- GDP Gross Domestic Product -- GHG Greenhouse Gas -- Ha Hectares -- ILO International Labour Organization -- LEP Local Enterprise Partnership -- SSE Steady State Economy -- UDC Urban Development Corporation; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: An Enterprise Zone (EZ) based on cleaner production is an increasingly popular government policy to accelerate the sustainable cities agenda. The purpose of this review paper is to critique EZ theory and the credibility of policy transfer to sustainable production in cities. To this end we undertook a literature review on EZ theory; produced a survey of cleaner production EZs to highlight its application in England; and developed a conceptual framework for a triple bottom line form of EZ. Based on our findings we argue that for the credible transfer of EZ theory to the sustainable cities agenda, policy should align to our conceptual framework for an Ecological Empowerment and Enterprise Zone (EEEZ). The EEEZ is an EZ which is ecologically restorative, places an emphasis on community involvement to better harness market forces, and understands the utility of state with the public sector as an entrepreneur. These research results will be of value to the literature focused on spatial low carbon enterprise strategy. Highlights: Our survey results suggest that cleaner production EZs are a common phenomenon in England four fifths of the 24 EZs in operation have an explicit interest. Examples include Sunderland's low carbon vehicle corridor and Hull's green port with offshore energy. However, our typology to analyse EZs also indicates they display different sustainable characteristics.