Living and Working More Sustainably in a Greener Economy – Evidence Review

The impacts of climate change are being felt across the world with increasing severity and frequency. As of 2024, temperatures were currently 1.28 oC above preindustrial levels. Nature in the UK is also under threat, with wildlife having declined by an average of 19% since 1970, with nearly one in six species threatened with extinction. The international community has set obligations to deliver net-zero by 2050 with interim targets in 2030 and 2040.

The UK Government has been an early adopter of net-zero policy and has made great progress. The UK Government has committed to the overarching goal of net-zero by 2050, and Scotland has its target of net-zero by 2045. Within the overarching goals, there are interim targets and sector-specific targets. Current goals are for a net 68% reduction in emissions by 2030, and 95% clean energy generation by 2030.

This evidence review, by Dr Matt Lyons, City-REDI, University of Birmingham, considers the academic literature, grey literature and policy documents to identify the burning questions and key challenges for sub-national actors in achieving a more sustainable, greener economy.

“The opportunity cost of delay, both in terms of nature recovery and decarbonisation, is high and not routinely considered in policy agendas.” Dr Matt Lyons.

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Please reference this paper as:

Lyons, M. (2025). Living and Working More Sustainably in a Greener Economy. The Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub.

Meet the Author

Dr Matt Lyons

Matthew Lyons specialises in regional economic modelling, with particular expertise in econometric multi-regional input-output (MRIO) analysis. His research focuses on the spatial dimension of economic transformation, including the role of creative industries and innovation, the impacts of climate change and the transition to net zero. He leads the team’s economic modelling portfolio and serves as the environment theme lead on the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub project.

Matt joined the City-REDI team in 2021 as a Research Fellow. He holds a PhD and MSc from Cardiff University and a BSc from the University of Plymouth. In 2024 he was elected Secretary of the Regional Science Association International – British and Irish section (RSAI-BIS) and is a member of the International Input Output Association (IIOA). He has led research projects in collaboration with external partners including the BBC, Nesta’s Creative Policy and Evidence Centre and the West Midlands Combined Authority. His work has been featured in The Independent, The Observer, BBC News, ITV News, and CTV News Calgary.

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Publications

Skills for the Future: Demand for and Supply of High-Skilled Labour Across England

This study maps employer demand for higher-level qualifications (at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 4 and above), the supply of residents with these qualifications, and the resulting demand-supply gaps across England’s 38 Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) areas (as defined in 2023). It combines online vacancy data and official labour

Dialling Up Democracy in the 21st Century: Pathways for Renewal

This policy working paper explores how democratic innovation can help renew trust, participation, and legitimacy in the UK’s democratic system. Building on earlier LPIP work on social value and community-centred innovation, it examines the social, institutional, and structural pressures currently facing democracy, particularly in the context of devolution and regional

Developing Place-Based Green Industrial Policy in the UK

In this report, Ed Atkins argues that green industrial policy in the UK must be rooted in place. Through the review of cases of Vestas in the Isle of Wight, BiFab in Scotland, and Britishvolt in north-east England, he illuminates how gaps between political ambition and political economy have led