The impacts of climate change are being felt across the world in 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, Scotland has its own 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.
Please reference this paper as:
Lyons, M. (2024). Cultural Recovery Evidence Review. The Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub.
Meet the Author
Dr Matt Lyons
Matt Lyons joined the City-REDI team in May 2021 as a Research Fellow. He is responsible for developing the team’s regional economic modelling capabilities.
He is an economic geographer with a specialism in regional economic development. Matt’s PhD describes the extent to which the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal can address the economic development problems of South East Wales through a focus on the creative economy. Matt is due to complete his PhD at Cardiff University in 2021. He holds an MSc in Social Science Research Methods from Cardiff University and a BSc in Economics from the University of Plymouth. He has consulted on research projects across various areas, from; healthcare inequalities to monetary systems reform.
