‘Humber can lead the climate change fight’
LORD PRESCOTT ADVISES REGION
new economic and environmental model to deal with global climate change. The Humber can be a centre of excellence.
“We need to put the vision together, in a more integrated way than we have done before. We have the assets and advantages, the skills and the attitude. We need to turn them into investment and plans.
“We have the chance to develop an exciting new model. This is our future. It’s leading the world.
“The world needs the Humber to show you can create a low-carbon economy.”
Lord Prescott said the region was now coming together with “one message, one voice” and had the opportunity to be at the forefront of change that the whole world had to make.
The Bondholders event at Hull Minster, on Thursday evening, also featured a presentation by video by Professor Dan Parsons, director of the Energy and Environment institute at the University of Hull.
He warned the audience in Hull that the world was experiencing “untold catastrophes” caused by global warming, with 16 of the past 17 years having been the warmest across the world since records began. But he said the Humber estuary was a “corridor of green economic growth” and well placed to address climate change challenges.
The Waterline campaign recognises that the Humber is one of the coastal regions around the world officially listed as at high risk, due to rising sea levels and increasing flood threat.
It also builds on the Humber’s ever-growing reputation as the UK’S leading centre for renewable energy generation.
Dr Diana Taylor, managing director at Marketing Humber, said The Waterline campaign built on the success of branding the Humber as the UK’S Energy Estuary and “takes us to a new level of opportunity for global recognition”.
She said: “Other regions have London and international offices and this is a first and important step on our journey to position the Humber at the heart of some of these influential networks.”
Dr Taylor also announced plans to launch a London Humber Ambassadors Club, made of senior politicians, civil servants and industry leaders, who will provide the heavyweight influence to make the vision a reality.