A review of the environmental goods and services sector in the United Kingdom

Abstract

This paper proposes that policy makers and the Higher Education (HE) sector have a special duty to support the Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) industry. The EGS industry' market value was estimated at $484 billion in 1998. Legislation plays an important role in promoting industry demand. The HE sector has a unique role in the research and development of new sustainable processes, technologies and products, either through developing these autonomously or in collaboration with businesses. Costs hinder the diffusion of renewable energy technologies. Renewable energy sources need to be made viable by the government's introduction of taxation and carbon tariffs. This sector is further hindered by poor ability to seek international opportunities, poor adaptability of their business strategies, lack of managerial skills and poor ability to attract and retain high level human resources. This paper recommends that HE institutions and policy makers research the EGS industry to identify opportunities to support this sector and assist overcoming the above listed limitations.