Low Carbon Enterprise Zones: Towards a Fossil Fuel Free City Economy

Abstract

City-led ‘low carbon enterprise zones’ are rapidly on the rise across the globe – from Canada (energy efficient lighting in Toronto) and China (solar energy in Baoding) through to Spain (water efficiency in Zaragoza) and the UK (marine energy in Liverpool). For political leaders these designated areas of green growth are a silver bullet solution to the twin perils of unsuccessful climate deal negotiations and surviving an economic depression that lingers in many parts of the world. Whilst such zoning should ‘in principle’ be welcomed, it is vital that local leaders devise a suitable framework to govern such schemes. This chapter offers a critical analysis of the latest insights from this fast emerging practice and puts forward new thinking to assist cities in their decision-making process, and ultimately to make our societies more resilient. For instance, who owns the intellectual property rights for co-produced schemes that go to commercial success? Are the technologies involved in a genuine move toward renewable energy? Does it alleviate poverty and local unemployment? Is this low carbon trade displacing high carbon trade? Are their innovative ways to finance the setup of these zones in the current economic climate?