Economic growth is driving an increase in energy demand and greater pressure on natural resources and the quality of the environment. That economic development should follow the principles of sustainability is widely accepted; but how can we translate this concept into concrete solutions?
An integrated approach comprising economic, institutional and technical perspectives is vital.

Expertise 
We have a broad but integrated set of skills which include the capacity to provide:

• Research, advice, training and technical assistance related to all phases of the policy or project cycles, such as feasibility analysis, policy or project design, implementation, institution building, evaluation and impact assessment 
• Financial and economic cost-benefit analysis of energy and environmental investments, and of policy measures (such as costs and benefits of the harmonisation of environmental standards in pre-accession countries) 
• Energy supply and demand forecasting, energy pricing and economic scenario development 
• Methods to include environmental effects in economic decision-making, such as economic valuation methods, multi-criteria analysis and environmental accounting 
• Integration of the environmental and energy sectors into their broader economic and social context 
• Business support to exploit the opportunities arising from the opening up of global markets for energy and environment-related goods and services 
• Compilation and presentation of energy and environmental statistics

Experience
Experience has been gained in the EU, Eastern European countries, Newly Independent States and developing countries. Main clients are regional development agencies, national governments, the European Union, European Ministries responsible for Development Co-operation, Economic Affairs and the Environment, large engineering firms and international financial institutions, such as the World Bank. Recent projects include:

• Global competition effects of CO2 reduction measures in the EU (VROM)
• Economic valuation of nature in the Netherlands (Natuurmonumenten)
• Technical assistance to Bulgaria for the implemention of IPPC standards (VROM)
• Monitoring compliance with a Voluntary Agreement for CO2 emissions from cars (DG Environment)
• Development of sustainable development indicators (Eurostat)
• Analysis of the EU Eco-Industries, their employment and export potential (DG Environment)
• Regional environmental technologies cluster development in South Yorkshire (Yorkshire Forward)
• Opportunities for developing regional renewable energy resources (Bedfordshire County Council)
• Skills needs evaluation for the environmental industries sector (East Midlands Development Agency)
• A range of energy and environmental publications, including a web-based directory of sources of funding available to renewable energy projects (UK Department of Trade and Industry)

Areas of work