The Green Economy Under Our Feet - Towards A Green Britain Conference 2025 by Tony Brophy

Statutory Climate Change and Nature legislation is triggering a ‘Green Revolution’ which is going to elevate the importance of the British Landscape Industries onto a new high-level creating unprecedented business opportunities.  The Climate & Nature Bill will galvanise both agendas.

The current Labour Government are determined to create a ‘Green Economy’.  The Chancellor has committed £22 billion to carbon capture projects alone as part of the UK’s global pioneering role in tackling Climate Change and reaching ‘Net-Zero’ by 2050.

Statutory ‘Biodiversity Net-Gain’ mandates that developers, and any planned changed land-use, have to prove that their proposals enhance biodiversity and are ‘Nature-Positive’ giving Landscape Architects pole-position in the development team leading to new contract opportunities. 

A decade ago Tony Brophy organised the pioneering ‘Sustainable Green Infrastructure Conference 2014’, at the British Library Conference Centre, which linked Government ‘Green’ policy, with the climate change agenda, biodiversity, the environment and societal well-being and highlighted how landscapes, parks and gardens can provide health benefits to people.

With Labour now in government, and Mary Creagh MP as Minister for Nature, and the Green Party with significant representation with 4 MP’s, and 2 members in the House of Lords, ‘Green’ matters, as predicted, have moved up on the political agenda.

Two reports were launched in parliament in Q4 2024, by the Environmental Horticulture Group and Oxford Economics, on how environmental horticulture contributes to the UK economy and show the environmental horticulture sector contributed £38 billion to the UK economy and supported over 722,000 jobs in 2023. By 2030, it could be worth £51.2 billion, supporting 763,000 jobs. 

The British Landscape Industries are essential to nature-based climate solutions, with the UK’s gardens and green spaces mitigating climate impacts, easing extreme weather effects, and enhancing biodiversity.

The cooling and pollution-reducing effects of urban green spaces were valued at £27.4 billion in 2021 alone, while urban vegetation helped the UK avoid £800.5 million in health-related costs. These contributions to biodiversity, air quality, and urban resilience highlight the sector’s role in advancing the UK’s net-zero goals.   

Baroness Fookes, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Gardening & Horticulture Group, states

“The time is now if we are to make the most of the next decade of growth opportunities and work with government to create a greener, happier, more environmentally sustainable society and economy.”

In response to Baroness Fookes clarion call Tony is organising the ‘The Green Economy Under Our Feet - Towards a Green Britain’ Conference again at the British Library Knowledge Centre on May 7 2025, a decade on from the first successful, pioneering event, expertly chaired by sustainability expert Kirsten Henson, supported by the Royal Parks Guild, International Federation of Landscape Architects, Landscape Institute, British Association of Landscape Industries and the Society of Garden & Landscape Designers, Society for the Environment, Parks Management Association et al.   

The themes again will be – Biodiversity – Climate Change – Nature –– Landscape – Parks - Gardens - Health – Wellbeing.

This interesting event is being live-streamed worldwide and supported by The Royal Parks Guild who are gifting 10 seats to apprentices from The Royal Parks.  An 8-hour CPD certificate is available.

This ‘Not for Profit’ event and is Part 2 of Tony’s ‘Legacy Trilogy’ acknowledging the important part that the Landscape Industry has played in his life;-

• Part 1      ‘BALI History 1940-1990’ (2024)
• Part 2      ‘The Green Economy Under Our Feet - Towards a Green Britain’ (Q2 2025)
• Part 3      ‘Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe’s Influence on my Life’ (Q4 2025)

The surplus from the event will be shared amongst 5 of Tony’s nominated charities Project Dandelion + RHS Campaign for School Gardening + Perennial + Serge Hill Project + Pollinating London.

Inspired by the annual ‘Reith Lectures’, the intention is for this conference to be an annual event at the British Library Knowledge Centre, to provide profound ‘food for thought’ for those seriously interested in our linked ‘holistic’ biodiversity, climate, economy, environment, landscape, nature, sustainability & wellness agenda. 

The opening-address by Dr. Bruno Marques President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA -100,000 members) will set the tone.

The leading Government adviser on the Green Sustainable Economy, Climate Change & Biodiversity Net-Gain, Professor Sir Dieter Helm, and the Deputy Director of Climate Change Science at Natural England, Professor Mike Morecroft, are speaking alongside BALI’s ‘hands on’ Mark Gregory who is addressing ‘Climate Change - massive opportunities for the British Landscape Industries’.

The conference brings together 15 visionaries and practical experts who are cross-pollinating ideas and highlighting business opportunities. 

You are encouraged to attend, extend your education, expand your connections and realise business opportunities.

🎤 CPD Conference | The Green Economy Under Our Feet – Towards a Green Britain.
📍   Where? British Library, London
📅 When? 7th May 2025
🎟️ Tickets: EVENTBRITE