Why does South West Debates look like this?
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Population Leadership Energy Environment Globalisation
Population Leadership Energy Environment Globalisation

"What are the South West Debates?"

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During extensive consultations on the Regional Economic Strategy in 2005, a number of critical themes were identified as important to the continued development of the regional economy in the future. These themes were:


  • Securing economic growth within environmental limits
  • A growing, ageing and more diverse population
  • Energy challenges
  • Competitive threats and opportunities from globalisation
  • Regional leadership

There is not yet enough understanding of these issues, nor is there agreement as to the way forward. That is the challenge of the South West Debates.

Scoping of these issues, research and dialogue will help us to reach a consensus and shape the next Regional Economic Strategy. We need you to get involved!

You can use this website to find out what is happening in each Debate, to explore issues around the five themes and to tell us what you think. Welcome!

Information and activities for individuals, schools and communities. Features badged events and activities, a weekly poll, provocations from leading regional thinkers, 'killer' facts, case studies and interesting links.

This report provides an insight into the scale of the challenges facing the South West in relation to energy supply and use and the role the region can potentially play in responding to these challenges, alongside national government. It offers a synthesis of the analysis and various contributions in an attempt to provide a coherent set of proposals for the SW region to embed in its future strategies and programmes.

According to Defra nearly 2m tonnes of textiles are dumped in landfill each year...

Join Debates Live if you're a business or regional stakeholder and find out about workshops and other events

Find out more about the Debates programme

How to join in and have your say!