UK TRADE AND
INVESTMENT News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 7
November 2008
UK Trade &
Investment (UKTI) has identified key markets for the UK's £25
billion a year environmental industries. The total world
environmental goods and services sector is expected to grow by
more than 30 per cent to US$688 billion by 2010 offering
significant opportunities for UK companies.
The report, 'Market opportunities in environmental goods and
services, renewable energy, carbon finance and Carbon Abatement
Technologies' (CATS), confirmed Australia, Brazil, China,
India, South Africa, Turkey and the USA as markets that could
benefit from UK expertise.
Of the seven countries, the USA was recognised as the largest
market for environmental goods and services in 2005, valued at an
estimated US$ 241 billion. China was the second largest, valued at
US$32 billion, followed closely by Australia (US$16 billion) and
India (US$14 billion).
Andrew Cahn, UKTI Chief Executive said:
"In these tough times it is vital we look for where our
expertise is needed and provide support for UK companies to seize
these opportunities.
"Importantly, the UKTI report on overseas opportunities for
environmental industries shows the global commitment to combating
climate change can create jobs and give small businesses the
chance to expand.
"Through UKTI, UK businesses can tap into these markets to
help address environmental concerns, meet environmental
regulations and establish infrastructure facilities."
Carried out by SQW Consulting, the report brings together
information from a range of sources to provide a guide for UK
companies. For each country, current and future opportunities are
highlighted together with regulatory constraints and indications
of where the UK is best placed to offer its expertise.
The report concluded that:
* Opportunities in most of the countries match UK strengths in
water, wastewater, waste and asset management, energy market,
environmental consultancy, generation technologies and carbon finance.
* Specific opportunities include low carbon energy generation
capacity, renewable energy, and carbon finance in China,
generation technologies in USA, environmental consultancy and
waste management in Brazil, and water and waste water treatment
in Turkey.
* In 2005, the highest consumer of renewable energy was China
with 399 billion kilowatts, followed by USA (370 billion), Brazil
(352 billion) and India (197 billion).
At least a tenth of the UK sector's annual turnover is
through exports, representing a significant share of the world
market, which was valued at US $515 billion in 2002 and is
expected to grow to US $688 billion by 2010.
Andrew Cahn added:
"This report contributes to the broader UK Government
objective of creating low carbon zones. As part of this commitment
the UK is participating in the EU-China Summit on 1 December 2008
with EU member states to work with China as it moves to a low
carbon economy.
"The summit is also an ideal opportunity to address ways in
which we can accelerate the development and deployment of low
carbon goods and technologies to global markets. "
The opportunities highlighted in the report are:
Country Key opportunities
Australia Current opportunities include: air pollution control,
solid and hazardous waste management, wastewater and water
treatment, environmental monitoring and advanced fossil/clean coal
technology. Future opportunities are likely to lie in additional
sectors such as cleaner technologies and carbon capture and
storage (CCS), low-carbon transport fuels and renewable energy.
Brazil Current opportunities include: water provision,
wastewater treatment and air pollution technology markets, low
carbon transport fuels and renewable energy including
hydroelectricity and wind, and carbon finance. Future
opportunities are also likely in environmental consultancy and
waste management.
China Current opportunities include: waste management, water and
wastewater treatment, low-carbon energy generation capacity and
renewable energy, and carbon finance. Future opportunities are
likely to be presented across all sectors except land remediation.
India Current opportunities include: water and wastewater
treatment, waste management (solid waste and hazardous waste),
renewable energy and carbon finance - the same sectors are likely
to present future opportunities.
South Africa There are limited opportunities at present. However,
future opportunities are likely to be in waste and energy
management, environmental consulting and water and wastewater
treatment with some potential for carbon finance and renewable energies.
Turkey Current opportunities include: hazardous waste management,
solid waste management, water and wastewater treatment, advanced
conventional energy generation and renewable energy. There are
opportunities in the future in air pollution control, cleaner
technologies, generation technologies and asset management.
USA Current opportunities include: solid waste management, water
utilities and wastewater treatment, air pollution abatement,
cleaner technologies, low-carbon fuels and renewable energy.
Future opportunities are likely to be in environmental monitoring,
land remediation, CCS and generation technologies.
A full copy of the report can be downloaded from the UK Trade
& Investment website at http://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/environment.
Notes to Editors:
1. UK Trade & Investment is the UK Government's
international business development organisation, supporting
businesses seeking to establish in the UK and helping UK companies
grow internationally. The services offered by UK Trade &
Investment bring together a network of business sector specialists
and support teams in British embassies and Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) posts all around the world, as well as
key experts in government departments across the UK. UK Trade
& Investment works with a wide range of partner organisations
in the UK, including Regional Development Agencies and the
Devolved Administrations, Business Links, Chambers of Commerce and
trade associations. For more information, visit the web site at:
http://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk.
2. For latest press releases, visit the online newsroom at http://www.newsroom.uktradeinvest.gov.uk.
3. For more press information contact Natasha Guerinoni from UK
Trade & Investment on 020 7215 4218