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Local procurement is key to a brighter, more hopeful future, and the reduction of carbon and ecological footprints. Here’s why:

Firstly, the science says we have eight years to stop greenhouse gas emissions.

Business models have to adapt to reflect this.

Secondly, I’m afraid that no matter what anyone does in your own part of the world, the world as a whole is in for a catastrophic future regarding the effects of climate change on those parts of the world that your region currently relies upon for food, clothing and other imported goods.

Therefore the more your area can supply for itself, the safer it will be.

This can be seen as an opportunity and good news for local farmers, businesses and producers.

I’m currently working as hard as I can to persuade public bodies in Wales using the ‘One Planet’ Cities framework that the best thing they can do to protect themselves from this future is to use their huge spending power to source more food and other goods from Welsh businesses, farmers and landowners.

To change their procurement model to include social and environmental criteria as well as economic ones and so capture more benefits and reduce more unwanted impacts.

This will stimulate the development of local, sustainable supply chains.

This is happening, and is a requirement of Wales’ Well-Being of Future Generations Act.

You can do the same in your area.

The size of contracts can be reduced to enable smaller, local, supply chains to develop, as with the Preston Model.

It’s easier to manage local supply chains to help them become more circular, so there is zero waste and pollution.

I know farmers who are making some of their land available for One Planet Development. I know a farmer nearby here who has bought good farmland specifically for this purpose. This is an exciting part of the transition.

Imagine:

  • Schools linked to farms – kids learning how to grow.
  • Hospital patients eating healthy local food.
  • All public land planted with edible plants and trees.
  • Urban vertical farms.
  • 100% local renewable energy.
  • Homes retrofitted – no more fuel poverty.
  • Rural areas repopulated with thriving communities doing meaningful work.
  • Healthy air and rivers.
  • More skills & jobs from the multiplier effect of local sourcing.

This is the positive future we can inspire everyone with, to turn fear for our future into hope.