A Promising Dynamic in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
In 2013, the Third Industrial Revolution project has been launched in France, in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, creating an exceptional dynamic among public and private actors and the civil society around a new economic, social and environmental model. Interview with Philippe Vasseur, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the region.
INTERVIEW
Sustainability MAG: At the World Forum Lille in 2013, you launched the Third Industrial Revolution in Nord- Pas de Calais. What are the goals you wanted to achieve then? What did you envision for the territory?
Philippe Vasseur: Our aim in 2013 was to include our regional economy in a new dynamic beyond the economic, social and environmental crisis that we know. Echoing the words of Jeremy Rifkin, with whom we have engaged in this economic shift towards the Third Industrial Revolution (TIR), it relies on the major development of renewable energy and resources crossed with information technology and Communication. The Nord-Pas de Calais has many assets to be leading this economic transformation that will create a significant number of jobs around future trades.
How have you been able to stay dynamic and involve various actors around this major project?
Led by the CCI region and the Regional Council Nord-Pas de Calais, the project has involved over 150 stakeholders, businesses, large communities, territories ‘actors. This collective dynamic has begun in 2013 and is since, only growing. At the level of CCI we have for example committed to three major and complementary initiatives. Firstly, a massive campaign to mobilize enterprises that affected nearly 4,000 business leaders, a launching of the Club for TIR entrepreneurs that mobilizes today nearly 350 project managers and the establishment of a support device to help financing the projects with several crowdfunding platforms. In addition, nearly 30 financial stakeholders meet regularly with project leaders. The last tool launched in early 2015 is the TIR account carried by the ‘Crédit Coopératif’ that allows every citizen to participate to this great project for the future. We are only at the beginning of september and already more than 900 accounts have been opened collecting about 7,5 million euros ; this popular TIR account is a first in France.
Almost two years later, what are the advances of this mutation? Are the first tangible results of this ambition living up to your expectations?
To date, the results exceeded our objectives with nearly 250 ongoing projects. In November 2014, we have also published a first book with 150 projects for a number of new projects, even though others were initiated before the TIR but have been strengthened in their realization. Of course we are still beginning the transformation process of our economy.
It is essential to support the development of new economic sectors. We have started investing in biogas with the ambitious objective of making the Nord-Pas de Calais the first biogas injected region and the first to use intelligent networks or "smart grids". Our goal is to mobilize businesses and particularly SMEs in value-added industries and service companies. The TIR opens new markets to diversify our economy.
What are the next steps in the transition to a no-carbon economy?
The transition to a no-carbon economy will by focusing on both the development of renewable energies and resources together with energy efficiency, on reducing fuel consumption by 4. But energy efficiency is not enough. We also need to rethink our business models related to our consumption and therefore production. In this regard the Nord-Pas de Calais region is a pioneer in having engaged with companies and pilot actors around innovative models such as the circular economy, functionality and collaborative economy, the digital economy. It is the combination of these models that will allow us to achieve by 2050 a carbon-free economy model that will have the advantage of greatly reducing our energy dependence, preserving the planet and generating many jobs.
Philippe Vasseur
is President of the World Forum for a Responsible Economy and president of the CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) of the Region North in France. He was also Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Previously, he was Director of the Economic editing of the newspaper "Le Figaro", the editor of the economic daily "Les Echos" and responsible for the economic and social news on the first French television channel TF1. He is currently Chairman of a banking group in the North of France and Belgium and President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the region North in France.
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