Members of the property, planning, legal and architecture sectors teamed up with council representatives to discuss potential opportunities for businesses to help create a sustainable 'Low Carbon City'.

The session underlined for the need for unity among the city's leaders and business community, strong leadership, and a central body and framework to deliver the transformation.

The workshop was held by environmental and sustainability consultancy WSP in conjunction with Pro-Sheffield at Carillion Developments' The Square building.

Daniel Dowling, from WSP's sustainability and climate change team, said: "Population growth, urbanisation and climate change represent three of the greatest challenges for sustainable development and the UK's cities sit firmly at the centre of this debate.

"More than half of the world's population now live in cities and those cities consume over 70% of the world's energy. The Sustainable Cities Index published by Forum for the Future in 2008 ranks the UK's 20 biggest cities on their social and environmental performance. The index places Sheffield seventh overall, indicating mixed results.

"The city's heavily industrial and manufacturing past obviously has an impact on this rating and provides both obstacles and opportunities for the future. Whilst some cultural and social criteria were positive, environmentally Sheffield was ranked 12th and lower at 19th for CO2 emissions per capita.

"Given that eco-transformation is such a hot topic at the moment, we thought it would be productive to get the city's leading figures together to discuss how the Sustainable Cities Index ranking can be improved."

The group addressed key opportunities and issues that Sheffield needs to tackle, including financing, marketing and knowledge sharing and the cost effectiveness of going green in the current economic climate.

Ways were debated of integrating green policies into working life. There was praise for the district heating system in Sheffield which mirrors the success of schemes in Scandinavian cities such as Stockholm and Helsinki.

Mr Dowling added: "The debates highlighted many positive factors about Sheffield including the work being undertaken by the university students into areas such as wind turbines.

"Students from fields such as biology, engineering and environmental studies are looking at issues at a 'grass roots' level and are identifying opportunities for the city.

"Additionally organisations such as Groundwork Sheffield are progressing well with green roof technology.

"The session identified the need for these studies, and any associated funding along with the support of bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce, to be pulled together into a strategic framework."

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