At its heart is the simple idea of ensuring a better quality of life for everyone -now and for generations to come.
A widely-used international definition is ‘Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
It’s a huge challenge - and it’s growing. The world’s population will increase by half, which isanother three billion people, by 2050.
Why do we need sustainable development?
Because the need for development is as great as ever but the future cannot simply follow the model of the past. This is true for the whole world and for every community in this country.
This country does not have problems on such a scale. But we cannot stand aside from these issues. Global prosperity must increase and be more widely shared. In the UK, economic growth remains vital for a better quality of life - for education, healthcare and housing, to tackle poverty and social exclusion, and to improve standards of living through better goods and services.
How do we achieve sustainable development?
The idea is simple but the task is substantial. It means meeting four objectives at the same time, in the UK and the rest of the world:
- social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;
- effective protection of the environment;
- prudent use of natural resources; and
- high, stable levels of economic growth and employment.
What is the government doing?
It has established the Sustainable Development Commission, jointly with the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive.
Chaired by Jonathon Porritt, its role is to advocate sustainable development across all sectors in the UK, review progress towards it, and build consensus on the actions needed if further progress is to be achieved. Its specific objectives are to:
- review how far sustainable development is being achieved in the UK in all relevant fields, and identify any relevant processes or policies which may be undermining this;
- identify important unsustainable trends which will not be reversed on the basis of current or planned action, and recommend action to reverse the trends;
- deepen understanding of the concept of sustainable development, increase awareness of the issues it raises, and build agreement on them; and
- encourage and stimulate good practice.
The government’s policies will take account of ten principles and approaches which reflect key sustainable development themes. Some are established legal principles.
Others might better be described as ‘approaches’ to decision making:
- putting people at the centre;
- taking a long term perspective;
- taking account of costs and benefits;
- creating an open and supportive economic system;
- combating poverty and social exclusion;
- respecting environmental limits;
- the precautionary principle;
- using scientific knowledge;
- transparency, information participation and access to justice; and
- making the polluter pay.
In the past, economic activity tended to mean more pollution and wasteful use of resources. We have had to spend to clean up the mess. A damaged environment impairs quality of life and, at worst, could threaten long term economic growth - for example, as a result of climate change. Too many people have been left behind, excluded from the benefits of development but often suffering from the side-effects.
What is the way forward?
We have to find a new way. This is the challenge of sustainable development. For the future, we need ways to achieve economic, social and environmental objectives at the same time and consider the long-term implications of decisions.
We need to improve the efficiency with which we use resources. We need thriving cities, towns and villages based on strong economies, good access to services and attractive and safe surroundings. We need international co-operation to overcome environmental problems, to allow trade to flourish and to help the world’s poorest people as we move towards a more global society.
What is government doing about sustainable development from within?
An assessment of the first year of the Sustainable Development in Government programme, (published on November 27 2002) shows improvements in environmental performance in government departments and agencies, especially in respect of energy and water use and waste emissions.
There is also inter-departmental agreement on a new Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate with targets for future progress on travel, water and environmental management systems.
All departments are being encouraged to focus on and integrate sustainable development into decision-making.
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