Sustainable development
Sustainable development - development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs - plays a part in most aspects of modern UK life.
Find out more about sustainable development on the UK Government's Sustainable Development website.
What is the UK Government doing?
The UK Government has 4 priority areas:- achieving sustainable consumption and production
- climate change and energy
- natural resource protection and environmental enhancement
- sustainable communities.
TheUK Government also works closely with the Scottish, Welsh and NorthernIreland administrations and has agreed a set of shared principles thatprovide a basis for sustainable development policy in the UK.
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) deals with travel, waste and biodiversity.
Find out about work being done by other government departments on the government Sustainable Development website.
What is the UK Parliament doing?
There are 2 parliamentary committees - the Environmental Audit Committee and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee - involved in sustainable development in the UK.What are the UK devolved institutions doing?
The Scottish Government supports sustainable economic growth and wants to improve Scotland's natural and built environment. Work on this is directed by the Greener Scotland Programme.The Welsh Assembly Government has produced a Sustainable Development Action Plan 2004-2007, while the National Assembly for Wales's Sustainability Committee is conducting an inquiry into carbon reduction in Wales.
The Northern Ireland Executive has also produced its own Sustainable Development Strategy. The Northern Ireland Assembly Environment Committee also promotes sustainable development in the province.
What are UK industry, business, non-governmental organisations and charities doing?
Over the last few years many UK groups, organisations and companies havebeen increasingly involved in promoting sustainable development, including:- the Sustainable Development Research Network
- London Sustainable Development Commission
- Forum for the Future
- CREATE - a not-for-profit body working with communities and organisations to reduce the effects of climate change
- the Business Council for Sustainable Development
- the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development
- Sustainable Aviation which campaigns for long-term sustainability in the UK aviation industry.
What are UK citizens doing?
The Government's Sustainable Development website gives a wide range of advice for individuals, households and the community on a variety of issues including energy, water, waste, food, tourism and travel.What is the UK doing internationally?
TheUK plays a leading role in promoting sustainable development at an international level working through the European Union (EU) and the United Nations.The EU has just produced a progress report on its Sustainable Development Strategy.
The UN Commission on Sustainable Development plays a leading role in this area through technical cooperation and capacity building at international, regional and national levels.
These Shropshire homes are among the most energy efficient in the UK. To minimise their impact on the environment they use triple-glazed windows, air-tight doors, solar panels, timber from sustainable sources, reclaimed tiles and bricks.