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Sustainable development

The goal of sustainable development is to enable people to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations. We help business to contribute to this agenda.

''If tackling climate change represents the greatest of challenges for the world, it is also the greatest of opportunities for Britain... we now have the opportunity to play a leading role in taking the world towards a low carbon future.''

- Prime Minister Gordon Brown

Avoiding climate change is one of the greatest challenges we are likely to face in the coming years and unless we act now these changes will have a huge impact on our economy and on our businesses.

The publication of the Carbon Reduction Delivery and Climate Change Adaptation Plans, on March 29 2010, sets out how BIS policies and activities can contribute to these essential agendas; equipping us with the capability to adapt and to reduce emissions from across the economy and our own estate.

These Plans also build on the important work the UK Government has done so far and will consolidate our position further as a global low carbon leader.

However, these documents are not the final word. They will change and adapt to reflect new and developing policies that will help us meet the challenging tasks we have undertaken and will help us create the conditions for economic growth in a changing world that will help the UK thrive long into the future.

For more information on Carbon Budgets and Climate Change Adaptation, links to the Carbon Change Overarching Document: Climate Change: Taking Action, Delivering the Low Carbon Transition Plan and Preparing for a changing climate and other Department's Carbon Reduction Delivery Plans please visit  DECC or DEFRA for other Department's Climate Change Adaptation Plans and the Overarching Document.

BIS Carbon Reduction Delivery Plan March 2010 (PDF, 438 Kb)
BIS Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2010-12 (PDF, 499 Kb)

  •  BIS incorporates sustainable development into its competitiveness and better regulation work, by taking an integrated approach to product regulation. We work to promote this agenda by:
  • Promoting Government's sustainable development and waste strategies, within BIS and to stakeholders; leading and co-ordinating within Government on the related policy of corporate responsibility and minimising the impact of certain products on the environment.
  • Providing a centre of expertise on the negotiation, transportation and administration of European harmonisation legislation which sets out the EU Single Market requirements for end of life treatment, restrictions on the use of environmentally damaging substances, environmental performance, product safety and product performance.
  • Minimising the impact of certain products on the environment- e.g. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE); Hazardous Substances in Electrical & Electronic Equipment (RoHS); packaging; energy using products (EuP); spent batteries and accumulators and end-of-life vehicles. Monitoring of Environmental Regulation particularly on water and air quality, and UK's Pollution Control Legislation. 

Contact us at: sustainability@bis.gsi.gov.uk

What is sustainable development?

Enabling everyone to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations. That means:

  • Living within environmental limits (limiting climate change and protecting limited natural resources)
  • Stimulating strong, healthy communities and a just society
  • Building a strong stable economy

Our way of life is placing an increasing burden on the planet which can not be sustained. The Stern Report (external link) made clear that the cost of inaction will be far higher than the cost of tackling climate change now.

Government must lead by example:

  • Reducing our own impact on the environment
  • Sustainable procurement of the £150 billion worth of goods and services bought every year by the public sector
  • Influence through our energy and trade policy role and contacts with business and consumers.

For more information see: the BIS Sustainable Development Action Plan 1 August 2009 - 31 March 2011 (PDF, 1.1 Mb)