Sustainable Development
DCMS is committed to supporting and promoting Sustainable Development in all aspects of its work. Sustainable Development is reflected in the Department's high level aims of:
- Improving quality of life through cultural and sporting activities
- Broadening access for all to a rich and varied cultural and sporting life, and to our distinctive built environment, and encouraging conservation of the best of the past
and in the following Departmental objectives:
- To promote the role of the DCMS sectors in urban and rural regeneration, in pursuing sustainability and in combatting social exclusion
- To improve the larger towns and cities to make them better places to live and work
- To improve energy efficiency and tackle waste, and
- To ensure that the objective of the Lottery Fund supports DCMS's and other national priorities
"Sustainable development" has grown in definition over the last few years, away from just green issues, to involve the social and economic factors which contribute to the quality of life.
Many of DCMS's sectors (especially museums and libraries) are aware of their unique position in being able to raise awareness and influence public opinion informally. The Sustainable Development Education Panel is encouraging DCMS to use that ability to make a significant contribution to sustainable development education.
There is also scope to make use of the national and regional Quality of Life indicators to link DCMS' work in social inclusion and neighbourhood renewal with the national sustainable development plan.
DCMS is working closely with its estate management contractor, WSP, to improve the environmental performance of its buildings and to find ways of reducing and recycling waste products as efficiently as possible.
The Department is encouraging its sponsored bodies to do the same and to find ways of addressing and promoting green issues.
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