Sustainable development in the UK will be delivered
through an approach that integrates an innovative and productive
economy, delivering high levels of employment with a just society. It
aims to promote social inclusion, sustainable communities and
personal wellbeing. This will be done in ways that protect and
enhance the physical and natural environment, and use resources and
energy as efficiently as possible.
Government Offices work to promote sustainable development
to business, local government and the broader community. They also
ensure that sustainable development is taken into account in all
policies and programmes.
Guiding
Principles
The UK's current sustainable development strategy
'Securing the future' was launched by the Prime Minister in March
2005. The strategy has five guiding principles that will form the
basis for government policy in the UK:
-
living within environmental limits - Respecting the limits
of the planet’s environment, resources and biodiversity
– to improve our environment and ensure that the natural
resources needed for life are not damaged for future
generations
-
ensuring a strong, healthy and just society - Meeting the
diverse needs of all people in existing and future communities,
promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion, and
creating equal opportunity for all
-
achieving a sustainable economy - Building a strong,
stable and sustainable economy which provides prosperity and
opportunities for all, and in which environmental and social costs
fall on those who impose them (polluter pays), with incentives to
use resources efficiently
-
promoting good governance - Actively promoting effective
participation in the systems of government, at all levels of
society by engaging people’s creativity, energy, and
diversity
-
using sound science responsibly - Ensuring policy is
developed and implemented on the basis of strong scientific
evidence, whilst taking into account scientific uncertainty
(through the precautionary principle) as well as public attitudes
and values
Shared
Priorities for UK Action
Securing
the Future identifies four priority
areas for immediate action. These are:
-
Sustainable
Consumption and Production
-
Climate
Change and Energy
-
Natural
Resource Protection and Environmental Enhancement
-
Sustainable
Communities
Government Offices work with regional and local
partners to ensure that the principles of sustainable development and
the priority areas for action are at the heart of all regional
strategies and programmes. Regional Sustainable Development
Frameworks (RSDFs) set out priorities for action; a key Government
Office role is to work with regional partners to keep the RSDF up to
date and monitor the delivery of its
objectives.
