The New UK Sustainable Development Strategy

Neil Witney

20-21 June 2005, Oslo, Norway

Securing the Future

• Published 7th March 2005 • Sets out a vision of sustainable

development through to 2020• Focus on moving from words

into actions – e.g. Government showing it is serious about delivery through leadership by example

• Developed across the UK, and with central, regional and local Government

• Read it at: www.sustainable-development.gov.uk

7th March 2005

The United Kingdom – political structure

The Framework for Sustainable Development across the UK

The UK Government, and administrations covering Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland agreed a shared purpose, guiding principles, priorities and indicators between them.

Background to review …

• Previous strategies published 1999 and 1992• Commitment to review after five years• Since then: devolution, regionalisation, WSSD, new

national climate change targets …. • Sustainable Development Commission verdict: ‘Shows

promise. But must try harder’.• Need to drive delivery

The institutional architecture

Strong basis established in the 1990s on which to build:

• Sustainable Development Commission• Environmental Audit Committee• ENV (G) – Environmental Cabinet Committee sub-group• Sustainable Development Task Force• Green Non-Governmental Organisations

All contributed to the development of the new strategy

A cross-government effort

• Review run from Defra (UK Department of the Environment)

• Core Team had experience from across Government• Defra Permanent Secretary chaired a Programme Board

involving the 15 main civil service departments• Eight working groups covering the main themes involving

people from across government and more widely• But not just ‘made in government’…• Built on an extensive stakeholder consultation and

engagement

The consultation process – ‘Taking it on’

UK Sustainable Development Goal

A new purpose and principles…

Helping people make better choices

Four priority themes

Ensuring it happens

New outcome focused indicator set for the strategy with commitmentto act if they are going in the wrong direction. Indicators are linked to current national targets, goals and national strategies.

Enhanced role as ‘watchdog’ for the Sustainable Development Commission– they will provide an independent report on Government’s progress on sustainable development

Each Government department is preparing a focused sustainable development action plan

Strengthening skills for sustainable development and sustainable communities at national, regional, and local level

Requirement to take account of sustainable development in local and regional governanceperformance management arrangements

What they said (1)

“This strategy is a vast improvement on the 1999 Strategy and demonstrates a new determination on the part of government to make sustainable development a real priority. It offers timetabled plans for action and seeks to engage us all in driving change. If the Government keeps is promises, and does so visibly leading from the centre, we will finally begin to see the kind of action we now so urgently need.”

Jonathon Porritt

What they said (2)

“I want to use this new strategy as a catalyst for action.”

Tony Blair

For more information go to: www.sustainable-development.gov.uk and www.sd-research.org.uk