Sustainable Development
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Sustainable development is an increasingly used term that can be defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Brundtland Commission 1987). In other words it's about shaping our own future in ways, which ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. It recognises that the quality of peoples lives and the state of our communities, are affected by a combination of economic, social and environmental factors and lasting solutions to global problems can only be achieved by ensuring that appropriate consideration is given to each of these linkages. By not integrating the environmental agenda into decisions about social or economic development, global pressures such as global warming, deforestation, ozone depletion, and local pressures such as congestion, water pollution, and green belt destruction, will actually reduce our quality of life in the next century. One of the major results of ignoring the environmental impact of economic progress is the increasing inequality in terms of health between rich and poor. Sustainable development is really an ideal and a goal that we should all be striving to achieve. In order to do this we must meet our needs in a way that: a) protects the environment b) involves everyone in the decisions about our future c) ensures fairness and equality. d) takes into account the needs of future generations - the community of tomorrow If we can do all four of these things at the same time, then we can improve our quality of life in a way that is better for us, our world and our future. |
Local Agenda 21 In 1992 following concern about these global pressures, the United Nations organised a Summit on Environment and Development, in Rio de Janeiro. At this meeting, later called the "Earth Summit", 173 Heads of State, including the UK Prime Minister, signed an action plan called AGENDA 21. Agenda 21 is in fact an action plan for progressing towards sustainable development in the 21st century. It identifies roles and actions for all sectors of society, including national and local government, businesses, schools, women and ethnic groups. It was an ambitious attempt to fully integrate the social, environmental and economic concerns, in order to protect and enhance the quality of life, now and in the future, and move towards achieving sustainable development.  Agenda 21 recognises that national governments cannot achieve results alone and great emphasis is placed on the key role of local people and local government to bring about the ambitious changes needed. Every local authority in Britain was asked to develop a plan for its own area, to improve the quality of life by tackling issues such as pollution, waste, transport, energy, nature conservation, health and poverty.
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