To achieve sustainable development we need:
- social progress which recognises the needs of everyone
- effective protection of the environment
- prudent use of natural resources
- maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment
The East Midlands Regional Assembly website hosts a range of success stories from across the East Midlands.
Embedding Sustainable Development in the Regional Strategy for the
East Midlands
The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction
Bill which will introduce new Regional Strategies is currently working its
way through Parliament. The Regional Strategy will combine existing
Regional Spatial Strategies and the Regional Economic Strategies into a
single document.
In 2008 GOEM, on behalf of regional partners, commissioned a study funded
by Defra to assist the region in embedding Sustainable Development within
the emerging Regional Strategy.
GHK Consultants carried out the study and their report, produced in May
2009, can be found in the Related Documents section below.
Using additional Defra funding, regional partners have since agreed to take
forward a project to determine what Sustainable Economic Growth within
Environmental Limits will mean for the East Midlands. This will build on
the work on Environmental Capacity by EMRA's Environment Group and Defra
family activity on common natural environment priorities. The project
should be complete by summer 2010.
East Midlands Sustainable Development
Framework
The Integrated Regional Strategy (IRS) is the East Midlands Sustainable
Development Framework and was published in 2000 then updated in January
2005.
The Framework covers all strategies in the region with the main aim
to develop the East Midlands in a sustainable manner and is split into four
themes:
-
economic
-
environment
-
social
-
spatial
Progress in achieving the sustainable development objectives of the IRS is
reported in the East Midlands ‘State of the Region Report
2007’.
The reforms set out in the Review of Sub National Economic Development and
Regeneration require each region to develop a single integrated Regional
Strategy which replaces the Regional Economic and Spatial Strategies (see
"Our Region" webpages).
UK Sustainable Development Strategy
‘Securing the Future’, the UK Government Sustainable
Development Strategy, was launched by the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra) in March 2005. The Strategy updated ‘A
Better Quality of Life: A Strategy for Sustainable Development for the
UK’ published in 1999.
The new national strategy is based around five
principles;
-
living within environmental limits
-
ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
-
achieving a sustainable economy
-
promoting good governance
-
using sound science responsibly
And contains four agreed priorities:
It also includes a new indicator set which is more outcome focused.
Sustainable Development Indicators In Your Pocket
2009
Published by Defra, this presents and assesses the indicators which are
measures of everyday concerns including health, housing, jobs, crime,
education and our environment. Its aim is to be a useful and
accessible reference to help illustrate the breadth and challenges of
sustainable development. The 2009 version can be found on the Defra website
- see the "Internet Links" section at the end of this page.
The Environment in Your Pocket 2009
Published by Defra, this is an annual publication containing material on
various environmental themes including climate change, air quality, waste
and recycling, land, coastal and marine waters, radioactivity, wildlife and
inland water. This year's main theme is climate change and focuses on
trends over time and includes several environmental indicators of
sustainable development. once again, the 2009 version can be found on the
Defra website by following the link in the "Internet Links" section.
Securing the Region’s Futures
In 2006, the Government published ‘Securing the Regions’
Futures’ which sets out the ways in which Government is
strengthening the delivery of sustainable development in the English
Regions.
Area Profiles
Area profiles showing sustainable development quality of life indicator
results are available to view on the Audit Commission website.
More information:
www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Quality of Life Counts
The Government established a set of 15 headline indicators and a wider set
of core indicators in 1999. These were called 'Quality of Life Counts'.
They provide a baseline from which progress can be measured. An update was
published in 2004.
Regional Quality of Life Counts
In 2005, Defra produced a factsheet looking at a selection of the national
indicators from a regional perspective.
