4 A New Sustainable Development Strategy
74. Evidence from Dr John Turnpenny and others at
the University of East Anglia, and Dr Duncan Russel from the University
of Exeter, explained that efforts at improving sustainable development
in government have broken down because of a lack of co-ordination
between policies. Targets, monitoring and guidance have been established
in an ad hoc manner, and not enough attention has been given to
ensuring that they interact positively with one another.[84]
There is overlap and contradiction between sustainable development
monitoring and other cross-cutting themes such as climate change,
particularly in SOGE reporting. More needs to be done to take
a strategic view, for example in linking impact assessments with
long-term departmental strategies such as departmental carbon
reduction targets.
75. Government's last Sustainable Development Strategy
Securing the Future was published in 2005. It confirmed
the then Government's ongoing commitment to address sustainability,
updating its previous strategy and responding to the 2002 World
Summit on Sustainable Development. It strengthened the SDC's role
as Government's watchdog on sustainable development. It focused
the efforts of departments in improving their performance on sustainability
through the SOGE framework, requiring departmental Sustainable
Development Action Plans and establishing networks to share best
practice and innovative approaches.
76. Cutting the SDC's funding, and bringing into
Government the responsibility for monitoring and encouraging sustainable
development, now necessitates that the Government provide a new
strategic underpinning for the Coalition Government's commitment
to the importance of sustainable development as an overarching
goal of Government policy-making. The 2005 Sustainable Development
Strategy was a sound basis for action, but this strategy requires
an urgent update.
77. A new strategy would give the UK more weight
at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2012 ('Rio +
20') and in developing an EU sustainable development strategy.
The Secretary of State told us that the UK hopes to play a leading
role in joining up negotiations on climate change, biodiversity
and poverty.[85] Defra's
submission to the Summit's questionnaires states that 'Defra is
playing a key role in [the UK Government becoming the greenest
government ever] by ensuring sustainable development and natural
value are factored in to everything we do; this will ensure eyes
are fixed firmly on the long term in relation to the economy,
the environment and society'. However, WWF saw the disappearance
of the SDC as a particular worry, at a time when the world community
is beginning preparations for 'Rio + 20'.[86]
Dr Russel added:
[...]it's not just the UK [...] on this earth, [sustainable
development] requires action by other states. Now, if the UK is
seen to be running backwards rather than going forwards, then
that doesn't send a very positive message out to other nations
and other states about embedding sustainable development into
policymaking processes.[87]
78. Sustainable development policy and programmes
have suffered from being ad hoc in nature. A more strategic view
needs to be taken. The components of a new architecture for embedding
sustainable development in Government need to be brought together
in a new sustainable development strategy. A
new Sustainable Development Strategy should be developed to revitalise
Government engagement on this essential foundation for all policy-making.
It could link sustainable development into other overarching policy
themes, like localism and climate change. A new Strategy should
set milestones for the development of important sustainable development
programmes including putting sustainable development more firmly
in the Green Book and developing well-being measures. It should
make clear the remits and responsibilities of all departments
as well as the leadership architecture for sustainable development,
including the role of 'central departments' and any new cabinet
committee. It should also set out how the possible use of sanctions
by those central departments could be used to encourage better
performance by departments.
84 Ev 60 Back
85
Oral evidence taken before the Environmental Audit Committee on
10 November 2010, HC 576, Qq 31-2 Back
86
Q 162 Back
87
Ibid. Back
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