Sustainable development and Local Agenda 21

This idea of protecting natural resources and the environment for the sake of future generations is often known as ‘sustainable development’. This became an important issue for central and local government following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. 

It was there that the government signed the ‘Agenda 21 agreement’, requiring Councils to work out what sustainable development would mean in their area.

The Agenda 21 agreement asserted that real progress towards local sustainable development could only be made with the active participation of local citizens. 

More sustainable patterns of life could not be achieved by a local authority, or a government, acting alone. The attitudes and decisions of thousands of individual residents and businesses were crucial.

This is why - in addition to its own environmental work - the Council encourages others to save resources and improve the environment for themselves. 

It is why the Council has adopted a policy of ‘continuous consultation’ on environmental issues, trying to tap into the widest range of opinion on how to improve local quality of life.

Through consultation the Council has found that most residents are bothered about sustainable development, although they rarely call it that. Residents care about recycling and waste, poor air quality, and the lack of open space. 

They are frustrated by an inadequate transport system. They want beautiful buildings protected from harm. They want city life to be less noisy. In short, they want a higher quality of life without spoiling the environment for future generations.

This policy statement tries to show how the Council will help meet these aspirations.