FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL: CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AND A FAIRER WORLD
Summary Creating sustainable communities everywhere is a challenging task. It requires us to integrate the delivery of social, economic and environmental goals, to take a co-ordinated approach to delivering public services that work for everyone, including the most disadvantaged, and to think strategically for the long-term.
Taking it on consultation responses A key message from the ‘Taking it on’ consultation was that the public sector needs to work together better in tackling issues of social and environmental justice and use existing structures to provide local services, planning and regeneration. Consultees indicated that mixed messages from national government, for example on ‘sustainable communities’, ‘sustainable development’, ‘wellbeing’ and ‘sustainability’ can make delivery of sustainable development very difficult at the local level. It was suggested that more leadership, awareness and understanding of sustainable development is required at the local level and that leadership on sustainable development is not visible at the national level. Community Strategies and Local Strategic Partnerships have a key role to play in delivering sustainable development particularly in relation to housing, regeneration, transport, waste, local food, flooding, local business partnerships, and public health. But they could be used better. Local Agenda 21 was seen as a positive initiative but respondents expressed frustration that it had been either ‘lost’ or ‘diluted’ by new processes. Respondents felt that setting a good example was important in the promotion and delivery of sustainable development internationally. That should be demonstrated by sharing knowledge and best practice, and by applying or reforming key international agreements. The use of international aid to promote sustainable development was strongly favoured.
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