Sustainable Development

There are many definitions of sustainable development. A widely-used international definition is 'development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. Some people chose to describe the principles as ‘people, pounds and planet’, which reflects the fact that sustainable development is all about achieving an integrated approach between social, economic and environmental considerations in any decision.

The UK government now describes the goal of sustainable development as, “to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life of future generations” (from Securing the Future 2005). It further describes the following guiding principles of sustainable development:-

• Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
• Living within environmental limits
• Achieving a sustainable economy
• Promoting good governance
• Using sound science responsibly

The principles of sustainable development underpin all the work of the Assembly.

Visit www.sustainable-development.gov.uk for more information on the above and to view the 2005 UK Sustainable Development Strategy, "Securing the Future."