Sustainable development
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CloseHow we need to balance economic, social and environmental issues to achieve sustainable development.
We all face social, economic and environmental challenges, not only in the way that our organisations are run but also in the way that we deliver services to those we support.
Generally, our sector has been very good at addressing the social and economic factors that impact on our work but we have been less effective at addressing the environmental ones.
Rising fuel prices causing misery for millions of vulnerable people in cold and damp homes, degenerating local areas with traffic pollution and lack of green space, rising costs of public transport, polluted rivers and natural habitats, poor quality food in schools and hospitals: these are just a few environmental impacts that directly affect the work we do.
Likewise, injustice, lack of voice and inequality of experience are just some of the ways that these impacts are experienced.
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is:
"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
(The Brundtland Report, 1987).
Sustainability is often described as the goal, while sustainable development is the journey, achieved by balancing economic, social and environmental aspects.
Applying sustainable development
In order to improve the lives of those we support and make our organisations stronger, we all need to get smarter about sustainable development.
Applying sustainable development to your organisation (leading to increased organisational sustainability) can help you to build on your organisation’s value base and develop new and creative ways to save money, generate income and foster external interest.
Every Action Counts
The Defra funded programme, Every Action Counts, has produced a variety of resources on sustainable development. These are designed to help your organisation address the process of sustainable development one step at a time and they may even inspire you to lead the change in your area – after all, working together for change is more powerful and more effective than working alone.
Every Action Counts is a three year programme, concluding in spring 2009. It provides advice and support to voluntary and community organisations that want to reduce their impact on the environment, tackle climate change and improve their local area. Its legacy is a wealth of materials and information, as well as practice embedded in community and voluntary sector organisations.
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Published with permission of Bassac.
