About the Government's Sustainable Development Unit

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The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) is situated within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Sustainable development is, however, a broad concept that includes an array of different issues that require involvement across government and cannot be implemented by a single department alone. By definition, sustainable development requires joined up thinking across government.

Our work here in the SDU is to embed, monitor and report on sustainable development across Whitehall and the UK. Our work includes taking responsibility for, and overseeing the implementation of, the UK's Sustainable Development Strategy.The UK's Sustainable Development Strategy and oversight of its domestic implementation; the international Sustainable Development Dialogues (with China, India, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil); and ensuring the sustainability of new communities, in particular Defra's interests in the land use planning system (including the Planning Reform White Paper), housing supply, sustainable buildings and construction, strategic transport issues and the Olympics. We also sponsor the Sustainable Development Commission, an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body, which was set up to report to the Prime Minister, the First Ministers in Scotland and Wales and the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland.

For enquiries regarding a specific policy area such as social exclusion, housing or transport, please see the comprehensive list of contact details for the relevant departments.

For any queries specific to sustainable development or this website, please see our frequently asked questions page before contacting the Sustainable Development Unit.