Chapter 1
The Need for Change

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1.1 What is sustainable development? At its heart is the simple idea of ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. 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'.¹

1.2 Although the idea is simple, the task is substantial. It means meeting four objectives at the same time, in the UK and the world as a whole:

• social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;
• effective protection of the environment;
• prudent use of natural resources; and
• maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.

1.3 Why do we need sustainable development? Because the need for development is as great as ever, but future development cannot simply follow the model of the past. This is true for the world as a whole, and for every community in this country.

1.4 The global picture is striking. A quarter of the world's people have to survive on incomes of less than US$1 a day. A fifth have no access to health care. Huge though the challenge may seem, it is becoming larger: the world's population will increase by half, another three billion people, by 2050.²

1.5 This country does not have problems on such a scale. But we cannot stand aside from these issues. Global prosperity must increase, and be more widely shared. Meanwhile, in the UK, economic growth remains vital for a better quality of life: for education, healthcare and housing, to tackle poverty and social exclusion, and to improve standards of living through better goods and services.

1.6 In the past, economic activity tended to mean more pollution and wasteful use of resources. We have had to spend to clean up the mess. A damaged environment impairs quality of life and, at worst, may threaten long term economic growth - for example, as a result of climate change. And too many people have been left behind, excluded from the benefits of development but often suffering from the side-effects.

1.7 Often we have not made the most of opportunities for improvement. For example, the energy efficiency of much of our housing is poor. The result is that fuel bills and emissions of greenhouse gases are higher than they need to be, and many people cannot afford to heat their homes properly.

1.8 We have to find a new way forward. We need greater prosperity with less environmental damage. We need to improve the efficiency with which we use resources. We need thriving cities, towns and villages based on strong economies, good access to services and attractive and safe surroundings. And we need international co-operation to overcome environmental problems, to allow trade to flourish and to help the world's poorest people as we move towards a more global society.

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Sustainable development objectives

Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone. Everyone should share in the benefits of increased prosperity and a clean and safe environment. We have to improve access to services, tackle social exclusion, and reduce the harm to health caused by poverty, poor housing, unemployment and pollution. Our needs must not be met by treating others, including future generations and people elsewhere in the world, unfairly.

Effective protection of the environment. We must act to limit global environmental threats, such as climate change; to protect human health and safety from hazards such as poor air quality and toxic chemicals; and to protect things which people need or value, such as wildlife, landscapes and historic buildings.

Prudent use of natural resources. This does not mean denying ourselves the use of non-renewable resources like oil and gas, but we do need to make sure that we use them efficiently and that alternatives are developed to replace them in due course. Renewable resources, such as water, should be used in ways that do not endanger the resource or cause serious damage or pollution.

Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment, so that everyone can share in high living standards and greater job opportunities. The UK is a trading nation in a rapidly changing world. For our country to prosper, our businesses must produce the high quality goods and services that consumers throughout the world want, at prices they are prepared to pay. To achieve that, we need a workforce that is equipped with the education and skills for the 21st century. And we need businesses ready to invest, and an infrastructure to support them.

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A Strategy for change

1.9 This is the challenge of sustainable development. It is substantial, but we are making progress. The Government's economic policies are increasing competitiveness and preventing a return to boom and bust. It is tackling social exclusion and improving the quality of housing, health and education services. Strong environment policies are improving our air and rivers.

1.10 For the future, we need ways to achieve economic, social and environmental objectives at the same time, and consider the longer term implications of decisions. We have to spread best practice, and build on what has already been achieved. Sometimes solutions will be obvious, such as not allowing land to be contaminated so that it has to be cleaned up. In other cases, new approaches will be needed if we are to achieve economic growth in a way which minimises its impact on the environment: for example, by making more efficient use of energy and of our transport infrastructure.

1.11 This Strategy is a catalyst for that change. It identifies priority areas for action, and indicators and targets to measure progress, against which the Government will expect to be judged. It sets out action that the Government has already taken and further initiatives that are planned, and highlights what others can do. The Government will use the Strategy as a framework to guide its policies. It will encourage others to do the same.

1. From Our Common Future (The Brundtland Report) - Report of the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development.Oxford University Press 1987. ISBN 0 19 282080 X.
2. Eliminating world poverty: a challenge for the 21st century. White Paper on international development. Department for International Development, November 1997. ISBN 0 10 137892 0.

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