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Useful links

 

Sustainable development cannot be achieved by Government alone and requires the participation of everyone. The following links cover a range of different organisations also working to achieve sustainable development.


International bodies

Basel Convention on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
www.basel.int
Convention on Biological Diversity
www.biodiv.org/
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
www.cites.org/
Convention on Migratory Species
www.unep-wcmc.org/convent/projects/cms.htm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
www.chem.unep.ch/pops/
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
www.iclei.org
International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
www.imo.org/
Montreal Protocol
www.unep.ch/ozone/
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
An international organisation helping governments tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalised economy.
www.oecd.org
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
www.ramsar.org
World Bank
www.worldbank.org
World Bank's Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
lnweb18.worldbank.org/ESSD/envext.nsf/45ByDocName/WorldBank-GlobalEnvironmentFacility
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
www.wbcsd.org
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Factsheets on population ageing
www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs135/en/
WHO Centre for Urban Health - Healthy Cities Project
www.who.dk/healthy-cities

United Nations

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT)
www.unchs.org
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS) - Sustainable Cities Programme
www.unchs.org/scp
United Nations Commission on Population and Development
www.un.org/esa/population/cpd/cpd.htm
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
www.unctad.org
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
www.undp.org
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Sustainable Development Networking Programme
sdnhq.undp.org
United Nations Economic and Social Development
www.un.org/esa
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
www.unece.org
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
www.unep.org
UNEP's Energy Programme
www.uneptie.org/energy
UNEP's World Conservation Monitoring Centre
ims.wcmc.org.uk
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
www.fao.org
United Nations Gateway to Social Policy and Development
www.un.org/esa/socdev/
United Nations Population Information Network (POPIN)
www.un.org/popin
United Nations Research Programme on Corporate Social Responsibility
www.unrisd.org
United Nations Secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification
www.unccd.int/main.php
Beijing +5 Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century
www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/followup/beijing+5.htm
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
whc.unesco.org/world_he.htm
The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention)
www.unece.org/env/pp



Central government

Subject area Department Helpline details
Environmental (inc Waste, Climate Change, Pollution, Biodiversity, Food and Farming) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Tel: 08459 33 55 77
Email: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
www.defra.gov.uk

International environmental protection issues Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Tel: 020 7008 1500
http://www.fco.gov.uk

Tel: 08459 33 55 77 Email: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
www.defra.gov.uk

Business related (inc Energy, Ethical Trade, Corporate Social Responsibility, Resource Efficiency, Environmental Technologies) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Tel: 020 7215 5000
Email: dti.enquiries@dti.gsi.gov.uk
www.dti.gov.uk

Economic (inc Economic Growth, Sustainable Investment) Her Majesty's Treasury (HMT)

Tel: 020 7270 4558
Email: public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

Poverty, Social Exclusion, Planning and Housing, Local Government and Sustainable Communities Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

Tel: 020 7944 4400
Email: enquiryodpm@odpm.gsi.gov.uk
www.communities.gov.uk

Employment Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Tel: 020 7712 2171
www.dwp.gov.uk

Education and Training Department for Education and Skills (DfES)

Tel: 0870 000 2288
Email: info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
www.dfes.gov.uk

Health Department of Health (DoH)

Tel: 0207 210 4850
Email: dhmail@doh.gsi.gov.uk
www.dh.gov.uk

Reducing Crime and the Fear of Crime Home Office

Tel: 0870 000 1585
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Transport (Inc Aviation, Road Traffic, Alternative Fuels, Public Transport) Department for Transport (DfT)

Tel: 020 7944 8300
www.dft.gov.uk

International development Issues (International Aid and Poverty Reduction) Department for International Development (DfID)

Tel: 0845 300 4100
Email: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk
www.dfid.gov.uk

Access to Culture and Sport, Sustainable Tourism Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Tel: 020 7211 6200
Email: enquiries@culture.gov.uk
www.culture.gov.uk

 

Devolved administration

Scotland
Scottish Executive sustainable development pages
www.scotland.gov.uk
Wales
National Assembly for Wales sustainable development pages
www.wales.gov.uk
Sustainable regions Wales
Testing new knowledge based approaches to Welsh regional sustainable development
www.sustainableregions.net
Northern Ireland
www.niassembly.gov.uk

English regional government

All English regions have now agreed Regional Sustainable Development Frameworks, the high-level visions for sustainable development promised in the Strategy. They have been developed by broad regional partnerships including public sector bodies, business, local authorities, charities and volunteers, and also draw on local Agenda 21 and Community Strategies. They will provide a clear reference point for other regional and sub-regional plans, and are an important link between targets for sustainable development at the local level set out in community strategies, and achieving sustainable development at the national level.

Regional Development Agencies
Links to all RDA’s can be found at http://www.englandsrdas.com/

Government Offices
Links to all GO’s can be found at www.gos.gov.uk

Regional Assemblies
Links to all RA’s can be found at www.ern.smartregion.org,uk

Regional Sustainable Development Roundtables
London – London Sustainable Development Commission
North East – Sustaine
North West – Action for Sustainability
West Midlands – Sustainability West Midlands
East Midlands - Promoting Sustainable Development Group
East of England – Sustainable Development Roundtable
South West – Sustainability South West

Public bodies

Although a great deal of the delivery of sustainable development takes place at local and regional levels there are still a number of Government agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) who have a major role at National and UK levels. These bodies are sponsored by a specific Government Department or Devolved Administration.

Public Bodies that are essential to the monitoring and delivery of sustainable development include the Environment Agency, English Nature, and the Sustainable Development Commission which acts as the Government's independent advisory body on sustainable development.

See below for a list of public bodies who are involved with the delivery of sustainable development:

Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission
www.aebc.gov.uk/
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
www.cabe.org.uk/
Commission for Health Improvement
www.chi.nhs.uk/
Commission for Integrated Transport
www.cfit.gov.uk/
Commission for Racial Equality
www.cre.gov.uk/
Community Development Foundation
www.cdf.org.uk/
Community Forum
www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/
Community Fund
www.community-fund.org.uk
Countryside Agency
www.countryside.gov.uk/
Economic and Social Research Council
www.esrc.ac.uk/
English Heritage
www.english-heritage.org.uk/
English Nature
www.english-nature.gov.uk/
English Partnerships
www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/
Environment Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
Equal Opportunities Commission
www.eoc.org.uk/
General Social Care Council
www.gscc.org.uk/
National Consumer Council
www.ncc.org.uk/
National Forest Company
www.nationalforest.org/
New Opportunities Fund
www.nof.org.uk/
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
www.kew.org/
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
www.rcep.org.uk/
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
http://www.sepa.org.uk/
Sustainable Development Commission
www.sd-commission.org.uk/

Non Governmental Organisations

Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations


ANPED, The Northern Alliance for Sustainability
Links activities, exchange information and enhance learning on environment, sustainable development and participatory democracy.
www.anped.org/
Amazing Environmental Organization WebDirectory!
A comprehensive directory of environmental web sites, including a section on sustainable development sites.
www.webdirectory.com/Sustainable_Development/
AROW - Agricultural Research Organisations on the Web
www.isnar.cgiar.org/arow/
Association for the Sustainable Use and Recovery of Resources in Europe
www.assurre.org/
Atmosphere, Climate & Environment Information Programme
www.ace.mmu.ac.uk
Best Foot Forward
Ecological footprinting
www.bestfootforward.com
British Trust for Ornithology
www.bto.org
British Wind Energy Association
Knowledge-based association focusing on optimising the recovery of resources from waste.
www.bwea.com
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
www.btcv.org.uk
Car Free Cities
Local authority network promoting a new mobility culture throughout Europe.
www.carfree.com/
Chartered Institute for Environmental Health
www.cieh.org
City Limits
A resource flow and ecological footprint analysis of Greater London.
www.citylimitslondon.com
Climate Ark Portal
A climate change and renewable energy news and information source.
www.climateark.org
Climate Network Europe Library
www.climnet.org/library/library.htm
Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF)
Promoting the management, conservation and development of all types of forests and strengthening the political commitment on these issues.
www.un.org/esa/forests/cpf.html
ConAccount
Network of institutions working on Material Flow Analysis for environmental sustainability.
www.conaccount.net/
Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
www.ciel.org/
The Conservation Foundation
www.conservationfoundation.co.uk
Consortium of Global Accords for Sustainable Development
Facilitating inputs into the policy process and shaping environmental and sustainability policy at global, regional, national and local levels.
http://web.mit.edu/gssd/consortium/
Consumer Utility Services
Promoting energy efficiency in the home
www.cus.net
CSD NGO/Major Groups Steering Committee
Self-organised co-ordinating body representing NGOs and other major groups and networks aiming at facilitating their involvement in CSD's annual sessions.
http://csdngo.igc.org
The Earth Charter Initiative
Promoting a worldwide dialogue on shared values and global ethics, awareness, commitment, and implementation of Earth Charter values.
www.earthcharter.org/
ECO-Accord
Searching for solutions to environmental and sustainable development issues; facilitating exchange of information and developing partnership among NGOs themselves and NGOs with other stakeholders.
http://accord.cis.lead.org/english/index.htm
The Ecologist
The world's most widely read environmental magazine and a key player in major environmental campaigns.
www.theecologist.org
Eco-Portal
An information gateway empowering the movement for environmental sustainability.
www.eco-portal.com
The Eden Project
Communicating concepts and issues related to sustainable development, conservation, science and land use.
www.edenproject.com/
Environment Council
www.the-environment-council.org.uk
Environment Liaison Centre International (ELCI)
Information and communication network of a large number of NGOs and CBOs working towards sustainable development.
www.elci.org/
Environmental Management Exchange and Resource Alliance for Development (EMERALD)
Joint Internet portal activity to assist urban managers in managing their local environment.
www.urban-emerald.net/Index.asp
European Network on Debt and Development (EURODAD)
NGOs network in 16 European countries co-ordinating their activities on Third World debt, structural adjustment, and financial markets.
www.eurodad.org
Find Your Feet
NGO that works with the rural poor in India and southern Africa, using their own skills and knowledge to develop sustainable solutions to poverty.
www.fyf.org.uk
Forest Conservation Portal
A vast rainforest, forest and biodiversity conservation news and information source.
www.forests.org
Forest Stewardship Council
Promoting sustainable management of the world's forests, by establishing a world-wide standard of recognised and respected Principles of Forest Stewardship.
www.fsc.org
Forum for the Future
www.forumforthefuture.org.uk/new_website/index.html
Friends of the Earth
www.foe.co.uk
Friends of the Earth International
www.foei.org
Global Action Plan
www.globalactionplan.org.uk/
Global Mining Initiative (GMI)
www.globalmining.com
Green Alliance
www.green-alliance.org.uk
Green Choices
Provides information on making green choices in many aspects of your lifestyle.
www.greenchoices.org
Green Roadshow
http://www.greenroadshow.co.uk/
Greenpeace
www.greenpeace.org
Groundwork Institute
www.groundwork.org
Grownupgreen
A website aimed at encouraging and supporting households to think and act more sustainably in a lively, interactive and interesting way.
www.grownupgreen.org.uk
In Kind Direct
A charity who distribute manufacturer's and retailer's surplus goods to other UK charities.
www.inkinddirect.org
Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD International)
www.lead.org/
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
www.marine.gov.uk/MSC.htm
Natural Discovery
A company that develop and provide sustainable tourism.
www.naturaldiscovery.co.uk
Reduce the Use
A website providing a wealth of information to help run a more environmentally friendly business, designed specifically for Micro and Small Businesses.
www.reducetheuse.co.uk

The Soil Association
www.soilassociation.org/
Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming
www.sustainweb.org/
Sustrans
www.sustrans.org.uk/
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Sustainable development, energy, water and urban environment programs.
www.sei.se/
Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming
www.sustainweb.org/
U
NEP.Net Environment Network
A network portal designed to facilitate access to information about green issues.
www.unep.net/
Waste Connect
Recycling online database assisting companies in fulfilling their recycling obligations. Links with all the local councils throughout the UK and up-to-date information on all recycling collection points and on all types of recyclable waste.
www.wastepoint.co.uk/
WECF - Women in Europe for a Common Future
www.wecf.org
World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development
Information on sustainable forestry and overview of deforestation.
http://iisd.ca/wcfsd
World Conservation Union - Sustainable Use Initiative
Advocating the sustainable use of biological resources.
www.iucn.org
World Health Organisation (WHO)
www.who.int/
WWF-UK
www.wwf-uk.org/home.shtml

Community Organisations


Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC)

ASC is the national centre for delivering the skills and knowledge needed to make better places. It aims to inspire, motivate and influence people across the public, private and voluntary sectors who are involved in creating sustainable communities.
www.ascskills.org.uk
Action Towards Local Sustainability
A European project helping local authorities to improve quality of life in their communities through sustainable development.
www.sustainability.co.uk/

Best Practices for Human Settlements; the Together Foundation & UNCHS
Searchable database containing over 1100 proven solutions from more than 120 countries demonstrating practical ways used by communities, governments and the private sector to improve governance, eradicate poverty, provide access to shelter, land and basic services, protect the environment and support economic development.
www.bestpractices.org
The Bremen Initiative
Promoting partnership between municipality and business to achieve a sustainable future for cities and focusing on the development of a partnership between city governments and their major stakeholders.
www.bremen-initiative.de/
The Cities Alliance
Global coalition of cities and cities and their development partners designed to achieve the promise of well managed cities.
www.citiesalliance.org/
Clean and Safe Worldwide
A website committed to sharing ideas and exchanging information on keeping local communities clean and safe.
www.cleansafeworldwide.org
Community Development Foundation
CDF strengthens communities by ensuring the active participation of people in determining the conditions which affect their lives.
www.cdf.org.uk
ELGO
Building relationships with local and public authorities throughout Europe.
www.elgo.co.uk/
The European Academy of the Urban Environment
Encouraging exchange of experiences amongst local government decision makers in all spheres of sustainable urban development.
www.eaue.de/
European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)
www.epha.org/
Institute for Sustainable Communities
www.iscvt.org
Regional Futures
www.regionalfutures.org.uk
Suscom
www.suscom.org/
Sustainability Northwest
Partnership organisation providing leadership and focus for sustainable development issues in the Northwest.
www.snw.org.uk/
The Sustainable Cities Project
The urban dimension of the EU's 5th Environmental Action Programme: "Towards Sustainability".
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/urban/home_en.htm
Sustainable Communities in Europe
EU-financed research project on the implementation of Local Agenda 21 in 12 European countries
www.prosus.uio.no/english /
Sustainable Communities Network (SCN)
http://sustainable.org/index.html

Social Issues

Age Concern
www.ace.org.uk
Amnesty International
www.amnesty.org
Beat Poverty
www.savethechildren.org.uk
The Big Issue
www.bigissue.com
Copenhagen Centre
Partnership for Social Responsibility
www.copenhagencentre.org/
The Fairtrade Foundation
www.fairtrade.org.uk/
Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO)
Umbrella organisation aiming to co-ordinate the work of national fair-trade initiatives.
www.fairtrade.net/
Get Ethical
www.getethical.com
Global Sullivan Principles
Set of principles drafted by the Rev. Leon H. Sullivan to guide corporate social, economic, political, and environmental policies.
www.thesullivanfoundation.org
National Council for Voluntary Organisations
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Oxfam
www.oxfam.org/
War on Want
www.waronwant.org

International NGOs


Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR)
An international development charity working for justice and the eradication of poverty
www.ciir.org
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
www.fao.org/

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
An international, multi-stakeholder effort to create a common framework for voluntary reporting of the economic, environmental, and social impact of organisation-level activity.
www.globalreporting.org/
Jubilee debt Campaign
Jubilee Debt Campaign is a coalition of over 200 national organisations and local and regional groups campaigning for the cancellation of unpayable poor country debt
www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk
Jubilee 2000 Coalition
www.jubilee2000uk.org
International Association for Community Development
www.iacdglobal.org/
International Car Free Day
www.22september.org/part/en/news.html
International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
www.ictsd.org/
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
www.iclei.org
International Fertilizer Development Center
www.ifdc.org/
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Population Project
www.iiasa.ac.at/
International Food Policy Research Institute
www.ifpri.org
International Fund for Agricultural Development
www.ifad.org/
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
An international organisation helping governments tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalised economy.
www.oecd.org
The Population Institute
Non-profit, education organisation dedicated to achieving a more equitable balance between world population, environment and resources.
www.populationinstitute.org/
Poverty & Development Workshop
www.iisd.org/economics/pov_sd/workshop1.asp PovertyNet
Resources and support for people working to understand and alleviate poverty
www.worldbank.org/poverty/index.htm
Stakeholder Toolkit for Women - provided by the UNED Forum
www.earthsummit2002.org/toolkits/women/index.htm
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Sustainable development, energy, water and urban environment programs.
www.sei.se /
Successful Projects Related to Poverty and Social Exclusion
www.unesco.org/most/bphome.htm
World Association of Cities and Local Authorities (WACLA)
www.waclac.org
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
www.wbcsd.org
World Resources Institute (WRI)
www.wri.org
Wuppertal Institute
www.wupperinst.org/

Business/Trade Organisations


AccountAbility
Strengthening the social responsibility and ethical behaviour of the business community and non-profit organisations in the UK and worldwide.
www.accountability.org.uk/
CERES
Non-profit coalition of investors, public pensions funds foundations, labour unions, and public interest groups, working in partnership with companies worldwide.
www.ceres.org/
CSREurope
European business-driven membership network promoting corporate social responsibility at national, regional and local level in several European countries
www.csreurope.org/
Business in the Environment
www.bitc.org.uk/programmes/programme_directory/business_in_the_environment/
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)

UK code developed through partnership between retail and consumer goods companies, NGOs, Trade Unions and the UK Government.
http://www.ethicaltrade.org/
The European Fair Trade Association (EFTA)
Network of twelve Fair Trade organisations in nine European countries importing Fair Trade products from over 600 economically disadvantaged producer groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
www.eftafairtrade.org/
The Fairtrade Foundation
www.fairtrade.org.uk/
Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO)

Umbrella organisation aiming to co-ordinate the work of national fair-trade initiatives.
www.fairtrade.net/
Green Globe 21
www.greenglobe21.com/
International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF)
International non-profit organisation promoting responsible and sustainable business practices particularly in new and emerging market economies.
www.iblf.org/
The International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE)
Promoting the use of industrial ecology in research, education, policy, community development, and industrial practices.
www.is4ie.org
Industry Council for Packaging & the Environment
www.incpen.org/
Institute of Directors
www.iod.co.uk/
The NCBS (The National Centre for Business and Sustainability)
www.thencbs.co.uk/
Reduce the Use
A website providing a wealth of information to help run a more environmentally friendly business, designed specifically for Micro and Small Businesses.
www.reducetheuse.co.uk
Social Enterprise Action
A directory, showcase and inter-trading application for social enterprises.
www.sea-online.net
Social Enterprise London (SEL)
www.sel.org.uk
Social Venture Network (SBN) Europe
Network of socially and environmentally engaged entrepreneurs and business leaders.
www.svneurope.com/
Sustainable business.com

www.sustainablebusiness.com/
Sustainable Investment Research International Group
Coalition of eleven research organisations focusing on the global advancement of social investing.
www.siricompany.com/
UK Social Investment Forum
Promoting and encouraging socially responsible investment in the UK.
www.uksif.org/
Water UK

www.water.org.uk/

Academic research

Achieving sustainable development is a partnership between government and the academic/research community. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has investigated research work being undertaken into sustainable development and the findings can be viewed here. As a result, the Department now sponsors a Sustainable Development Research (SDR) Network.

Association for Co-ordination and Stimulation of Research on Sustainability (SUSTAIN) - Austria
http://scc.co.at/sustain/base_e.html
Austrian Institute for Sustainable Development
www.boku.ac.at/index.php?p=1000&lang=english
Cranfield University
www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/research.htm
Economic & Social Research Council
www.esrc.ac.uk/
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
www.epsrc.ac.uk/
Environment Resource and Information Centre (University of Westminster)
www.ecgi.org/
Foresight
www.foresight.gov.uk/
Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)
www.ieep.org.uk/
Integrated Marine Management (University of Exeter)
An international research, development and consultancy group. Their mission is to play a major, long-term, role in sustainably reducing global poverty.
www.ex.ac.uk/imm/
International Development Research Centre - Canada
www.idrc.org.sg/
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Publishers of the report - 'Sustainable development and social inclusion: Towards an integrated approach to research'.
www.jrf.org.uk/
Natural Environment Research Council
www.nerc.ac.uk/
New Economics Foundation
www.neweconomics.org/
Policy Studies Institute
www.psi.org.uk/
Program for Research and Documentation for a Sustainable Society (ProSus) - Norway
www.prosus.uio.no/english/
Sustainable Development Research Institute (SDRI) Canada
www.sdri.ubc.ca/
Sustainable Development Research (SDR) Network
www.sd-research.org.uk
United Nations University - Environment and Sustainable Development
www.unu.edu/esd.html

Trade unions

Achieving sustainable development is a partnership between government and trade unions.
Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee

 

  

Updated: 6 March 2008

 
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