Sustainable Development
The Assembly is committed to sustainable development as the route to maximising quality of life and wellbeing for all, and this is the central principle of all the Assembly's work.
Sustainable development is defined in the West Midlands Regional Concordat as "ensuring a better quality of life for all, now and in the future". Sustainable development involves recognising that although economic prosperity and security is an essential element of quality of life and well-being, other elements such as good health, a pleasant environment, a thriving and inclusive society, high quality employment, decent housing, and living within environmental limits are equally important.
The Assembly works closely with Sustainability West Midlands to promote sustainable development in the region. Sustainability West Midlands is a partnership of members from public, private and voluntary sector organisations and acts as an independent champion of the principles of sustainability.
On behalf of the Assembly, Sustainability West Midlands has produced the Regional Sustainable Development Framework, a tool to help policy-makers incorporate sustainability principles into strategies, plans and projects. The Framework sets out sustainable development objectives for the West Midlands and a process by which policy-makers can incorporate these objectives into their work. In this way all policy areas will be working towards a sustainable future for the West Midlands. The Framework was reviewed in the light of national and regional policy developments, including the UK Government's 2005 Sustainable Development Strategy, "Securing the Future", and relaunched in July 2006.
In order to monitor the Assembly's commitment to sustainable development, all of the Regional Policy Partnerships submit an annual report to the Assembly's Annual General Meeting setting out how their work has incorporated the objectives set out in the Regional Sustainable Development Framework. Find out more about the Assembly's sustainability reporting.
For further information please contact David Clarke