A Sustainable Wales Better Choices for a Better Future

A Sustainable Wales

Better Choices for a Better Future

Sustainable Development White Paper

A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better Future

Context - Programme for Government

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“This is our Welsh account of sustainable development: an emphasis on social, economic and environmental well-being for people and communities, embodying our values of fairness and social justice.”

“All our policies and programmes will reflect this commitment to sustainability and fairness so that we make sustainable development our central organising principle”


Stronger Governance FrameworkLegislate to make sustainable development the central organising principle of the Welsh Government and public bodies in Wales.

Create an independent sustainable development body for Wales


Sustainable Development

Sustainable development means enhancing the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people and communities, achieving a better quality of life for our own and future generations in ways which:

Sustainable development in Wales

promote social justice and equality of opportunity; and

enhance the natural and cultural environment and respect its limits – using only our fair share of the earth’s resources and sustaining our cultural legacy.

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Sustainable development is the process by which we reach the goal of sustainability.

White Paper 2012


2012

Sustainable Development

Consultation

www.wales.gov.uk


01

2011

Sustainable Development Bill Discussion

2011 Programme for

Government

20113rd

Effectiveness Report

PwC

2009One Wales: One PlanetSustainable

Development Scheme

20082nd


Flynn, Marsden, Netherwood & Pitts

2006Government of

Wales Acts.79 “Sustainable

Development”

s.60 “well-being”

2004 Starting to Live

DifferentlySustainable

Development Scheme

2003 1st


CAG

2000‘Learning to live

differently’ Sustainable

Development Scheme

1998Government of

Wales ActS.121 “Sustainable

Development”

1313

Wales’ sustainable development journey

Evidence

06 A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better Future

Key Requirements

To support the embedding of Sustainable Development as the central organising principle of public services in Wales.

To empower and drive positive change.

To avoid adding layers of additional bureaucracy and cost and becoming a tick box exercise.

To avoid stifling innovation and removing the flexibility from organisations to reach the solutions that are best for their circumstances.

To ensure that SD will have a practical effect and not simply a set of high level principles.


White Paper Proposals

Embedding sustainable development as the central organising principle (duty)

A focus on support with new SD body

Robust accountability through Wales Audit Office

Requirement to integrate compliance in public reporting


Key elementsRESULTSA focus on achieving outcomes to improve the wellbeing of Wales EVIDENCEMake decisions using better information

COLLABORATION Work with others and making the connections

LONG TERM Fix the causes rather than the symptoms

CONNECTFocus on the economic, social and environmental benefits

TRANSPARENCY Measure and report on the difference you make



Long term thinking and a focus on prevention

the principle of long-term thinking, a focus on prevention and the impact on future generations are a key components of sustainable development.

Considering the long term logically leads to a focus on prevention and the early interventions that can most effectively generate long term benefits.

To ensure such consideration is embedded by the duty, it is proposed that the consideration of the long term wellbeing of Wales is a requirement and that the needs of future generations, long term and preventive measures are emphasised within this approach.

An independent sustainable development body

Provide expert advice and guidance to organisations to help them embed sustainable development.

Support collaboration between organisations, emphasising and integrated and collaborative approach to sustainable development.

Be an independent advocate for the future


Phased implementation

From 2015

• Welsh Government• Natural Resources

Wales• National Library

Wales• National Museum

Wales• Sports Wales• Arts Council of

Wales

From 2016

• Local Authorities • Fire & Rescue

Authorities • National Park

Authorities • NHS Trusts • Local Health

Boards • Higher Education

Funding Council for Wales

• Higher Education Institutions

• Further Education Corporations

From 2017

• Registered Social Landlords

• Town and Community Councils

Independent Sustainable

Development Body

Where are we now – post consultation and cabinet reshuffle?.


• Possible re naming as Future Generations Bill?

•Ensure social justice and economic framing – not just environmental limits

•Importance of national long term goals with links to UN SD Goals post 2015

•Role of new SD body – - “Report for Future Generations” - “ombudsman for Future Generations”

• Procedures that focus on the long term in the democratic process

•SD Bill Reference Group – work programme

SD Bill Reference and Advisory Group

Workstreams

- The nature of the duty – definition, principles, procedures, outcomes

-The role of new SD Body

- Transparency and reporting

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Nature of the duty

Applying to strategic decision making

Integration and working across boundaries

Long term thinking and a focus on prevention . Engagement and involvement

International scope

Delivering outcomes

Application to single integrated plans


Documents

A Sustainable Wales Better Choices for a Better Future