Sustainable developments 2011

Accounting for sustainability in Government »

In January we reported Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne’s speech at the The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Forum in London, where he detailed the Government’s commitment to “fully implement sustainability reporting across Government”.

Why the Government is mainstreaming sustainable development »

In February we ran a special edition covering the Government’s vision for sustainable development. Sustainable development minister Lord Henley answered questions from SD Scene on the importance of sustainable development and the Government’s approach.

Changing climate, changing infrastructure »

Our regular February newsletter reported the climate change adaptation reports published by seven organisations with a responsibility for vital services and infrastructure have published, detailing how they are assessing and acting on the risks and opportunities of a changing climate.

Sustainability in agriculture: an essential aspect of the climate change agenda »

In March Professor Sir John Beddington, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, discussed the links between climate change and the global food system, stressing two imperatives for action: to ensure secure supplies of food for future generations and to achieve sustainable food production.

Government publishes Carbon Plan »

Our April newsletter reported on the Government’s publication of the draft Carbon Plan, a cross-Government action plan on climate change setting strict actions and deadlines for Whitehall over the coming 5 years.

Reflections from the bonfire – or where we went wrong with sustainable development »

In May Rebecca Willis – former vice chair of the Sustainable Development Commission and independent researcher and adviser on environment and sustainability – gave her personal insight on how the lessons of the SDC’s 10 years can inform future work on sustainable development.

Embedded sustainability: a revolution in business »

June saw an extract from Chris Laszlo and Nadya Zhexembayeva’s Embedded Sustainability: The Next Big Competitive Advantage, a book “that shows how sustainability is a natural and important progression in thinking about business value”.

New Government Buying Standards for food and catering »

In July we reported Food Minister Jim Paice’s announcement of the first Government Buying Standards for food and catering services, ensuring that the Government buys more sustainable food and gives small and local producers fair access to public contracts.

If not me, then who? Leadership and sustainable development »

Our August newsletter featured Penny Walker’s review of two recent books on leadership and sustainable development, challenging readers to be “tempered radicals, positive deviants or social intrapreneurs”..

Mainstreaming sustainable development: progress so far »

In September Defra’s Head of Sustainable Development Jonathan Tillson reviewed progress since the publication in February 2011 of Mainstreaming Sustainable Development, the Coalition Government’s vision for sustainable development.

Applying behavioural insights for sustainable policy »

We reported in October on the Cabinet Office Behavioural Insights Team’s first annual report, highlighting examples of the application of behavioural insights to policy over the last year, including energy efficiency, health and wellbeing.

Is localism delivering for climate change? »

Faye Scott, senior policy adviser for the Green Alliance, discussed in our November edition the effects of the localism agenda on approaches to climate change in local authorities and the opportunities it offers.

Education for sustainable development: changing behaviours and inspiring positive action »

Kazuhiko Takemoto, of the UN University’s Institute of Advanced Studies, set out in December his positive vision of changing behaviours through education and called for increased visibility of education in sustainable development initiatives.

We hope you’ll follow us over the coming year – online, on Twitter or through our monthly e-newsletter – as we cover more sustainable developments.