News round-up: ecosystems network, health and social care, local authorities, green growth indicators, sustainability in Africa, EU Green Week

Ecosystems Knowledge Network

The Ecosystems Knowledge Network is a new resource for anyone wanting to share knowledge or learn about the practical benefits of an ecosystems approach. It draws together experience from the UK and elsewhere to assist organisations to understand how an ecosystems approach can help us build sustainable communities. Visit the Ecosystems Knowledge Network…

Sustainable health and social care: a briefing for commissioners and health and wellbeing boards

The Social Care Institute for Excellence has published a summary guide for commissioners and health and wellbeing board members, setting out the key policy and operational drivers for a sustainable development approach to health and social care design and delivery. This includes specific detail regarding climate change and other environmental issues, but also covers social and economic sustainability. Short case studies of good practice at a local level illustrate the gains for health, efficiency, risk management, reputation and legislative compliance. More from SCIE…

How local authorities can reduce emissions and manage climate risks

A new report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) emphasises the crucial role councils have in helping the UK meet its carbon targets and preparing for the impacts of climate change. There is currently no requirement for local authorities to take action on climate change, presenting a risk that may will not develop and implement sufficiently ambitious low-carbon plans. The report outlines specific opportunities for reducing emissions and highlights good practice examples from a number of local authorities. The Committee recommends that a statutory duty and/or additional funding is needed to ensure local authorities have stronger incentives to act. More from CCC…

Survey of green growth / environmental sustainability accounting and indicators

DFID has published a technical paper on its survey of the major green growth frameworks and indicators to improve understanding of their function, pros, cons and the links between them. More from DFID and download paper…

See also our recent comment piece Rio+20: a development economist’s perspective by DFID senior economist Hannah Ryder.

Summit for Sustainability in Africa agrees support for green economies and valuing natural capital in national accounting

A two-day summit for sustainability in Africa, the first of its kind on the continent, concluded with endorsement of the Gaborone Declaration by ten African countries and public and private sector partners from within and outside Africa. The Declaration comprises a set of principles and development goals that move the value of natural capital from the periphery to the center of development planning. The summit also agreed a new roadmap for green economies. More from Conservation International…

EU Green Week: Every Drop Counts

The 12th European Green Week conference, the biggest annual conference on European environment policy, took place from 22 to 25 May 2012 in Brussels, focusing on water. More about the conference…