What is Sustainable Development?
"Development which meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs" - Brundtland Report (Our Common
Future)
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STOP PRESS:
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Sustainable development is about
moving towards meeting our needs without compromising the
ability of others elsewhere in the world, or of future
generations, to survive - to a way of life we could continue
indefinitely without negative impact.
It is well-known that if everyone in
the world used energy and resources at the same rate as the average
UK resident, we would need 3 planets. Since we only have the
one planet, we need to learn to use less energy and resources, and
more efficiently, before the degrading quality of the
environment, including changes to our climate, reduces
our quality of life.
Most of the steps needed to
reduce our energy and resource use should improve - not reduce -
our quality of life, so this is not about hair shirts or returning
to live in unlit caves!
To find
out what we're doing , see the
Sustainable
Development in Richmondshire page, and for our actions on the
natural environment in particular, see the
Biodiversity page.
There's lots of information and
advice on what you can do to help, whilst reducing your
energy/fuel bills and improving the comfort of your home or the
profitability of your business in the "What you can do" section
below. There's also a section for
Schools on educational resources available for
lessons on climate change and sustainability issues
What is Climate Change?
Climate Change is seen as one of the
greatest threats that we face today. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change, has determined that these enhanced
climatic changes are almost certainly due to human
activity.
Critically, the extra energy does not
stay as heat, so the changes in weather systems will make some
areas colder, even as - on average - the earth's atmosphere warms.
With more energy around, extreme weather like storms, flash
flooding, heatwaves, droughts, and even extreme cold is
predicted to become more frequent.
Some of these changes may be affecting
the UK already, and some have affected other places in
the world that we import significant amounts of food from - no
matter where we are in the world this will impact on us, if not
directly then through the availability and cost of our
food.
We all live on the same planet, so we
all have a duty of care to others elsewhere in the UK and the world
to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases to levels that the
earth's systems can safely process.
What the Council is doing:
For information on what Richmondshire District Council is doing
to combat and adapt to the already inevitable impacts of climate
change see the
What is the council doing? page.
What you can do:
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the
issues further, please contact the Sustainable Development Officer,
Bryony Wilford on sustainable.development@richmondshire.gov.uk,
or 01609 767160.
Pages in this section
- Brief History of Sustainable Development
- Sustainable development in Richmondshire
- Sustainable development in Richmondshire
- Biodiversity
- What is the council doing?
- A Brief overview of what the council is doing to combat climate change
- Advice for Individuals
- Advice on what you and your household can do in the home and on the road to save money and energy/fuel, and so cut your carbon emissions
- Affordable Warmth & Fuel Poverty
- Ensure you are getting the maximum help with insulation and other ideas to keep your home a healthy temperature for an affordable price this winter. Particularly relevant for carers of vulnerable people such as the elderly, children, or the disabled.
- Green Efficient Travel
- Cut carbon emissions and save money on fuel by using the most efficient mode of transport for your journey - includes links to useful websites
- Green advice for Community Groups
- Environmental advice for community groups
- Education
- Efficient Business
- Business Waste Handbook
- Sustainability Appraisal and Scoping Report
- Sustainability Appraisal, scoping Report, Community Strategy
- Water footprint
- It takes energy to produce drinking-quality water that you use in your home, garden ... and many of the products we import have a significant water footprint from far more water scarce areas of the world.
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