A Sustainable Wales
Better Choices for a Better Future
Sustainable Development White Paper
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Context - Programme for Government
“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”
00
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Stronger Governance Framework
Legislate 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
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development in Wales
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:
•
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.
Sustainable development is the process by which we reach the goal of
sustainability.
White Paper 2012
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Wales’ sustainable development journey
1998
2000
Government of
Wales Act
‘Learning to live
differently’
S.121
“Sustainable
Development”
Sustainable
Development
Scheme
2003
1st
Effectiveness
Report
CAG
www.wales.gov.uk
2004
2006
2008
Starting to Live
Differently
Government of
Wales Act
Sustainable
Development
Scheme
s.79 “Sustainable
Development”
s.60 “well-being”
2nd
Effectiveness
Report
2009
2011
One Wales:
One Planet
3rd
2011
Effectiveness
Report
Programme for
Government
Sustainable
Development
Scheme
13
01
PwC
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Flynn, Marsden,
Netherwood &
Pitts
2011
2012
Sustainable
Development
Bill Discussion
Sustainable
Development
Consultation
Evidence
06
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
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.
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
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
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Key elements
RESULTS
A focus on achieving outcomes to improve the
wellbeing of Wales
EVIDENCE
 Make decisions using better information

COLLABORATION
Work with others and making the connections
LONG TERM
 Fix the causes rather than the symptoms
CONNECT
Focus on the economic, social and environmental
benefits
TRANSPARENCY
Measure and report on the difference you make
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
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.
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
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
From 2016
• Welsh Government
• Natural Resources
Wales
• National Library
Wales
• National Museum
Wales
• Sports Wales
• Arts Council of
Wales
• 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
Independent
Sustainable
Development Body
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
From 2017
• Registered Social
Landlords
• Town and
Community
Councils
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
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Future
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
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Future
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
A Sustainable Wales - Better Choices for a Better
Future