CIWEM'S COMMENTS ON CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ENTITLED 'TAKING IT ON: DEVELOPING UK SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TOGETHER'.

The following key points are drawn from the body of this response: • CIWEM broadly supports the need for an overarching UK strategy for sustainable development. It should embrace a vision that includes equity, social justice, citizenship and biodiversity and should apply to all living things -- not just people. It must look long-term with a sense of vision and set long-term targets. • The leadership record of Government is sometimes compromised by its own conflicting actions, for example on aviation fuel and sustainable housing. Consistency and firm leadership by Government, and joined-up policy and thinking across Government departments (including the Treasury), its agencies and the regulators are essential. • The Government, including the Treasury, must recognise that not all economic growth is desirable. Growth should not just be measured against Gross Domestic Product (GDP): instead it should include whole-life assessments of economic costs and benefits of prosperity and quality of life, and should be linked to indicators of sustainable consumption and production. • The key to achieving the sustainable use of natural resources is behavioural change. A multi-faceted strategy is required to achieve this need, including education, regulation, economic incentives and green taxes. There are many different ways in which the Government can deliver inspirational messages to the public. • The environment and social justice must be a priority for the new strategy, and equity should be explicitly acknowledged as a principle of sustainable development. Unless social inequalities are addressed, environmental issues will not be a priority for the poor or socially excluded. • The contribution of business to sustainable development is vital. Government initiatives should promote the real benefits to all businesses, including SMEs, that can come from reviewing their environmental impacts. All 'large' companies should be legally required to provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]