The issues surrounding sustainability in the face of apparent
climate change and the depletion of resources have long since moved
beyond being only of interest to scientists and lobbyists. It is
true that not everyone accepts that human behaviour and carbon
emissions can have a direct impact on the planet, nor does everyone
believe there is cause for concern over resources including energy
in the future.
Nevertheless majority opinion in the UK - backed by government
policy - accepts the need to conserve the earth's resources, to
seek to reduce impacts and to look for alternative and sustainable
sources of energy. Defra's website states that its "departmental
priorities as laid down in its Structural Business Plan
include:
- helping to enhance the environment and biodiversity to improve
quality of life
- enhancing and protecting the natural environment - including
biodiversity and the marine environment - by reducing pollution and
preventing habitat loss and degradation
- supporting a strong and sustainable green economy, resilient to
climate change
- encouraging businesses, people and communities to manage and
use natural resources in a sustainable manner and to reduce
waste
- working to ensure that the UK economy is resilient to climate
change.
Our priority areas of work include:
- the Natural Environment White Paper
- managing flooding
- pursuing the zero-waste agenda
- reforming the water industry to enhance competition and improve
conservation
- driving sustainable public sector practice across
government."
To download a table of contents for this report, click here.