Health and Sustainability

What is sustainability?

Sustainability can be defined in many ways:

• Improving economic, social and environmental wellbeing at the same time.
• Treating the Earth as if we mean to stay. (Welsh Assembly)
• Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future to meet its own needs. (Bruntland Commission, 1987)
• To enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations.  (Securing the Future, UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, 2005)
  

Read more about sustainability at the following websites:

The Sustainable Development Commission
WWF website
Friends of the Earth website

Agenda 21 is an international treaty to address sustainability in the 21st Century. It was signed by 166 world leaders at the Earth Summit in Rio, Brazil, in 1992. The UK Government requires all local authorities to produce Local Agenda 21 or Sustainability strategies.

Wyre Forest District Council's Sustainability Strategy 2004-2007 is based on a scrutiny exercise, carried out over three months, by the Council's Overview and Scrutiny (Environment and Development) and Overview and Scrutiny (Community Health and Safety) committees.

Our Sustainability Strategy aims to:

* reduce the Council’s use of non-renewable resources
* minimise waste and pollution
* protect local natural habitats
* raise awareness among the communities we serve.

View Sustainability Strategy Scrutiny Exercise (338K)
View Sustainability Strategy 2004-2007 (146K)

View the West Midlands Regional Sustainable Development Framework which aims to help writers of strategies in all fields contribute to a more sustainable West Midlands.

View the Government's Sustainable Development Strategy "Securing the Future"

Environmental Working Group

The Council's Environmental Working Group is responsible for implementing the Sustainability Strategy within the Council. The Council works with partner organisations to advance sustainability through the District’s Community Strategy.

View the Environmental Working Group Action Plan 2005-2006 (36K)

Most scientists agree that climate change is already happening, and is caused by increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere produced by burning fossil fuels. They argue that, unchecked, climate change will have drastic effects on the climate and human civilisation.

The Council signed the Worcestershire Climate Change Pledge in December 2005. The Council signed the Worcestershire Climate Change Pledge in December 2005. A Climate Change Action Plan has been developed which addresses the Council’s carbon dioxide emissions, and the impact that climate change will have on the district.

View the Climate Change Action Plan 2006/07 (51K)

Visit the Environment Agency website for more information on climate change.

The Council has a duty under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 to improve domestic energy efficiency. A third of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions is from energy used in homes.

For more about home energy efficiency, see our energy efficiency pages.
For more information, visit the Energy Savings Trust website.

The Council's Health and Sustainability Team work closely with the Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust to promote healthy living. This includes the following projects:

• Affordable Warmth
• Healthy Food in Schools Project (129K)
• A series of 'Showcase of Services for Older People' events

Active transport by walking and cycling is good for your health and the environment. Click for more information on local cycling.

There are many things residents can do to live more sustainably. These links give more information about Council services and local initiatives.

• Home Energy Efficiency
• Council Kerbside Recycling Collection
• A-Z of Recycling
• Composting is an excellent way to “slim your bin” and make your garden bloom.
• Many local schools are involved in the Eco Schools scheme. The Council, in partnership with the County Council, holds regular support meetings for teachers. The Council also offers talks and assemblies to schools.
• Water conservation
• The Fairtrade mark guarantees that third world producers have received a fair deal. Citizen groups in Stourport, Kidderminster and Bewdley are working towards Fairtrade Town status. This means a certain number of retail outlets, food and drink outlets, and workplaces serve Fairtrade products. The Council passed a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and the campaign for Fairtrade Town status, in November 2004. Fairtrade tea and coffee are served at meetings.
• Farmers Markets
• The Worcester Resource Exchange collects clean, safe “waste” from businesses and makes this available to arts and craft groups, community groups, schools and the general public.
• Charity shops always require clothing and bric-a-brac.
• Sustainable travel by:
• public transport
• cycling
• lift-sharing
• To get a rough idea of your environmental impact and how to reduce it, why not take the Green Score test?

Businesses have an environmental impact when they use raw materials, use energy, and produce waste.  Reducing this impact makes good sense -  resource efficiency can save 1% of turnover or £1000 per employee.  

Envirowise is a Government programme which offers UK businesses free, independent, confidential advice to increase profits and reduce environmental impact.

The Carbon Trust assists businesses to reduce their energy use, and to understand the likely impacts of climate change – such as water shortages or extreme weather.

Doing the right thing socially and environmentally is good for your business reputation.   Reputation is key to sales, recruitment, staff morale, and finding investment and insurance.

The Environment Agency’s NetRegs provide plain English guidance for businesses on environmental law, and how to comply with it.