Maintaining the economic success and quality of life in the South East needs action from everyone, say leading regional organisations.

A new five-step checklist to help organisations across the region identify what action they need to take to contribute to sustainable development has been published by seven regional organisations. It is included in a new guide for sustainability aimed at businesses, public sector organisations, local authorities and community groups. It sets out the South East’s objectives in a checklist to help organisations:

• Work out how different options contribute to a sustainable community
  
  
• Reduce negative impacts on the environment and maximise positive ones
• Demonstrate the organisation’s overall contribution to sustainability.

Currently we are using natural resources faster than they can be replaced. Studies have shown that if everyone in the world used resources at the rate we do in the South East, we would need over three planets to survive. Sustainability means making sure we keep a strong economy but at the same time conserve resources, protect the environment and share the benefits of wealth and economic success widely to ensure the region continues to offer a good quality of life for future generations.

South East England Regional Assembly member, Chris Corrigan, who has led this work, said: “Achieving a truly sustainable region will require action by a wide range of individuals and organisations. We hope this guide will help your organisation to contribute to this goal.”

Key objectives to help South East organisations commit to common goals for sustaining a prosperous region were published in a document called the Integrated Regional Framework 2004: A Better Quality of Life in the South East (IRF).

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. View the Guide to Sustainability Appraisal in the South East here.
2. Regional partners who produced the Guide to Sustainability Appraisal in the South East are:
1. South East England Regional Assembly
2. Government Office for the South East
3. South East England Development Agency
4. Environment Agency
5. Department of Health
6. South East Forum for Sustainability
7. Regional Action and Involvement in the South East
3. Sustainable development means planning for a more inclusive society which shares the benefits and wealth of economic success widely (for example delivering affordable housing, improving health and reducing poverty). It also means protecting and improving the environment (for example developing brownfield land before greenfield, reducing pollution and congestion) and conserving natural resources such as biodiversity, energy and water.
4. The South East England Regional Assembly is the "voluntary regional chamber" for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
5. The Regional Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
6. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
• It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
• The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
• The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007