Improving prosperity and community life in the South East while protecting the environment, reducing waste and cutting pollution is the biggest issue facing our citizens, businesses and policymakers.

However help is at hand in the form of new guidance showing how decision-makers can play their part in responding to these challenges and shaping a better quality of life. South East organisations are being asked for their views on the guidance in a 12-week consultation launched this week by the South East England Regional Assembly on behalf of a group of experts called the Sustainable Futures Group.

The guidance - a draft Regional Sustainability Framework (RSF) - sets out a common vision and objectives for South East organisations to make sure economic growth benefits everyone in the region, protects and improves the environment and makes efficient use of natural resources. It also proposes four priorities, which businesses as well as public and voluntary organisations will need to build into their operations:

• Achieving sustainable levels of resource use
• Reducing the region's carbon footprint
• Ensuring that the South East is prepared for the inevitable impacts of climate change
• Ensuring that everyone, including the most deprived people, has an equal opportunity to benefit from and contribute to the region's sustainable prosperity.

Consultation runs until 26 November 2007. The full consultation document and an online questionnaire are available on the Assembly website www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/rsf.

Chairman of the Sustainable Futures Group, Ian Christie said: "Organisations need to think seriously about how they can take action and change the way they work to ensure the South East's economic success does not come at the expense of our quality of life and the natural resources that we all depend on.

"The South East currently consumes three times the amount of resources it produces, which is not sustainable. Changing our consumption and production to create a 'one-planet economy' is essential but it can also bring big gains in well-being, innovation and competitiveness. The draft RSF is an invitation to decision-makers in the region to see sustainable development for what it is - a huge opportunity as well as a massive challenge. The South East can and should be a leader."

Contacts

Steve Baker, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555234

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The RSF vision for the South East is a strong, healthy and just region that respects the limits of the global environment. Achieving this will require the active involvement of all individuals to deliver a society where everyone, including the most deprived people, has an equal opportunity to benefit from and contribute to the region's sustainable prosperity. At the same time the impact of current high levels of resource use will be reduced and the quality of the natural environment will be maintained and enhanced for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.
2. The RSF has two goals, four priorities and 24 objectives. It updates the Integrated Regional Framework published in 2004. The Assembly has printed 1,500 leaflets on recycled paper to create a more environmentally friendly consultation. Hard copies of the consultation document and questionnaire are available by calling 01483 501309.
3. The Sustainable Futures Group has steered the preparation of the RSF. It is a high level panel made up of regional representatives from the South East England Regional Assembly, GOSE, SEEDA and stakeholders including environmental and voluntary groups, the health and business sector and local authorities. The group is chaired by Ian Christie, an independent researcher, consultant and lecturer on sustainable development.
4. For more information go to www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/rsf.
   
   

The Regional Assembly

• The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
• The 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.
• The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.
• Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

Last updated: 18 September 2007