European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils

Currently the SDC is undertaking a fourth review on the role of the public service regulators to encourage sustainable development in the wider public sector.

The reviewed UK Sustainable Development Strategy, in 2005, assigned to the SDC a new "Watchdog" function with wide facilities in order to report on government's SD progress and failures. The SDC took up this new role fully in April 2006.

More detailed information on the Commission's work programme can be found on their website: www.sd-commission.gov.uk

Background and Mission

Establishment

In October 2000 the Government established the Sustainable Development Commission, which subsumed the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development and the British Government Panel on Sustainable Development. The establishment of the SD Commission was proposed in the UK Government's White Paper "A better quality of life" (1999).

Mission

The SDC's role is to advocate sustainable development across all sectors in the UK review progress towards it, and build consensus on the actions needed if further progress is to be achieved. Its specific objectives are to:

The Commission aims to put sustainable development at the centre of government and corporate policy.

The Commission is sponsored, within the UK Government, by the Cabinet Office and reports to the Prime Minister, and the First Minister in Scotland, the First Secretary in Wales and the First and Deputy First Ministers in Northern Ireland.

Council Members

The SDC has 19 Commissioners that are selected to provide a wide range of expertise and experience, and are drawn from commerce, youth work, academia, trade unions, politics and government, non-profit, and grassroots action. Commissioners are normally appointed for three year terms, and serve for a maximum of 10 years. SDC is soon to appoint a new vice chair for Nothern Ireland.

Chairman Jonathon Porrit	Co-Founder and Programme Director of Forum for the Future
Vice-Chairwoman Rebecca Willis	Independent Researcher
Commissioners Jan Bebbington	Chair in Accounting and Sustainable Development in the School of Management at the University of St. Andrews
Bernard Bulkin	Chairman, AEA Technology plc
Lisa Coulbourne	Co-ordinator of InterAct
Anna Coote	Head of Public Sector Policy at the New Economics Foundation
Stewart Davis	Managing Director Serco Integrated Services
Peter Davis	Co-ordinator of Prince's Charities in Wales SDC Vice-chair in Wales
Ann Finlayson	Independent advisor on social change
Tess Gill	Barrister
Prof. Tim Jackson	Professor of Sustainable Development in the Centre for Environmental Strategy (CES) at the University of Surrey
Alan Knight	Head of Social Accountability at SAB Miller
Prof. Tim Lang	Professor of Food Policy, City University
Prof. Tim O'Riordan	Former Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia
Alice Owen	Director of Integral Value Ltd
Prof. Anne Power	Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics
Hugh Raven	Director of the Soil Association in Scotland Member of Scottish Natural Heritage, (SNH)
Waheed Saleem	Manager Medical Assessment Unit, University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust

Staff Members

Work Style

Tasks of the Council

SDC’s commissioners determine our work priorities. Commissioners are appointed by the Prime Minister and First Ministers of the Devolved Administrations and follow terms of reference drawn up with Government.

An overview of government policies
The SDC takes an overview of policies across government – identifying obstacles to achieving sustainable development and highlighting opportunities. The commission is playing a pivotal role in developing and critiquing government policies and strategies, and encourage debate on problem areas.

Long term partnerships
SDC works with government and major companies in their efforts to put sustainable development at the heart of their activities. The Commission particularly likes to work at a strategic level, in long-term partnerships, helping organizations deliver sustainable development, raising awareness and providing examples of best practice.

Consultations and facilitated workshops
SDC ensure that our work reflects a broad range of expert opinion. A series of steering and plenary group meetings take place throughout the year and the Commission run specific consultations such as facilitated workshops, electronic roundtables, partnerships and one-to-one meetings.

Increase public commitment
More broadly, SDC increase understanding and public commitment to sustainable development, as well as the need for urgent action.

Substructure and Working Groups

Council Meetings

The Commission holds a plenary meeting six times a year, with one in each of the devolved administrations, one in an English region and two in London.2009 the SDC meets: 27/28 January, 10 March, 28/29 April, 10/11 June (not all commissioners), 15/16 July, 15/16 September (not all commissioners) and 16/18 November.

Type of Advice

The SDC programmes are largely proactive (own initiative), though sometimes in response to a request from Government. Even when they are proactive, they are guided by the larger debates emerging from Government and society.

To its "watchdog" function, the SDC will respond with a report on government's performance across its estate (Sustainable Development in Government report), review of government departments Sustainable Development Action Plans and "in depth" reports on selected SD issues.

Sustainable Development Commission (SDC)

Current and Future Activities

Present and Future Priority Fields