Achieving Sustainable Communities - OUT NOW

A new guidance manual to help support local government achieve sustainable communities has just been published (Feb 2012). This manual, while written specifically for local government, is a useful tool for everyone working within the sustainability sector as it provides clear and practical support on how to recognise sustainable development, create a viable sustainability infrastructure and integrate it effectively throughout the core of any organisation. This manual helps make sustainable development real and achievable.

This new manual follows the success of a previous set of manuals published in 2007. The purpose of the original manuals was to support local government in understanding its role regarding the new Duty for Sustainable Development. The manuals are consistently the most popular download on Sustainable Northern Ireland's website. The new manual takes this level of understanding to the next level to help organisations use their understanding about sustainable development and make it an integral part of their organisations core business.

The publication of a new Sustainable Development Strategy in 2010, the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan in 2011, the uncertainty regarding the Review of Public Administration and austere public spending measures have all resulted in significant changes to central and local government priorities since 2007. To reflect these changes, Sustainable Northern Ireland has updated and restructured the original guidance manual to make the new manual, 'Achieving Sustainable Communities - An Implementation Manual for Local Government' an even more useful tool.

While the concept of sustainable development may seem daunting, this manual alleviates the pressure by explaining how local government already contributes significantly to sustainable development. It provides advice on how better co-ordination can create an organisation firmly built on the principles of sustainable development, delivering cost effective services to all citizens.