A Duty for Sustainable Development

At the 1992 Earth Summit, 182 nations agreed that the best starting point for the achievement of sustainable development was at the local level. Through Agenda 21 many district councils voluntarily implemented changes in social, environmental and economic practices geared towards the advancement of sustainability. While sustainable development was not a compulsory requirement of councils, they could see the wider benefits of LA21 and how it could be used as a mechanism to help with their other statutory functions. However, since April 2007 district councils have a Statutory Duty to act in a way that will contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in Northern Ireland.

The Statutory Duty is contained within the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 and states that"a public authority must, in exercising its functions, act in a way it considers best calculated to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in Northern Ireland …"

Elected members and council officers have an obligation to ensure the new Duty for Sustainable Development is implemented and that it is a major consideration in all decisions made. Sustainable communities can be achieved by local and central government working in partnership to deliver the Strategy through mainstreaming social, economic and environmental matters.

Sustainable development offers a unifying and coordinated framework which will ensure effective and efficient delivery of council services to the benefit of all citizens.