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Sustainable Communities

Creating sustainable communities requires the embodiment of the principles of sustainable development at the local level.

This involves working to give communities more power and say in the decisions that affect them and working in partnership at the right level to get things done. Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all.

Education for Sustainable Development Forum

On 1st January 2005, the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development began. Education for Sustainable Development is essential to the sustainability of the North West.

The North West ESD Forum provides a valuable space for sharing and dissemination of good practice and for co-ordination and support of regional ESD activity. The Forum's aims reflect the four sustainable development priorities identified in Securing the Future. The Forum will endeavour, over the coming months, to engage and recruit new members from both formal and non-formal education sectors.

 North West Schools: Climate Change & Sustainable Energy Regional Teaching Resource

The Field Studies Council (Brockhole Centre) successfully tendered to deliver the above titled project.  This project seeks to build on existing materials and resources to ensure that students at Key Stages 2 and 3, throughout the region, receive knowledge and information on climate change and sustainable energy, across the curriculum. 

The project delivers the development of a targeted skills and education teaching resource to introduce regionally specific sustainable energy and climate change programmes into schools, incorporating the following tasks:

• A desk review of existing national and regional climate change and sustainable energy educational resources available to North West schools.
• A feasibility study of the curriculum opportunities for embedding climate change and sustainable energy education into Key Stages 2 & 3 (7-14 years) in North West schools.
• Production of a database of sustainable energy and climate change information sources for the North West.
• Production of a targeted teaching resource on climate change and sustainable energy for Key Stages 2 & 3.
• Outline a proposal for development of the teaching resource for additional Key Stages and HEI's.

The project was completed on 25^th January 2008.  The Resource is currently being trialled in selected shools across the region using a hard copy and CD-ROM format.  A download version will be available later in 2008.  This resource has been developed with the intention of offering a baseline of activities to further regional funding to introduce regionally specific sustainable energy and climate change programmes in schools and HEIs. 

North West Sustainable Schools Network

4NW is working to support Government Office for the North West to deliver the North West Sustainable Schools Network Co-ordinator programme.  Funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, this programme is promoting the national Sustainable Schools agenda throughout the region.   

North West Climate Change Communication Programme for North West Local Authorities

Quantum Strategy & Technology Ltd have delivered this training programme to all Local Authorities throughout the Region.  This entailed a focussed and tailored awareness raising programme incorporating the following in every session:

• An introduction to the causes and potential impacts of climate change that have recently been publicised by government and advisory agencies. 
• A detailed look at how Local Authorities could be tackling climate change including a summary of that authority\'s activities developed from work with local officers and case studies from other authorities.
• A final section developing further options and activities for each authority. 

The training provided advice, resources and further ideas for tackling this agenda, including improved resource efficiency and reduced financial expenditure as well as delivering services that are lower in carbon emissions.  Testimonials can be provided from those local authorities who have undertaken this training opportunity.

Generating a Climate for Change - 5th September 2007

On 5 September 2007, we organised and the Northwest Development Agency funded a 'Generating a Climate for Change' event, which was attended by 59 delegates. The event gave council members and senior officers an opportunity to find out more about the climate change communications training available as well as further information on support mechanisms such as the Carbon Trust's Local Authority Carbon Management Programme.  In addition, two local authorities provided case studies on their climate change activities followed by a session on the Climate Change Action Plan outlining its targets and actions. The event was also an opportunity for local authorities to find out more and sign up to the Nottingham Declaration.  

Enabling Local Sustainable Development

Sustainable Communities are facilitated by Local Authorities and their activities to embed sustainable development in their strategies, policies and practices. 4NW co-ordinates two meetings a year of Sustainability Officers from north west sub-regional areas, offering an opportunity to share good practice and discuss overcoming barriers. Other Public Sector and Regional agencies are invited to share their activities with local authorities to ensure local drivers reflect regional and national agenda.

North West Liveability Foundation Pilot Programme

One of the recommendations of an ENCAMS feasibility study into how the North West can become the cleanest, safest, greenest region in England identified a need for a regional foundation to bring together all activities on this agenda into one place, with a structured programme of activity to drive up standards. Regional partners agreed that this approach should be piloted, and the North West Liveability Foundation Pilot Programme was subsequently launched on 23rd November 2006. Its objectives are:

• to develop an integrated regional programme to make the North West the cleanest, safest, greenest region in England in 5 years.
• to identify and develop a new network of agencies and organisations to work together on the regional clean, safe, green agenda.
• to bring together a mixed range of partners to achieve a diverse funding base for the work to be driven forward
• to ensure maximum efficiencies are realised by agencies and organisations working together on the clean, safe, green agenda.