Sustainability and Environment
- ‘Make the wrong choices now and future generations will live
with a changed climate, depleted resources and without the green
space and biodiversity that contribute both to our standard of
living and our quality of life. Each of us needs to make the right
choices to secure a future that is fairer, where we can all live
within our environmental limits. That means sustainable
development.’
Prime Minister Tony Blair’s foreword to the UK Sustainable
Development Strategy 2005.
The City of London has a proud history of looking to the welfare
of future generations and has long been aware that a clean
environment and economic prosperity go hand in hand with a good
quality of life. In recent centuries, the City of London has
undertaken a series of initiatives designed to protect assets for
generations to come. The purchase of Epping Forest and other land
in the 19th century not only meant that thousands of acres of open
spaces could be saved from development - it was also the
inspiration behind the Greenbelt policy that has protected other
major British cities from urban sprawl.
More recently The City of London has commissioned research into
issues such as the sustainability of tall buildings and socially
responsible investment, set up an environmental forum for Square
Mile businesses and developed the
London Principles for sustainable finance.
The City of London is also working with residents to help making
simple, effective changes for a more environmentally friendly
lifestyle. If you are a City resident and would like to join an Eco
Team to learn how to cut your energy bills and be more
environmentally friendly, while meeting people from your area,
please contact us on
sustainability@cityoflondon.gov.uk
or by phone on 020 7332 1431.
Download the Eco Team information
sheet (117kb)
Calculate your carbon footprint on Directgov and
find out more about greener living
-
Planning -
environmental policies
- The local authority is committed to sustainable development
through its local agenda 21 process in which it continuously
improves its services, policies and practices to contribute to a
better quality of life. In the UK Agenda 21 covers social progress,
environmental protection, use of natural resources and economic
growth.
-
Sustainable
development - general
- Local authorities are charged with providing leadership on
sustainable development. This might include promoting recycling and
green initiatives, and providing information and advice.
-
Sustainable
development - waste prevention
- Nappy waste prevention is prioritised in the government’s Waste
Implementation Programme (WIP), May 2003. The real nappy campaign
and home composting have been chosen to lead the government's waste
reduction strategy.