Sustainability East has prioritised 4 areas where we believe we can best make a valuable contribution to embedding sustainable development. These are:

1. Governance
2. Shaping growth
3. Land use and environmental security
4. Community cohesion

Sustainability East’s overarching remit remains to champion sustainable development in the East of England, and activity to deliver this remit effectively is identified as a fifth priority.

Our 3 year (2008-2011) strategic plan and work programme (PDF) includes the specific activities we are undertaking within our priority areas. Key projects are highlighted below: 

East of England coastal initiative

Sustainability East is a key partner in the Government Office for the East of England led regional coastal initiative. The coastal initiative is working to enable a range of stakeholders to connect policy and delivery, address common concerns through joined up action, and provide a focus for developing an integrated approach to coastal management.

Sustainable development in business and organisations

Sustainability East is working with the East of England Business Group to develop resources and guidance for small to medium size enteprises (SMEs) on implementing sustainable development. This includes best practice guidance, case studies and a pilot business-to-business sustainable development mentoring scheme.

Valuing Ecosystem Serives in the East of England

Sustainability East is working with key partners to idenitfy the value of some of the key ecosystems services in the East of England and to consider how the Ecosystems approach can be implemented as a sustainable development decision making tool at regional and local level.

Low carbon transition in the East of England

Sustainability East is working with Climate East to explore how the regional carbon reduction target (60% by 2031) can be delivered across key sectors. We are considering how the target can best incentivise appropriate action, as well as the need to clarify the national and regional split, and undertake an analysis of the capability of different sectors linked to economic development, spatial planning and Local Authority indicators.