The Northern Ireland Government's independent advisory body on sustainable development
Who we are
What is the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Commission?
“In NI sustainable development presents us with one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. How do we reconcile the need for economic growth with environmental protection and social progress which meets the needs of everyone?” (John Gilliland Vice – chair NI SDC)
It is an inescapable truth that we have only one planet and it clear that we are living well beyond its means to support us. This is particularly true in N. Ireland, a region which has the highest ecological footprint in the UK. In fact if everyone in the world lived the same way as we do in NI we would need three planets to sustain us.
In order to address this issue in May 2006 The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain launched the first Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland – ‘ First Steps to Sustainability’. The strategy sets a route map out how we secure a better future for the present generation and protect the future generations to come. It is an over- arching strategy which now guides all work of NI government departments.
The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has played an important role in the development and delivery of this strategy. The SDC is the government’s independent advisory body on sustainable development. The SDC is charged with advocating sustainable development and building consensus on the commitments and actions needed for progress to be achieved. The Commission reports directly to the Prime Minister and to the First Ministers of the devolved administrations and the Secretary of State in N.Ireland. Chaired by Jonathon Porritt, the SDC has an active board of 19 Commissioners who play a central role determining priorities, developing and steering work programmes.
Mr John Gilliland OBE is the Vice- chair for Northern Ireland, Jim Kitchen is the Head of the SDC, Ms Clare Mc Keown is the Senior Policy Advisor and Eimer O'Hare is the Policy Support Officer.
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