Navigating towards a sustainable Scotland

Thoughts from Commissioner Jan Bebbington

It is encouraging to hear politicians talking about Scotland becoming a 'sustainable nation'.

A nation where we live in 'sustainable communities', eat 'sustainable food' and work in a 'sustainable economy'.

Professor Jan Bebbington, Vice Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, independent advisor to the Scottish Government, discusses the challenges ahead as Scotland navigates its way towards this vision of the future.

It is clear that this sustainable vision is essential for our future. A number of reports have been published recently that reiterate the messages from the likes of Stern and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For example, the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Environment Outlook (GEO 4) states starkly that:

"the survival of humanity could be under threat by the failure to address global problems such as climate change, extinction of species and unsustainable development".

The distance to travel towards sustainability has also been highlighted by WWF's report on the Ecological Footprint of British city residents. The report finds that on average the UK needs 3.1 planets to sustain itself (with residents of cities in Scotland ranging from a high of 3.2 planets in Edinburgh to 2.89 planets in Glasgow).

The case has been made for change – the fabric of our planet is being undermined (maybe irreversibly) by our collective actions. Whether our actions impact today here in Scotland or on the other side of the world, or on our children tomorrow, we must consider how we live sustainably.

This is not a new message. The term sustainable development first came to prominence in 1987 when the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) produced a report for the United Nations called 'Our Common Future'. It defined sustainable development as 'development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.

A key task for Scotland is to translate the rhetoric into reality. In Scotland, Choosing Our Future – Scotland’s sustainable development strategy provides a framework for thinking about these issues. However earlier this year the Sustainable Development Commission revealed that progress is mixed with a key concern being that "ambiguity remains over the interpretation of sustainable development: in particular there is an unresolved tension with economic growth". Designating a Cabinet Secretary in the role of Finance and Sustainable Growth is a positive and promising step, but only if it leads to change.

The presence of policies that may conflict with each other is also a concern. Of particular importance currently is the apparent conflict in seeking a larger and faster growing economy at the same time as being committed to a 3% reduction in greenhouse gases per year (in order to reduce Scotland’s emissions by 80% by 2050). If the economy grows at 3% p.a. at the same time as reducing greenhouse gases by 3% p.a., there has to be a 32% efficiency gain in terms of greenhouse gases produced per £ of gross domestic product.

How such efficiency gains will be achieved is not obvious. Both the Government and its Council of Economic Advisors have a big responsibility in making the case for how this will be achieved.

A truly 'sustainable economy' must be socially just and ecologically sustainable (in terms of greenhouse gas emissions for example). Therefore when considering if 'sustainable economic growth' is being fostered, three tests or questions must be posed:

1. What is the carbon impact of this strategy/policy?

2. How will the opportunities available to the poorest 20% of Scotland change as a result of the strategy/policy?

3. In which direction do current incentives drive behaviour?

If we use tests properly – that is through using a strong evidence base and not wishful thinking – we will address the question of whether development is truly sustainable.

For example, a national food policy that does not reduce carbon or ensure that those with the poorest health (often living in 'urban food deserts') have access to affordable and nutritious food is clearly not a sustainable food policy.

The Government indicated in Choosing Our Future that sustainable development is the only destination worth travelling towards. The title and key of the map and the direction we are travelling in are set. We now need a more detailed route map to get there. We must work together to ensure the scale and terrain (that is, our policies and strategies) are correct and that our compass is working (that is, through policy appraisal) to ensure Scotland becomes a sustainable nation.

If we do not do this, we will end up navigating the existing road towards a dead end.