Scrutiny of Government

Scottish ParliamentThe Sustainable Development Commission Scotland is the Scottish Government’s adviser and 'critical friend' on sustainability issues, reporting directly to the First Minister. One of our main tasks is to report on Government’s delivery of sustainable development, and use our recommendations to work with Government to improve policy. We also undertake work on specific areas of policy and governance when asked by Government or on our own initiative.

The Annual Assessment

Every year we publish an assessment of how the Scottish Government is progressing on aligning policies with sustainable development principles. Our latest assessment is a review of actions on sustainable development from autumn 2008 to autumn 2009. The assessment analyses central policy areas based on Government’s own indicators and recommends action. Our latest report finds that the performance indicators are positive in areas like renewable energy, and some business and education indicators are also positive. On the other hand many public health indicators continue to be poor, some areas of economic performance are weak and there is no evidence of a narrowing of the gap between highest and lowest earners. This is very worrying from a sustainable development perspective.

Government progress 

The SNP administration is committed on issues like climate change, marine/fisheries and waste. But there is a significant gap between aspirations and action on the ground. There needs to be much more focus on the following through on national initiatives at the local level and how these local decisions contribute to the performance indicators. The report sets out a number of projects we will work on with Government over the next year to implement as many of our recommendations as possible. On all the main policy areas we are highlighting research and best practice examples from the rest of the UK.

Leading by example

The Scottish Government has significant direct and indirect impacts through the behaviour of staff, procurement decisions and recourse use. Government also has a role in inspiring action from others and leading the way. The Scottish Government sets annual targets for its corporate environmental targets and we review progress as part of the annual assessment. The Third Assessment criticise the progress Government has made on energy and transport – corporate emissions have actually gone up in the last year in sharp contrast to the aspirations of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act.

We argue strongly that Government needs a Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) framework and a Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) process.

» Third Assessment of Progress by the Scottish Government on Sustainable Development

» Second Assessment of Progress by the Scottish Government on Sustainable Development

» First Assessment of Progress by the Scottish Government on Sustainable Development 

» Submission to TICC Committee on National Planning Framework

UK Resources

» Sustainable Development in Government Reports 2005-2008

» Sustainable Development Action Plans and Reviews