Written - Consultation on a New Sustainable Development Scheme, One Wales: One Planet

I am announcing today the start of a 12 week consultation on the Welsh Assembly Government’s new Sustainable Development Scheme, One Wales: One Planet.

Welsh Ministers have a duty under Section 79 of the Government of Wales Act 2006, to make a scheme (“the sustainable development scheme”) setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to promote sustainable development. Following a review of the effectiveness of the previous Sustainable Development Scheme, I announced my decision to remake this scheme in a written statement on 22 May 2008.

Our new Scheme sets a bold, new vision for a sustainable Wales. It confirms our aspiration to set Wales onto a pathway of becoming a one planet nation, by reducing our ecological footprint from its current level of 5.15 global hectares per person, down to the global average availability of 1.88 global hectares per person. It confirms that we will do this in a way that will make Wales a fairer and more just society.

The new Scheme confirms that sustainable development should be the central organising principle for Government and the wider public sector in Wales. The Scheme references our key actions within our One Wales Programme for Government, and shows how they jointly will contribute to the twin themes of social justice, and of using less of the earth’s finite resources. Alongside this, the new Schemes includes 17 actions, across all Ministerial portfolios, that are intended to take forward our commitment to sustainable development. 

I will be discussing the scheme with our stakeholders at three consultation events throughout Wales, and the consultation document will be available on the WAG web site below. Assembly Members will be able to give me their views on this consultation in a Plenary debate on 13th January 2009.