Sustainability

• Taking a sustainable development approach
• Resources and links

• Taking a sustainable development approach

Sustainable development is a key focus of the Local Government Act 2002.

The World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) provides the following definition of sustainable development:

The Act states that one of the purposes of local government is to:

• promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities, taking a sustainable development approach.
(Source: Local Government Act 2002 s10)

In taking a sustainable development approach, local authorities should take into account:

• the social, economic, and cultural well-being of people and communities
• the need to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment
• the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations.
(Source: Local Government Act 2002 s14)

Giving consideration to the four dimensions of well-being – social, economic, environmental and cultural – is critical to balanced, sustainable decision-making. Sustainable development will not be achieved by considering only one or two of the four dimensions. Sustainable development is therefore both an approach to decision-making and an ideal outcome.
(Source: KnowHow Guide – Local Government Act 2002: an Overview LGNZ, SOLGM, DIA, 2003). (pdf 685kb)

Taking a sustainable development approach means taking into account the needs of future generations when making decisions. Community outcomes can be used to guide and inform sustainable long-term planning, because the community outcomes process gives local people the opportunity to discuss and identify the things that are important to the future well-being of their community.

Read more about community outcomes and community outcomes processes.

• Resources and links

The Sustainability Resources section of this website has guidance and tools for applying sustainable thinking when making decisions, and examples of ‘taking a sustainable development approach’.

Fit for the Future is one of the Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) ‘2009 and Beyond’ Guides. This guide aims to help local authorities reflect a sustainable development approach in the planning, systems and documentation underpinning their LTCCP.

Local authorities also have responsibilities towards sustainability under the Resource Management Act 1991. To find out more see the Ministry for the Environment website and the Quality Planning website.