A new report aims to bring together civil society and government to make Scotland a leader in its approach to sustainable development
Scotland can be a world leader in sustainable development, a new reported has said.
The study by Scotland’s International Development Alliance says Scotland can lead the way by embracing the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGS aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda.
The report is the result of collaborative work by a range of charities across Scotland and aims to bring together civil society and government to make Scotland a leader in its approach to sustainable development.
It recommends using an open source online platform to create a collaborative approach to policy development.
Alliance chief executive Jane Salmonson said: “Our new report highlights that Scotland can demonstrate global leadership on our commitment to delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals and set an example to the rest of the world.
“Whether the goal is ending poverty in other countries, creating an economy that has well-being at the core or protecting our shared environment, we must find ways to ensure progress in one area is not at the expense of others. “
Supported by the SCVO, Oxfam Scotland, Christian Aid Scotland, SCIAF and Tearfund Scotland, the report – and the open-source body of work that underpins it – sets out clearly why our future prosperity, at home and overseas, depends on our ability to see the bigger picture, identify common goals and ensure our actions don’t undermine one another.
Key points addressed in the report include:
• No one has all the solutions, and Government policy is always better thought through when it is transparently co-developed by a range of stakeholders.
• Anyone can contribute online to a growing body of work on this issue using Wiki software that allows users to create and collaboratively edit pages easily with no prior experience.
• The Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament can propel Scotland towards more coherent, joined-up policy making that puts people and planet first.
• Government officials, politicians and civil society with different interests must to work together and think systematically about how policy areas interact with one another.
The full report can be viewed online.
