Islanders could be asked to make personal pledges to safeguard the environment under a new plan for the long-term future of Bermuda.

The draft document Charting Our Course: Sustaining Bermuda suggests developing a list of actions that people can take to support sustainability and really make a difference to their country.

The document suggests that members of the public could sign up on the Government?s Sustainable Development website ? www.chartingourcourse.gov.bm ? and make ?green? promises such as to recycle or use energy efficient light bulbs.

Erica Smith, the Government?s director of sustainable development, said a list of public personal pledges was being drawn up.

?There is some scepticism out there on whether we can make this work, but I do think that we can actually embrace the process and see some significant changes if we are all committed to it. The aim is to have a better quality of life for all Bermudians.?

She added: ?The list will have some very concrete actions that people could do to make a massive impact on the environment.

?It would be things like changing light bulbs from regular to compact or installing water efficient taps but there is also a social aspect to it.

?We would be asking people to have a commitment to adopt sustainable development principles, to embrace diversity and to use technology where necessary to bring about a much more efficient process. ?Also to engage in social activity, such as volunteering in the community.?

The report says the pledges would give individuals the tools to effect personal change and get public recognition for doing so but acknowledges that it could be difficult to verify whether promises had been fulfilled.

?An honour system would be sufficient and the public nature of a pledge would help hold individuals to account,? it says.

Charting Our Course also suggests putting a ?sustainability checklist? in place to ensure that all new Government policies adhere to the principles of sustainable development.

And it argues that new legislation is needed to ensure that successive governments continue to have and keep updated a sustainable development plan.

The report says each new administration should be required to table a revised plan within two years of taking office.

If proposals from Charting Our Course are implemented, the Government?s recently set up Sustainable Development Unit could be expanded and take on more staff.

The report says it should eventually no longer be needed once the idea of sustainable development becomes embedded within the workings of the civil service.

These issues are all contained within the second theme of the draft plan, Transforming Governance and the Public Sector, which will be discussed at a public meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at BIU Headquarters in Hamilton.