Sustainable Development Implementation Plan unveiled
Government has finally unveiled the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan.
Environmental campaigners have been eagerly awaiting the document since the public consultation of 2005-6. Government issued a draft Sustainable Development Strategy and Implementation Plan two years ago but the final version has been pending, awaiting specialist advice, amendments, and the final approval of Cabinet.
Former Premier Alex Scott first introduced the concept of sustainable development to government policy in 2004. He told the House of Assembly: "Ensuring that development in any country is sustainable is one of the greatest challenges of our times.
"Development must be sustainable in order to provide a foundation for a better quality of life for everyone – now, and for generations to come."
The final version of the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan will now form a basis for policy making in all areas of governance. It covers everything from alternative energy to tourism, health, education and employment, aiming to find common ground in ecological, economic and community development. Announcing Cabinet's approval of the Plan yesterday, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown: "We plan to awaken every resident to the reality that sustainable development is paramount to our country's future."
He warned: "Sustainability concerns all of us — and therefore no special interest group can hijack this initiative. It belongs to every Bermudian."
The Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones last night said this referred to "lobby groups with a singular interest". "The Premier wants the public to know Sustainable Development is about ensuring that no singular interest overshadows all the other interests — there must be balance," he said.
The Implementation Plan has identified five areas of sustainable development: housing and healthcare; reliance on fossil fuels and population; the environment; the economy; and the public sector. The themes are described as: "Sustaining our communities where affordable housing and rising health care costs are among the considerations";
"Living within Bermuda's limits where reducing on reliance on fossil fuels and managing the size of our population are among the considerations";
"Protecting and enhancing the environment where balancing the need for open space with prudent development is a major issue";
"Maintaining a strong and inclusive economy with strategies like economic empowerment";
and "Transforming the public sector so that it is responsive to our changing needs and has a cross-ministerial commitment to sustainable development strategies."
Dr. Brown yesterday said all carried "equal weight". "We don't believe any is more important than the other. All of them are crucial," he said.
"Various sectors of the public have greater interest in some aspects of sustainability over others, but it is the underlying rationale of sustainability that the needs of every aspect of every section of society must be considered."
The public will be able to view the Plan on the Internet and a sustainable development awareness campaign will also seek to educate the public on its importance.
The Premier said yesterday: "I encourage everyone to read it."
"Those days when only one section of society took possession of how we should develop are over. A greater consciousness of this responsibility will be seen in the coming days. Sustainability concerns all of us — and therefore no special interest group can hijack this initiative. It belongs to every Bermudian.
"Our plan will show the public that preserving open space and building affordable housing are of equal importance. Growing our tourism product with new hotels is as critical as developing eco-tourism in places like Cooper's Island. Similarly, having a thoughtful and well-executed immigration policy is as crucial as our energy policy. All of our resources must be carefully managed — now more than ever.
"This isn't a new revelation, our Government has been operating with this understanding for some time. That's why you saw the addition of Energy to a Cabinet Ministry. That's why Economic Empowerment is now specifically part of the Finance Ministry. That's why a new Bermuda Plan will be delivered soon and a Green Paper on energy will arrive shortly after that. All of these entities work together in this Government's sustainable development strategy.
"As you will recall, public consultation occurred throughout 2005 and 2006. The process continued within Government during 2007. That consultation is reflected in the Implementation Plan along with the input of the previously convened Sustainable Development Roundtable.
"Just yesterday we released the names of the 2008 Sustainable Development Roundtable. Arthur Hodgson returns as Chairman. He is Bermuda's true forefather on the issue of sustainable development and I am pleased he is back to champion this nationally important endeavour.
"We also owe a debt of gratitude to my predecessor Alex Scott who used the weight of his office to raise the profile of this issue in our country. Additionally, Charles Brown was recently appointed as SDU Director. Our team is in place. Now that team has its marching orders in the form of an Implementation Plan. We can roll up our sleeves and begin educating the public and delivering on the sustainable development promises in the 2008 Throne Speech."
The Premier added that the Plan would be "under constant review". "Sustainable Development is about ensuring social, economic and environmental policy decisions balance the current and future needs of Bermuda's people. We will build a sustainable society," said the Premier.
The public can view the Plan at:
