What is Sustainable Development?
Sustainable development (SD) is about striking a balance between environmental protection, economic development and social progress which results in ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (The Brundtland Report, 1987).
SD in Defence is more specifically defined by two SD principles:
- Defence must be resilient to current and future environmental, social and economic threats (adaptation); and
- Defence must realise the positive and minimise the negative impacts that Defence activities can have on the environment, people and the economy in the UK and overseas (mitigation).
Why is SD Important to Defence?
Global environmental, social and economic pressures pose real threats to Defence’s ability to meet its strategic objectives. For example, climate change, natural resource depletion, water scarcity, and energy and resource scarcity are all potential catalysts for increased unrest or armed conflict. These challenges will also present fresh demands on our people, infrastructure and equipment.
Embracing SD will ensure that Defence is prepared for these challenges (adaptation) and that we play our part in reducing the severity of any environmental, social or economic threats to Defence capability in the first place (mitigation). Other important benefits of SD to Defence include:
- Less reliance on fossil fuel in-theatre will reduce the amount of fuel that has to be transported to the front line; a costly, risky and logistically resource intensive activity that can undermine operational continuity;
- Considering issues such as the effects of climate change and resource availability in our equipment, infrastructure, training and policy planning, and adjusting and adapting our behaviour now, will cost less than trying to adapt in the future;
- Using fewer natural resources, less energy, fuel and water and producing less waste will save money across Defence, especially if we take a through-life value-for-money approach to investments in equipment and infrastructure;
- Acting more sustainably has the potential to increase support for Defence which could generate more favourable conditions in which to conduct our UK business, as well as potentially contribute to the success of military operations, and aid recruitment and retention;
- Giving appropriate consideration to the impacts of Defence decisions on the UK economy could contribute to the maintenance of a healthy UK industry in the defence and security sectors as a source of innovation and supply, and for the wider economic benefits this brings in terms of providing jobs and maintaining skills.
The MOD SD Vision
The MOD’s SD Strategy and Delivery Plan 2011 (see Related pages) has at its core a vision that reflects the benefits of SD to Defence:
- Defence capability is more resilient, effective, efficient and responsible because SD principles are an integral part of all Defence business.
The Strategy highlights three priority areas for action to ensure that our vision is achieved:
- Sustainable rural and built infrastructure
- Sustainable procurement;
- Sustainable ICT
And it aims to ensure that SD principles become an integral part of all other Defence strategies, policies, decision making processes, programmes, projects, activities and behaviours
For more information on these priorities please see related pages.