§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on his Department's sustainable development strategy. [165431]
§ Hilary BennThe International Development Act (2002) makes it clear that development assistance is
assistance provided for the purposes of furthering Sustainable Development…It is also generally recognised that poverty reduction is a necessary prerequisite for achieving Sustainable Development. For this reason, DFID does not have a stand-alone Sustainable Development Strategy but rather considers Sustainable Development to be integral to the Department's work.DFID leads on four specific areas in the UK's implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
Water and Sanitation.Integration of environmental considerations into Poverty Reduction Strategies.373WAccess to clean energy.(Together with the Treasury) Financing for development.DFID has completed a review of its water related activities and prepared a Water Action Plan reaffirming the importance of water resource management, supply and sanitation to poverty reduction.
DFID, along with other Departments, has been contributing to the consultation process currently underway to develop a new UK Sustainable Development Strategy. DFID shares the lead on developing the international dimensions of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy with the Foreign Office.
At a recent consultation meeting held during the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) organised to solicit the views of international agency representatives on the UK's Sustainable Development track record, DFID and the UK were praised for leadership in developing a better understanding of the links between poverty and environment. DFID's work has emphasised the importance of prudent environmental management to achieving poverty reduction and the other Millennium Development Goals.
DFID'S lead role in developing policy and implementation guidance on national strategies for sustainable development/poverty reduction strategies was also cited as an outstanding contribution to international Sustainable Development progress.
DFID's programmes with developing country partners are shaped by the priorities of those countries, what other donors are doing and where value can be added. These priorities are set out in developing countries' own development plans. DFID has been working with developing country partners to ensure sustainable development considerations underwrite these strategies if they are to be effective.
In addition to meeting the UK's own domestic obligations as signatories to various multilateral environmental agreements, the UK assists developing countries meet their own commitments.
For example, climate change is considered to be a key development issue because it is poor people and developing countries that are most vulnerable to its adverse impacts. DFID and other Departments, in partnership with developing countries, are considering options for a global carbon dioxide emissions reduction regime including the necessary incentive to encourage a transition away from carbon intensive economies.
DFID has made good progress towards the targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. This framework relates to the impact of our offices on the environment. DFID has published delivery plans, used alternatively fuelled vehicles, re-cycle more than 40 per cent. of our waste, purchase more than 50 per cent. green electricity and paper with a 75 per cent. recycled content. DFID is also one of the few departments to meet the water usage targets.
374WDFID's current building project at our office in East Kilbride achieved a Bream award with an "excellent" environmental rating and we have conducted an audit of local habitat and species. DFID has also built volunteering into our staff development planning.