Definitions

Definition - Climate change

Climate change refers to changes in the average weather experienced over a long period. This includes temperature, wind and rainfall patterns. For the UK, climate change means hotter, drier summers (more heat waves), milder wetter winters , higher sea levels and an increased flood risk to coastal areas.

Climate change mitigation is action to reduce the potential extent of global warming. Climate change adaptation can mean any action, either intentional or accidental, taken to minimise the adverse effects of climate change or to take advantage of any beneficial effects.

(HM Government UK Climate Change Programme: Tomorrow's climate, today's challenge 2007)

Definition - Low carbon economy

Regional definition of a low-carbon economy is:

"An economy that produces goods and services of increasing value while reducing the associated greenhouse gases in their production, use and disposal.

Low-carbon goods, services and skills are related to achieving this outcome and can be specialist e.g. wind turbine manufacturer or micro-generation domestic installers, or changes within mainstream processes, for example a food manufacturer improving the efficiency of its logistics or production process, or plumbers learning how to also install solar heating."

'Connecting to Success' 2007

Definition of what this means for the region:

"In the West Midlands a low-carbon economy means an economy that will underpin a prosperous and thriving region through capturing the economic benefits of increasing efficiency whilst reducing direct carbon emissions and using the region's strengths in engineering, science and technology to deliver low-carbon solutions to national and international markets. For Business, this means fully capturing the opportunities for both existing industries and new enterprises to ensure the West Midlands region secures a reputation for profitable low carbon enterprise. For People, this means upskilling to secure the benefits from new employment opportunities emerging from a low-carbon economy, along with behavioural change, to enhance quality of life. For Place, this means creating the conditions for growth by optimising transport networks and developing a low-carbon built environment through energy efficiency and renewables."

'Connecting to Success', 2007 page 39

The background and context to this definition is in the supporting evidence document on the page entitled defining the low carbon economy.

Definition - Sustainability

The destination of sustainable development.

The goal..is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations.

(HM Government Securing our Future March 2005).

Definition - Sustainable communities

Sustainable Communities are areas that are economically prosperous; have decent homes at a price people can afford; safeguard the countryside;  enjoy a well-designed, accessible and pleasant living and working environment;  are effectively and fairly represented and governed, with a strong sense of community.

(DETR: Sustainable communities - building for the future, 2003)

Definition - Sustainable construction

A sustainable construction industry will design better products and services reducing the environmental impacts from the use of energy, resources and hazardous substances; will  reduce, and ultimately eliminate waste in construction through improved design, procurement, and greater re-use and recycling of resources, and; will support the re-use of existing built assets and the construction of new, long lasting, energy conscious and future-proof (adaptable and flexible) buildings and structures which are easy to maintain, operate and deconstruct.

(Source: Strategy for Sustainable Construction A consultation paper,  BERR 2007)

Sustainable construction can also support social aspects such as supporting skills development, inclusion and innovation, and understanding and responding to issues such as fuel poverty and vulnerable communities and individuals.

(AWM 2009)

Definition - Sustainable development

Sustainable development is the overall goal of UK, EU and UN policy. Sustainable development guides all policy with the aim of integrating economic, environmental and social issues in a coherent way.

(CLG/BERR Policy Document on Regional Strategies Jan 2009)

The UK goal of sustainable development is further broken down into five principles, which include the overall goals of: ensuring a strong, healthy and just society living within environmental limits. This is delivered through achieving a sustainable economy, promoting good governance, and using sound science responsibly

(HM Government Securing our Future March 2005).

Definition - Sustainable Development

The UK government's definition of sustainable development:

'The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations.'

Forum for the Future's definition of sustainable development:

'A dynamic process which enables all people to realise their potential and improve their quality of life in ways which simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth's life support systems.'

Using the definitions above, SWM have created our vision for the West Midlands:

'By 2020 businesses and communities are thriving in a West Midlands that is environmentally sustainable and socially just.

By 2012 our leaders are clear on what this looks like, have set clear milestones and their organisations are making strong progress.'

Definition - Sustainable economic growth

Economic growth which can be sustained and is within environmental limits, but also enhances the environment and social welfare, and avoids greater extremes in future economic cycles.

(HM Government, Prosperous Places 2008)

Definition - Sustainable economy

A strong, stable and sustainable economy which provides prosperity and opportunities for all, and in which environmental and social costs fall on those who impose them ("the polluter pays"), and efficient resource use is incentivised.

(HM Government Securing our Future March 2005).

Definition - Sustainable procurement

Sustainable procurement is a process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment.

(Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  Procuring the Future - The Sustainable Procurement Task Force National Action Plan 2006)

Definitions - Equality and diversity

Equality relates to the fair and/or equal treatment of people who can be defined or self-define to one or more common group characteristic based on for example their age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief in relation to other people who share one or more common group characteristic. Equality (of opportunity) is often related to and supported by a legal framework, which makes it illegal to discriminate against people because they belong to one or more defined or self defined identity groups.

Diversity relates to the individual differences that people have and how these are understood and valued. Understanding and valuing the difference that exists in all of us as individuals and the groups we belong to is important. Using diversity creatively and positively can incur benefit for people, organisations and society. Whilst there is a clear difference between Equality and Diversity, they are nonetheless interconnected; therefore The Agency needs to respond simultaneously to equality legislation and be pro-active in diversity in order to optimise the benefits as, "Neither equality nor respect for difference (diversity) is a sufficient value in itself. The two must be held together, mutually challenging and supportive."

(The Runnymede Trust, Multi-Ethnic Britain, 2000).