is it worth going along to have a say about what's really what, and what's not? It's our choice, after all...

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It’s Your Choice! Helping to Make Sustainability A Reality

As part of UK Preparations for World Summit on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2002)

Imperial College 20 February 2002

"There is a need to strengthen the intergovernmental process in the United Nations in the area of sustainable development…Specifically there is a need to: Foster partnerships at all levels, involving Governments, international institutions and other stakeholders, aimed at finding practical solutions and innovative approaches to specific sustainable development issues." Report of the Secretary-General. United Nations, Economic and Social Council Commission on Sustainable Development, 2002.

In responding to these challenges, the UK Government has stated, "In developing these "deliverable" initiatives we place a strong emphasis on the importance of the involvement of civil society, including the Private Sector, NGOs and Local Authorities." Rt Hon Michael Meacher, Minister for the Environment, UNED Conference, 2002.

It’s Your Choice!

It is your choice. You, as a stakeholder, have the right to put forward your views, your experiences and your knowledge in how we can move forward in determining immediate practical actions to make sustainable development a reality.
The ‘neutral forum’ is still new to many, yet it is the ideal way for all of society, including Government, industry, organisations and individuals to come together and reach consensus on the "deliverables".
For over 12 months UNED-UK and Imperial College have established a multi-stakeholder process that has addressed the key issues of sustainable production and consumption within the six areas of :

Food, Domestic Goods, Domestic Water, Domestic Energy, Personal Transport, and Outbound UK Tourism.

A series of workshops were held in 2001 to identify and discuss ideal scenarios within each of these areas and preparatory papers have been produced and published on the UNED website for public review and comment.

The main purpose of the high level workshop is now to identify where consensus can be achieved within these far ranging issues and to provide immediate practical actions in taking them further.
At the High Level Workshop we will have a minimum number of formal presentations from the platform, confining them to some opening remarks from UK producer, retailer and consumer perspectives to stimulate the main programme of the day.
The 2-hour morning workshop sessions will debate the issues contained in the preparatory papers and this will be followed by a further 2-hour period in the afternoon to agree areas of consensus and discuss policy implementation and actions.
The full programme and registration details can be viewed at www.ad.ic.ac.uk/cpd/uned.htm or call the Centre For Continuing Education on 0207 594 6884/6880.
The post workshop report will be discussed with the UK Government and disseminated more widely, and then it will taken forward to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August 2002.
To be really representative the process we have put in place and the output from it requires the participation of all sections of UK Society - please join us to make sure your views are included so that together we truly can make sustainability a reality!
"Belief without action is the ruin of the soul" - Edward Abbey

Stephen Horrax

Sustainable Production Consumption Programme Coordinator
Environmental Policy and Management Group,
Imperial College,
Department of Environmental Science and Technology
Fourth Floor RSM Building,Prince Consort Road
London, SW7 2BP

High Level Workshop
Imperial College 20 February 2002
IT'S YOUR CHOICE!
Helping to Make Sustainability a Reality
Register to discuss and agree practical actions on sustainable production and consumption