News Release
2 May 2002
MINISTER WELCOMES NEW AGENDA FOR UK SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
DEFRA Minister, Elliot Morley MP, today (2 May 2002) welcomed the publication
of A New Agenda for
UK Sustainable Development Research, a new report by the Sustainable
Development Research (SDR) Network setting out the key priorities and action
needed to remover barriers to cross-cutting research on sustainable development
issues.
Speaking at the Sustainable Development UK Conference at the QEII Conference
Centre in London, Elliot Morley said:
'Sustainable development is all about integration and this Network is an
excellent example of taking an integrated approach to solving multi-dimensional
problems and cross-cutting issues.
I am therefore pleased to welcome the publication today of the Network's
report, A New Agenda for UK Sustainable Development Research. This independent
report sets out some key priorities and the action needed to remove barriers
to cross-cutting research on sustainable development issues.'
The report was produced after extensive consultation involving academic researchers,
funding bodies, public policy-makers and representatives from the business and
voluntary sectors who use this research.
Particular recommendations include:
- In light of the knowledge gaps, research opportunities and policy needs
outlined in the report, the research community, and both public and private
sector funding bodies, should review their existing programmes and future
plans.
- Particular attention should be paid to those areas identified as key priorities
for future research, ie: sustainability appraisal and evaluation; data and
indicators; spatial planning; regulation, economic instruments and voluntary
action; community processes; environmental justice; quality of life; consumption,
behaviour and lifestyle; socio-technological systems and innovation processes;
and corporate sustainability.
- Strong socio-economic and environmental components must be incorporated
into the programmes of Research Councils and government departments that sponsor
science and engineering R&D programmes. This is particularly the case in areas
such as energy, transport, waste, resource-use and agricultural production
where there is growing awareness of the need for sustainable solutions.
- The Treasury should ensure that the need to provide appropriate support
for cross-cutting SD research is recognised in the government's 2002 Spending
Review.
- The OST and the new Research Councils UK Strategy Group should ensure that
sustainable development objectives are properly integrated into all Research
Council activities.
- The OST and the Research Councils UK Strategy Group should instigate measures
to remove institutional barriers to interdisciplinary research in this area.
For example, by 'ring-fencing' specific resources for the support of cross-cutting
SD research.
- HEFC and the Research Councils should review the provision of research training
and career paths for both natural and social scientists, with the objective
of improving the provision of appropriately skilled personnel capable of undertaking
high quality cross-cutting SD research. Specific measures to encourage the
movement of experienced individuals between academia, consultancy, public
administration and business should also be actively considered.
The Research Councils and government departments should examine the overall
balance of their expenditure to ensure that sufficient support is also available
for data collection, monitoring and indicator development, including the production
of accessible web-based resources.
Contact: Dr Malcolm Eames, SDR-Network Coordinator, Policy Studies Institute,
Tel: (020) 7468 0468; Mobile: 07930 561911; Email: m.eames@psi.org.uk
Notes to editors
- Copies of the report in printed or PDF form are available from the Communications
Team at PSI: Tel: (020) 7468 0468; Email dawsm@psi.org.uk;
or via the SDR-Network website: www.sd-research.org.uk
- The Sustainable Development Research (SDR) Network is a UK-wide initiative,
sponsored by the Government's Sustainable Development Unit in the Department
for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- The Policy Studies Institute (PSI) in London coordinates the SDR-Network,
in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Development (CfSD) at the
University of Westminster, and the Centre for the Study of Environmental Change
and Sustainability (CECS) at the University of Edinburgh.
- The SDR-Network promotes high quality cross-cutting research that integrates
consideration of the environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainable
development.