The Scottish Government

Greener Scotland

Sustainable development is integral to the Scottish Government's overall purpose - to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

A Greener Scotland - improving Scotland's natural and built environment and the sustainable use and enjoyment of it - is one of the five strategic objectives that form part of the Government's National Performance Framework, which sets out high level targets, outcomes and indicators applicable across the public sector in Scotland.

The national outcomes most closely associated with the Greener strategic objective are:

• We value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations
• We reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production
• We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access the amenities and services we need

Progress is reported through Scotland Performs.

The Greener Scotland Board brings together representatives from Government and the local authority, business and voluntary sectors to advise on delivery of the Greener objective. The Scottish Government's Greener Scotland Unit works to implement this objective.

Partners with which the Government works include:

• Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland - the Scottish arm of the independent body providing advice to Governments across the UK on sustainable development.

• Sustainable Scotland Network - a network of sustainable development officers and advocates from Scottish local authorities.
• Scottish Sustainable Development Forum - a network of sustainable development experts and practitioners across Scotland.

Achieving a Greener Scotland

Speeches at a Greener Public Sector Leaders event in May 2008 outline what the public sector can do to increase sustainable economic growth.

Sustainable Places: At a greener capacity building seminar aimed at public sector leaders on June 17, 2008, Peter Head. Director for Planning and Integrated Urbanism for ARUP, talked about Dongtan in China - the world's first planned eco-city. This is a visionary project that brings many disciplines together to create a truly greener place to work, live and play. He talked about the elements of the planning process that have real bearings on what we can achieve here in Scotland to help us create Sustainable Places. View this presentation.

The Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative (SSCI) is a planning-led initiative aimed at influencing and shaping future development which should be not only environmentally but also economically and socially sustainable.

Through Smarter Choices Smarter Places the Scottish Government is working to increase active travel and public transport use and tackle transport emissions.

The Scottish Government is communicating the need to reduce environmental impact.

Sustainable development and business, and the VIBES awards scheme: Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland.