Building a sustainable future for UK children

Thursday 17 September 2009

Living sustainably means living within environmental limits while also ensuring a strong, healthy and just society.

At NCB, we recognise that sustainable living is central to the wellbeing of all children and young people, as well as their families and communities. More importantly, it is a key concern of the children and young people with whom we work.

We are calling on the government to revise the UK's sustainable development strategy - Securing the Future - to have a stronger focus on children and young people, and particularly those who are disadvantaged. The strategy must aim to ensure that all children and young people can take part in and lead action to promote a more sustainable future. It must also go further in developing the role of children and young people's services and the workforce in empowering children and families to make sustainable choices in all aspects of their lives.

Furthermore, the strategy must look again at the range of settings where children and young people live, work and play - not just schools - to consider ways to reduce their environmental impact. Children's trust partners must drive this locally, and prioritise sustainable development when developing and commissioning services for children and young people.