We are the UK Government’s independent adviser on sustainable development. Through advocacy, advice and
appraisal, we help put sustainable development at the heart of Government policy

Environmental Limits

Know your limits front cover‘Living within environmental limits’ is one of the five principles of sustainable development. But the practical meaning of ‘living within environmental limits’, and our methods to achieve it, have not yet been articulated clearly. It is easy to talk about environmental limits, and many of us accept that such limits must exist. But how do we recognise them? How do we know when we're bumping up against them? What can we do to prevent those limits being breached? And with the re-energised focus on local decision making we ask, what do they mean for local areas? This document assembles practical guidance to assist local leaders in recognising environmental limits, and in taking steps to help their communities live well, within these limits.

» Download Know your environmental limits: A local leaders’ guide

Context

The SDC considered there to be an urgent need to recognise and live within environmental limits. Investigative work had been started by government and other agencies, but without clear results.

How does this fits into Sustainable Development?   

‘Living within environmental limits’ is one of the five principles of sustainable development.

Other organisations involved in this project?

We have consulted with Defra and other government agency contacts in our research, for accuracy and to ensure the report will enable a government audience to take appropriate action.

Work Outline

The SDC recognised the gap in understanding ‘environmental limits’ at a local, practical level and set out to support the UK Government in developing a clearer set of principles for embedding environmental limits in a wide range of land use planning documents and policies. This document is intended to provide an accessible summary of our research to date. The SDC had intended to conduct a detailed research project over a two year period, however with the cessation of Defra funding to the SDC this proposed timeline was drastically reduced. This report is therefore intended as a first step for local governance bodies and community groups, and for government and its agencies to establish a grip on the subject and take it on.

Report Summary

It is easy to talk about environmental limits, and many of us accept that such limits must exist. But how do we recognise them? How do we know when we're bumping up against them? What can we do to prevent those limits being breached? And with the re-energised focus on local decision making we ask, what do they mean for local areas?

Who should read this?

Members of local governance bodies and community groups, as well as interested policy makers in central government.

Key findings

We have proposed a definition of environmental limits and examined seven ‘key’ environmental areas under OECD’s ‘Pressure-State-Response’ framework, highlighting existing legislative limits and where these do not exist. We have considered ‘land use’ and ‘soils’ as particular areas for government action as there is currently little or no action taken to recognise environmental limits in these areas. The report also makes suggestions for action by local governance bodies and community groups.

Of all of the environmental issues presented in the guide, the SDC considers that little or no action has been taken to recognise and communicate environmental limits on the issues of soils and land use.

Recommendations

The SDC recommends that central government:

  • Recognises soil management as key to conserving the natural environment, and goes further in setting environmental limits on levels of mechanical management, chemical inputs, and soil sealing;
  • Identify acceptable levels of land use change which will reduce fragmentation and maintain and enhance the multifunctionality of land.

Significant challenges

The SDC had intended to conduct a detailed research project over a two year period, however with the cessation of Defra funding to the SDC this proposed timeline was drastically reduced. This report is therefore intended as a first step for local governance bodies and community groups, and for government and its agencies to establish a grip on the subject and take it on.

Previous work by SDC

 » Green, Healthy and Fair

» Setting the Table

» Food Security and Sustainability: The perfect fit

» Turning the Tide, Tidal Power in the UK

» Equal Value: Can a major Severn Tidal Power scheme be compatible with enhancing the Natura 2000 Biodiversity Network?