The Welsh Government is in the process of introducing legislation which will “develop and strengthen our approach to sustainable development in Wales”. It has recently published responses to its consultation document (http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/sustainabledevelopment/sdbill/?lang=en#). As I reflected on its content I was challenged by a friend to have a look at what the Swiss are up to.

In this blog I invite you to view extracts from the 72 page Swiss Federal Council’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2012-2015, the fourth in a series (the first was published in 1997). The full document which includes an Action Plan – or even its shortened 16 page summary – is well worth a read. Especially for anyone who believe that we might be creating a rod for our own backs by legislating for sustainable development ‘in these tough economic times’ and who might be looking in the wrong places for their inspiration. http://www.are.admin.ch/themen/nachhaltig/00262/00528/index.html?lang=en

There are similarities between Wales and Switzerland. They are mountainous (and have a mountain railway!); both have more than one official language, and are countries with a strong system of local government. Both have placed sustainable development at the centre of their respective governments. Switzerland however has existed as a state in its present form since 1848; Wales was granted some measure of Devolution and in the form of an Assembly first elected in 1999. Switzerland has a strong track record of preparation of Sustainable Development Strategies and Action Plans which impact across all areas of government and is firmly committed to the Brundtland definition of sustainable development. Wales is still finding its feet and is about to commit itself even more to sustainability but as yet may not have quite the confidence of the Swiss to be getting on with it. I think it would be a good idea to look to small, successful, peaceful countries like Switzerland as role models on this topic.

When I read the document, I thought I could point to many similar actions going on in Wales and I’m sure other readers could list many more than I can. But I couldn’t think of a more a heartwarmingly frank and joined up commitment or analysis linked to a realistic acknowledgement of their environmental footprint and a desire to reduce it.

This is not a condemnation of the Welsh effort; rather a reminder that we are a fledgling democracy that has been dominated by a neighbour which might not quite be in the same league as the Swiss on topics like this one and that we should be bold and take a lead from this type of country.

So here goes: she sent me this, what do you think?

(bold highlighting and colours are my friend’s – all text is direct cut and paste)

The Federal Council will continue to base its work on sustainable development on the broad definition that was drawn up in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development for the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. It is known as the ‘Brundtland Definition’ …… According to this definition, development is sustainable if it guarantees that the needs of present generations can be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Two complementary aspects of sustainable development are of key importance here: the idea that there are limits to what the global ecosystem can bear, and the priority that must be given to satisfying essential needs, particularly those of the poorest sections of society. This definition has an ethical foundation. It expresses the belief that power for a generation to do as it pleases with regard to the future should be replaced by a sense of responsibility toward the future, rooted in a just and fair division of resources between generations (INTERgenerational solidarity) and regions of the world (INTRAgenerational solidarity). The basis of human life should be secured on just and fair terms for all

The following five guidelines apply to sustainable development policy in Switzerland:

1. Taking responsibility for the future

2. Balanced consideration of the three target dimensions of sustainable development

3. Incorporating sustainable development into all areas of policy

4. Improving coherence and coordination between policy areas

5. Forging sustainable development partnerships

‘Green economy’ and ‘green growth’

‘Green economy’ refers to an economic system which produces goods and services at significantly reduced levels of resource and energy use, and general environmental impact, while simultaneously respecting aspects of social justice. One of the principles of the ‘green economy’ is that the exogenous costs of environmental damage should be reflected in product prices, thus creating incentives for clean production.

The federal government is developing programmes of action in the following areas:

1. Continuing and bundling efforts in the clean-technology field

2. Improving the resource-efficiency of information and communication technologies

3. Improving information on the environmental impact of individual products

4. Avoiding the creating of false incentives by ‘greening’ the tax system

5. Integrating environmental information in barometers of social welfare

6. Reviewing resource-efficiency and resource-compatibility

Certain of these action areas are reflected in the Action Plan for this Strategy.

Essentially, the concepts of the ‘green economy’ address differentcore aspects of sustainable development, such as resource and energy efficiency. They focus specifically on the overlaps between economic and environmental policy issues, but also address certain social factors. As such, they represent an important and complementary sub-aspect of sustainable development as a whole, but are not intended to supplant this concept in itself.

The Federal Council adopted the tenets of Agenda 21 as a basis for national sustainability strategies at an early stage. The first such strategy was passed in 1997 in connection with the United Nations ‘Rio +5’ global summit, while the second was issued in advance of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

A further important factor was the establishment of the MONET monitoring system from 2003 onwards. This achieved striking progress in the measurability of various sustainability-related developments.

The Federal Council has always understood sustainable development as a ‘regulative idea’ or core principle. It should be regarded not as an isolated element of sectoral policy, but as a requirement that must ultimately be incorporated into all policy areas. This is demonstrated by the broad spectrum of topics that is covered by the Sustainable Development Strategy. It has a bearing on the majority of public-sector activities.

Society

The policy of preventative health and health promotion, which has broad support and also incorporates human environmental and socio-economic living conditions, has been deepened over the past twenty years

Traditionally, education policy provides an important basis not only for Switzerland’s economic success, but also for its social cohesion and for its people’s ability to participate in the life of society as a whole.

Economy and finance

Sustainable development has been worked into a large number of economic policy bills and concepts in recent years.

By amending the Public Purchasing Ordinance in 2009, the Federal Council defined criteria for its own procurement of goods and services. These must satisfy high environmental and social standards.

It should not be possible to pass the financial burden of today’s initiatives off to tomorrow’s taxpayers.

Environment, space, infrastructure

Switzerland has created a system of climate and energy legislation which respects the principles of sustainable development and is congruent with the targets of the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

…spatial planning concepts and strategies have been developed which are geared explicitly to sustainable development.

…transport infrastructure projects are subject systematically to a sustainability assessment while still at the planning stage.

International relations

(Switzerland) continue(s) to support the independent endeavours of poor countries to manage their poverty-related problems. It also helps to manage global risks which impact on the development prospects of poor countries.

Sustainable development at cantonal and municipal levels

Switzerland has a very decentralised political system. In this political environment, in particular, the cantons and municipalities play a very important part in the implementation of sustainable development. Consequently, enormous importance is attached to vertical cooperation between the Confederation, cantons and municipalities to root sustainable development firmlyat all levels of government.

The commitment of the private sector and civil society

Many Swiss companies are committed to sustainable products and production processes. For example, the country’s biggest retailers are also the biggest promoters of special-label products in Switzerland.

With their voluntary measures under the C0₂ Act and the high degree to which they fulfil set targets, Swiss companies are a major factor in Switzerland achieving its climate conservation objectives. In 2007, around 1,700 companies were certified (ISO 14001) in Switzerland, of approximately 130,000 worldwide

Most major Swiss firms are participants in the United Nations Global Compact. In addition, Swiss companies are involved in more sector-based initiatives, such as the textile industry’s ‘Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC)’ code of conduct, the retail industry’s ‘Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)’ and the chemical industry’s ‘Responsible Care’ initiative. Sustainability reporting has also become well established

It is clear that there is still a long way to go before development is truly sustainable. MONET highlights a large number of ambivalent trends.

…ambivalence is to be found in the fact that Switzerland is more or less on the path to sustainability where national aspects are concerned, but is less sustainable in its behaviour with respect to globally relevant aspects.

As a result of structural change in the economy and the outsourcing of industrial production, Switzerland now shifts abroad much of the environmental pollution for which it is responsible. As much as 60 % of the total environmental load caused by end consumers in Switzerland is incurred in other countries.

A third finding concerns equity between generations. There is much evidence to suggest that the relatively positive assessment of the current situation will be at the cost of future generations. While many Swiss people today experience high levels of satisfaction with their jobs and lives, 17 % of young people lack the basic literacy skills that are important for their lives ahead.

it must be emphasised that Switzerland is far from being sustainable in absolute terms. Switzerland’s environmental footprint is a clear illustration of this. The footprint reminds us that Switzerland consumes almost three times the environmental benefits and resources that is sustainable long-term from the global perspective.

ACTION PLAN

In the implementation of its policy, the Federal Council would like increasingly to move away from sector-based thinking towards more horizontal solutions

The Federal Council has defined the following over-arching objectives for the incorporation

of the sustainable development principle into the activities of the federal government

• Combating global warming and managing natural hazards, in particular by reducing energy consumption and the increasing use of renewable energies

• Boosting economic productivity, in combination with a decoupling from resource and energy usage, shifting to more sustainable patterns of production and consumption

• Using natural resources sustainably and reducing the qualitative and quantitative impairment of the environment

• Ensuring fair access to social and economic resources, and improving integration among all sections of the population

• Stepping up contributions to the global fight against poverty and the promotion of peace, and improving their effectiveness

From these meta-targets, the Federal Council has derived ten strategic priority key challenges. These provide the structure for the Action Plan:

1. Protecting the climate and managing natural hazards

2. Reducing energy consumption and promoting renewable energies

3. Ensuring sustainable spatial planning

4. Increasing economic productivity while decoupling from resource and energy usage; aligning consumption with sustainable development

5. Using natural resources sustainably

6. Strengthening social cohesion, encouraging cultural development and integration, and tackling demographic challenges at an early stage

7. Improving public health

8. Taking responsibility for global developmental and environmental challenges

9. Ensuring long-term financing for public budgets and the social-security system

10. Applying education, research and innovation consistently to the implementation of sustainable development principles

(Key challenges and Measures are considered in depth. I tried to add a few examples as ‘snapshots’ to illustrate some of the areas considered in detail as part of the Sustainable Development Strategy – but failed!)

The Interdepartmental Sustainable Development Committee (ISDC) takes on the role of an information, coordination and discussion platform for all sustainability-related activities and processes within the federal administration. It promotes cooperation between government agencies, as well as the integration of sustainable development principles into sectoral policies. To this end, it also collates examples of good practice. All government agencies whose remits are relevant to sustainable development are represented on the ISDC.

“The political system in Switzerland is highly decentralised, which means that the cantons, cities and municipalities have a major role to play in implementation. The Federal Council believes that vertical cooperation is of key importance in facilitating sustainable development at all levels of government. Two-thirds of cantons and all of Switzerland‘s major cities already have the corresponding strategies and instruments in place, and many municipalities are now following suit. As a result, more than one third of the Swiss population is now involved in an official local sustainability process.”