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Understanding climate risk

The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment offers the first detailed analysis of the practical implications of climate change across all sectors of the economy and society:

"For the first time it means we can compare a wide range of risks based on their financial, social and environmental implications." - Professor Sir Robert Watson

Two studies from business suggest sustainability is seen as an essential part of our work and lives: ASDA's customers think "green is normal" while future business leaders identify themselves as a "sustainable generation". Another survey finds strong demand for a sustainable NHS.

We hear views on the role of organic farming in innovation and the potential of low carbon enterprise zones, and look at energy behaviour, a UN report on global sustainability, and a campaign to urge Scotland to go greener.

Nick Saltmarsh, Editor - sd.scene@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Comment »

Green is normal »

ASDA

Asda's study into the views of its customers, the "everyday experts", finds that sustainability isn’t a standalone element of people’s lives – it's now a part of them.

Celebrating innovation in sustainable food and farming »

Tom MacMillan

The Soil Association's Tom MacMillan argues that organic approaches must be at the heart of innovation and progression in farming, for a sustainable food system.

Can low carbon enterprise zones help deliver sustainable development? »

Philip Monaghan

Philip Monaghan considers the potential of low carbon enterprise zones to deliver sustainable development, urging a careful approach to ensure real and lasting benefits.

UK Government news »

UK Climate Change Risk Assessment »

sun

UK Climate Change Risk Assessment analyses the implications of climate change across the economy and society, to develop our understanding of climate risk.

Demand for a sustainable health service »

NHS

NHS sustainability report includes results of a survey into public attitudes to sustainability in the NHS, the views of health service leaders, update on NHS carbon footprint.

Thinking about energy behaviour »

DECC

DECC paper on models of behaviour change, drawing on behavioural economics, social psychology and sociology to examine ways of changing energy behaviour.

Sustainable development feedback and engagement: survey results »

DECC

Update on responses to last year's invitation to stakeholders to engage with Defra and to provide feedback on the SD Scene website and newsletter.

Dialogue between unions and government on sustainable development »

Helping communities clean up England’s rivers »

International news »

Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing »

UN

UN High-level Panel on Global Sustainability's final report makes 56 recommendations to put sustainable development into practice and mainstream it into economic policy.

European consultation on sustainable consumption and production »

National and local news »

New campaign urges Scotland to go greener together »

Greener Together

New campaign from the Scottish Government that seeks to empower everyone to go 'greener together' and play their part in creating a greener, cleaner Scotland.

Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group agrees priorities for 2012 »

Business news »

Future Leaders Study identifies “sustainable generation” »

Future Leaders

Study finds that the coming generation of UK business leaders believes that sustainability must be a priority for every business, despite difficult economic conditions.

Skills for a green economy »

skills

Skills for a green economy builds on the Government's skills strategy for England to map possible skills needs for the transition to a strong and sustainable green economy.

Research news »

Survey of UK urban energy initiatives »

Urban energy

Introducing the CLUES project and inviting those who have been involved with urban energy generation projects or policy to take part in a survey of urban energy initiatives.

Power in agriculture »

Power in Agriculture

New study examining where the economic, political and natural resource power lies in world agriculture, how that might change in future and what it means to British farmers.

Online resources round-up: impact calculator, climate graphs, local maps, earth map, Scottish info »

SDRN

New online resources: environmental impact calculator, graphs of climate indicators, mapping local authority data, Eye on Earth mapping service, and more...

Events »

Cambridge annual lecture series in sustainable development »

Cambridge lectures

Cambridge University's lecture series features experts from leading universities, government bodies, multi-national corporations and international organisations.

Online events from 2degrees in February »

2degrees

Online events in February from 2degrees: mineral sourcing, a smart grid for water, building information modelling, environmental management, sustainable supply chains...