County Durham Sustainability and Environment Partnership
The ‘County Durham Sustainability and Environment Partnership’ (CDSEP) lies at the heart of driving forward sustainability in County Durham. This new partnership, launched in October 2007 sees the bringing together of two influential partnerships in the County - The County Durham Local Agenda 21 Partnership and the County Durham Environment Partnership.
Fourteen years since Durham County Council took its first steps towards developing a Local Agenda 21 process, this partnership approach has proved immensely successful. From the very first meeting in Autumn 1994, supported by just 60 people, has sprung a thriving partnership comprising over 2000 organisations and individuals.
The strength and breadth of the partnership has been acknowledged by many international commendations, and has been recognised as the largest and most comprehensive partnership for sustainability in Europe, and possibly the world!
The partnership includes voluntary and statutory agencies, business and industry, community groups, schools, Parish, Town, District and Borough councils, all working alongside local people to achieve a more sustainable future for the County.
The rapid growth in the partnership is down to the interest, energy and commitment of everyone involved, enabling the generation of over 250 practical sustainability projects across the County, with more appearing all the time.
The Partnership received its greatest accolade in November 1997 when the county's Local Agenda 21 Strategy ‘Sustainability in Action – the First Three Years’ became the first and only such document ever to be launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
A copy of the document 'Sustainability in Action - the First Three Years' is available here as a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.
susinact.pdf (36 pages, 529kb)
In 2002, the follow up document to Sustainability in Action, 'Sense and Sustainability- celebrating County Durham's Local Agenda 21 Partnership' was launched. The document celebrated eight years of achievement and set out some of the many partnership initiatives that have been developed to create a more sustainable future for County Durham.
How does the Sustainability and Environment Partnership Work?
By working together the partnership strives to develop a comprehensive approach to sustainable development, addressing social, economic and environmental issues together, and developing the right mix of strategic policy and practical action. Durham County Council's Sustainability Section coordinates and manages the partnership and process.The County Durham Sustainability and Environment Partnership Board helps to steer the work of the CDSEP and is made up of the chairs and vice chairs of the Sustainability Forums and of representatives from key sectors with a role to play in sustainability and the environment.
The Partnership's Forums are the driving force for the process.
The partnership works to initiate, lead and develop, projects and initiative which covers all aspects of sustainable development. Durham County Council’s Sustainability Project Fund has helped support many of these projects. After 14 years of action, there are far too many initiatives to mention but there is further information available on a number of key sustainability projects.
Partnership News, the Partnership Newsletter, keeps members of the partnership up to date on new initiatives and projects throughout the year.
How can I get involved?
If you are interested in joining the partnership or would like to find out more about sustainability in the County call the Sustainability Section, Durham County Council on Tel: 0191 3833361 or Email Local Agenda 21.All our welcome to join the Partnership.
Send your questions or comments to Local Agenda 21.
