John Plowman
Current Position
Chair, London Sustainable Development Commission
Sustainability Experience
John spent his civil service career in a number of Departments including Defence, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as well as the Departments of the Environment and Transport. His responsibilities included regional policy and planning; environmental, social and regional policy negotiations in Brussels; chair of the UK Biodiversity Group; and Regional Director for the Departments of Environment and Transport in North West England covering inter alia housing and urban regeneration. He was responsible for cleaner vehicles and safety and latterly interim chair of the Driver and Vehicle Operator Group at the Department for Transport. Since leaving the civil service he has run a successful consultancy specialising in ethical governance, safety and sustainability. He has also worked on low carbon mobility with DEFRA's Sustainable Development Commission.
Definition of Sustainable Development and why it is important for London
There are many. Mine would be something like "sustainable Development is about achieving a better quality of life by delivering a fair and flourishing economy for everyone while living within our environmental limits."
London has the knowledge, talent, resources and ambition to be the world's most sustainable city. In the face of climate change and environmental, economic and social pressures, we must aim to realise this ambition.
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