Understanding Sustainability

To understand how get to grips with sustainability the Commission promotes an integrated approach in preference to the more traditional single issue-based way of thinking.

We see this integrated approach in terms of a 'virtuous cycle', where it only makes sense if opportunities and impacts are considered together and the benefits become mutually self-reinforcing. 

Launch tool in a new window

For example, a policy to increase the number of people who walk or cycle to work has a number of benefits.  Daily physical exercise leads to improved individual health outcomes and a subsequent positive financial impact on the health service (as less people fall prey to illnesses linked to sedentary lifestyles).  This in turn means there is a larger share of the government's budget which can be spent proactively on other sustainable development goals.

Taking sustainability further

How do we know that virtuous cycle thinking works and what else is needed to support this approach?

In 2007, we commissioned research into exemplars of integrated urban sustainability from around the world to understand the key elements which made them a success. We found a number of critical ingredients which make up a sustainable city.  Drawing on case studies from around the world, our report, A Greater London: making it happen [PDF 2.8MB] highlights that:

• Leadership
• Capacity building
• Partnership working
• Community participation
• Innovation
• Step-by-step approach

are important to embedding integrated sustainable development into the DNA of any city.

In particular, we found that leadership was fundamental to achieving the kind of transformation that is needed for everybody to adopt a more sustainable way of living.

In 2007, we launched a programme called London Leaders to support this transformation in London.