Environment and Climate Change

Environment

Climate change and the degradation of the world’s natural capital assets are defining issues of our time. The recent reports by the intergovernmental panels on climate change and biodiversity make a clear case for urgent action, as a healthy and productive environment is an essential pre-requisite for sustainable social and economic prosperity.

No single organisation, acting alone, can secure the changes that we need. Therefore, a partnership of private, public and educational sector organisations has formed the Environment East Sussex Board, which has developed this Environment Strategy and will steer its implementation. The main aim of the Board is to drive measurable improvements in our environment, to ensure East Sussex continues to be where people want to live, work, study, visit and do business. We are grateful to the Board members for their commitment to developing and delivering this Strategy.

The Environment Board is accountable to Team East Sussex (TES), which is the East Sussex board of the wider South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and to the East Sussex Strategic Partnership. The Environment Strategy is one of a suite of Team East Sussex documents detailing priorities for the county which aim to create a more productive, healthier, happier and more sustainable county, and it will inform the updated East Sussex Growth Strategy for 2020+.

The challenges are huge. But the opportunities, and the impacts if we get this wrong – economically and socially – are even larger. The Environment Strategy is a sound start to addressing these challenges and securing the opportunities. We look forward to working with many of you in achieving a healthier and more productive environment.