Sustainable Development Group
(formerly Environment Group)
Adviser and contact persons
Yasa Ratnayeke, Aberdeen City Council, Scotland
E-mail: YRatnayeke@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Chair
Cllr. Andreas Lervik, Østfold fylkeskommune, Norway
E-mail: andreas.lervik@ostfold-f.kommune.no
Vice-Chairs
Cllr. Henrik Ringbaek Madsen, Nordjyllands Amt, Denmark
E-mail: henrikrm@nja.dk
Cllr. John Lamb, EERA
E-mail: CllrLamb@southend.gov.uk
Introduction
The Sustainable Development Group (formerly the Environment Group) is one of the Thematic Groups set up by the North Sea Commission. Although the remit of this Group includes all aspects of sustainability, each Thematic Group needs to take responsibility for sustainability of issues relevant to them. The Sustainable Development Group will lead on natural resources, climate change, regional planning and development, energy and renewable energy, as well as innovation and technology aspects. A supporting role will be
adopted to other strands of sustainability covered by other Thematic Groups.
Vision
To encourage the development of sustainable communities, the sustainable use of resources and the development of policies and actions which take full account of environmental requirements.
Aims
The aim of the Group is to input into and progress issues that affect local and regional authorities bordering the North Sea by co-ordinating and initiating projects involving all NSC members or on a partnership basis. The Group plays a dual role, helping both individual local authorities and larger regions to develop.
The Group will seek to influence future research and future EU and national policies. The Group will also take steps to encourage a heightened awareness of the North Sea as an important ecological area.
The Sustainable Development Group will seek to ensure that sustainable development principles are reflected in, and form a key consideration of, the work of the other Thematic Groups. Furthermore the Group will follow the implementation of the EU s Strategy for Sustainable Development (the Göteborg Strategy) on behalf of the NSC and advice the Executive Committee as well as other Thematic Groups as required.
Organisation and Administration
Membership is open to all NSC members. Other relevant stakeholders may attend meetings and join other activities, as required. A regional politician, assisted by two political vice-chairs, chairs the Sustainable Development Group. If not already a member of the NSC Executive Committee, the Chair of the Group becomes an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee, with the two Vice-Chairs acting as substitutes. The Chair also acts as the official spokesperson for the NSC on issues covered by the remit of the specific Thematic Group.
A Co-ordinator (normally a Council officer) is responsible for the administration of the Group. The Chair, Vice-Chairs and Co-ordinator are appointed by the NSC Executive Committee. The Chair or Co-ordinator reports about the work of the Group at Executive Committee meetings and in an Annual Report to the General Assembly.
The Project Working Group (PWG)
Between Annual Meetings, the work is processed in a Project Working Group (PWG) consisting of officers, with one representative and a substitute from each NSC country. The Country Representative has the task of spreading information and gathering the views of the NSCEG members in each country. The PWG meets 2 - 3 times a year to take initiatives and develop co-operation projects and tasks remitted by the NSC Executive Committee or General Assembly. Most PWG meetings are led by the NSCEG political chair and attended by a representative from the NSC secretariat.
At present (May 2006) the Country Representaives in the PWG are:
DENMARK
Susy Lauesen
Nordjyllands Amt
Phone: +45-96 35 10 00
E-mail: sl@nja.dk
ENGLAND
Jerry Hindle
Suffolk County Council
Phone: +44-1473 583 172
E-mail: jerry.hindle@et.suffolkcc.gov.uk
FRANCE
Vacant
GERMANY
Vacant
THE NETHERLANDS
Hans van Meerendonk
Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland
Provinsje Fryslân
Phone: +31-58 292 5402
E-mail: j.h.vanmeerendonk@fryslan.nl
NORWAY
Torhild A. Kongsness
Östfold fylkeskommune
Phone: +47-69 11 74 69
E-mail: torkon@ostfold-f.kommune.no
SCOTLAND
Gordon Summers
Highland Council
Phone: +44-1463 702 508
E-mail: gordon.summers@highland.gov.uk
SWEDEN
Vacant
Start
