Healthy and sustainable lifestyles
NCB policy priority for 2009/10
The UK Government uses the widely accepted definition of
sustainable development as: meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.
We know that children and young people are
concerned about the impact of human actions on the planet and
frustrated by adult’s inaction to change behaviour.
Sustainable development is at the heart of
achieving a range of positive health, social and economic outcomes
for children and young people. Research shows that environmental
problems created by climate change create barriers to achieving
positive health and well being, and therefore the goals of the
Every Children Matters agenda and the more recent Children’s
Plan.
Further effort is needed to embed the
principles of sustainable development into all areas of policy that
affect children and young people, and to support children and young
people themselves to make change.
NCB is campaigning for:
- An integrated approach to promoting health, well-being and
sustainable lifestyles at the national and local level;
- Greater opportunities for children and young people to lead
change towards a more sustainable future
- Government to work with partners to develop the children and
young people’s workforce to support children and young people to
live sustainably
- Government, local authorities, schools and other partners to
further explore the role of schools in preparing children and young
people to live more sustainably
- Government to work with the media and industry to support the
commercial world to promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles to
children and young people
More information on well-being.