Sustainable Development

The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations. Sustainable development is integral to the Highland Council's Programme - it focuses public services on creating a more successful region, with opportunities for all of to flourish, through sustainable economic growth.

The Highland Council Sustainable Development team is based within the Policy and Performance unit of the Chief Executives Service. They have a corporate role to integrate sustainable development principals throughout Council Services, ensuring legislation is met and progress is monitored and reported.  They are responsible for preparing policies, plans and strategies in relation to various aspects of Sustainable Development and provide information and advice to enable other Councils Services to do the same.

The Sustainable Development team is responsibility for:

• Monitoring the Council's internal environmental performance - ensuring that targets set out in Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 are met.
• Reporting progress to various Committees (Resources Committee, Climate Change Working Group. Land, Environment and Sustainability Strategy Group) and to the Scottish Government.
• Working with communities and organisations to promote action within the region through the Highland Environment Network.
• Working with partner organisations through the Highland Environment Forum
• Coordinating Sustainable Development Education
• Strategic Environmental Assessments - monitoring, training and coordination
• Communication and behavioural change 

The Sustainable Development team work closely with other departments in the Council.  Please contact the following departments for relevant queries: 

• Energy and Sustainability,

• Waste Management,

• Biodiversity,

• Transport, Environment and Community Services,  and

• Planning and Development. 

General information is available on the links to the right of the page or can be obtained by contacting:

Ailsa Villegas
Sustainable Development Officer
The Highland Council,
address Street Glenurquhart Road,
Inverness, IV3 5NX
telephone: 01463 702543
email: ailsa.villegas@highland.gov.uk