Members of the ESDP
All these organisations have a commitment to promoting Sustainable Development. Clicking on a link here will jump down the page to more information about that organisation. From there, links to the organisations' websites can be found by clicking on the organisation title or logo.
Business Environment Network
Business Environment Partnership
City of Edinburgh Council
Cockburn Association
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise
Edinburgh Greenbelt Trust
Edinburgh University
Enviros
EVOC
Forward Scotland
Friends of the Earth Scotland
Keep Scotland Beautiful
LEEP
NHS Lothian
Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and the Lothians
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Water
SEPA
SISTech
TRANSform Scotland
Business Environment Network
The Business Environment Network (BEN) is a special programme hosted by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise (ECCE). It aims to raise awareness within small and medium sized enterprises of environmental management and Sustainable Development issues and to demonstrate the financial and operational benefits that can arise from adopting best practice in these areas. It does this through the dissemination of information, the organisation of events and the identification of sources of advice and support.
BEN has one part time member of staff from ECCE and is funded from the membership fees of its 60 members, sponsorship and EEP grant.
Areas of specific interest include energy efficiency, environmental management, water preservation, recycling and environmental related legislation (e.g. Climate Change Levy).
BEN represents business and economic interests on the ESDP as well as wider issues of Sustainable Development.
Business Environment Partnership
The Business Environment Partnership is the trading arm of Midlothian Enterprise Trust. It is a not for profit company limited by guarantee and employs 12 staff. Its objectives are to promote waste minimisation, adoption of Environmental Management Systems (e.g. ISO 14001) and other sustainable technologies and techniques amongst small and medium sized enterprises (SME's).
BEP has 45 partners including Edinburgh, East, Mid and West Lothian Councils, five Scottish Enterprise Local Enterprise Companies and a number of waste management companies. It is funded by partner organisations and Landfill Tax credit funds.
BEP provides free consultancy advice, financial support and structured programmes for SME's seeking to introduce environmental management systems, reduce waste and improve the overall sustainability of their business operations. To date it as helped 450 companies achieve an annual cost saving of £3 million.
Programme activities are focused on waste management and minimisation, clean manufacturing technology, renewable technology, sustainable product design and the business benefits accruing from adopting these.
BEP can represent the interests of SME's on the ESDP as well as using its own expertise to support the overall partnership aims and to increase its influence and impact within the City of Edinburgh.
City of Edinburgh Council
The City Of Edinburgh Council coordinates the work of the City Plan “A Vision for Edinburgh.” This involves working in partnership for the benefit of the community throughout the City. Seven key strategic themes are identified in the plan, one of which is “the environment - quality and sustainability.”
This theme is further developed in the Council's own Sustainable Development strategy, “Towards a Sustainable Council,” which states; “(We are) committed to the pursuit of sustainable development. We aim to integrate sustainability into all of our polices and practices and promote sustainability across Edinburgh in partnership with all sectors of our community.”
The council provides administrative support for the Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership which was set up to produce the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan 2000.
The Council's commitment to sustainable development and to working in partnership is demonstrated through its active membership in the ESDP.
Cockburn Association
The Cockburn Association (Edinburgh Civic Trust) is a campaigning organisation which aims to protect and enhance the architectural and natural heritage of the City of Edinburgh, encourage the sustainable development of the City and foster public interest and involvement in the planning process.
To do this it: -
- Monitors all planning applications within the city and will respond to those that are at odds with its aims;
- Comments on Local and Structure Plans;
- Comments on all relevant papers, polices, special advice notes from Central and Local Government;
- Facilitates the involvement of communities and civic groups in the planning process.
In particular it focuses on issues such as land use planning, transportation, recognition and protection of heritage, urban design, air quality and recycling.
It is a membership organisation with Charitable Status, 2.5 staff and is funded through membership donations. It has approximately 1000 individual and 20 corporate members. It also has 70 affiliated groups (including street associations for every street in the new town).
There is a close relationship between the aims and objectives of the ESDP and the Cockburn Association and membership provides the Cockburn Association the opportunity to be involved in a wider range of sustainable development issues than it would otherwise be able to cover on its own.
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise
The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise (ECCE) is a membership organisation for Edinburgh and Lothian's businesses. It is funded by membership subscriptions plus fees for delivery of services. It has approximately 2000 members and employs 46 staff.
ECCE aims to support and promote the interests of its members and the wider business community. It organises frequent networking events, and provides a range of specific services including: -
- business training
- business development and start up services (on behalf of Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian's)
- grant applications (administers grant schemes for the City of Edinburgh Council.)
- international trade advice
It also organises a number of special support programmes for including young entrepreneurs (The Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust), multi-cultural issues (Ethnic Enterprise Centre), skills placement programmes (Graduates for Growth) and environmental issues (Business Environment Network).
Particular focus is given to issues such as land use planning, transportation, waste and energy and resource use.
Membership of the ESDP provides representation for the business community on city wide Sustainable Development issues that impact on business. It also provides the Chamber the opportunity to develop closer links with other non-business organisations within the city.
The Edinburgh Greenbelt Trust
The EGBT is a charitable trust with six staff. It was established to protect and enhance the environment and natural heritage within the Green Belt. The Trust aims to secure sustainable management; open up greater opportunities for access to and enjoyment of the countryside, encourage greater understanding and commitment from the whole community and forge a partnership involving everyone who has a role to play.
This is achieved through the initiation and involvement in practical projects aimed at: -
- Influencing local planning policies that relate to the green belt area
- Stimulating and encouraging local people to care for the needs of their local environment
- Working with farmers and other landowners to help them improve their own environment through a programme of woodland planting and management, restoration of dikes and hedges, and habitat improvement
- Preservation and restoration of local historic structures
- Advising on the availability of, and helping to secure, grants for project work
- Providing training opportunities in practical conservation skills
Particular focus is given to issues such as land use planning, biodiversity, natural heritage and improving quality of life through access and enjoyment of natural environment.
The Edinburgh Green Belt Trust shares many common aims with the ESDP and membership allows it to be involved in a wider range of planning and policy issues impacting on the green belt than it could do on its own.
Edinburgh University
The University of Edinburgh is one of Scotland's oldest and most prestigious Universities, with a strong research focus. It provides a wide range of undergraduate and post-graduate courses to over 20,000 students annually and is a major employer in the city with 6,700 staff, occupying 500,000 sq.m in 200 buildings within the city.
The University is committed to sustainable development and adopted an Environmental Policy in 1993. The University aims to adopt best practice in its own operations and has taken steps to mainstream sustainable development in its curriculum ("greening the curriculum").
The University recognises that major improvements in the Sustainable Development of the City can only be achieved in partnerships with other organisations. Membership of the ESDP allows the University to contribute to this partnership working and to share its own experiences and best practice.
Enviros
Enviros is a consultancy which employs 350 people worldwide through ten offices in the UK, two in Europe and one in Canada.
Enviros focuses on projects to improve the sustainability of organisational activities in both the public and private sector. Particular areas of work include climate change, corporate strategy, environmental due diligence (related to business purchase or takeover), integrated waste management, land and water (inc. EMS), planning and permitting (inc. EIA's), quantitative risk assessment and software solutions.
Enviros aims to promote sustainable development and can bring a wide range of environmental and business experience to the ESDP.
EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council)
EVOC is an independent company limited by guarantee, with charitable status. It is a membership organisation with a governing board made up of individuals working in the voluntary sector. The organisation has 35 staff and is funded by the Scottish Executive and membership subscriptions
EVOC aims to:-
- Support the infrastructure for voluntary organisations and groups
- Develop capacity in the voluntary sector
- Act as a representative and voice for the voluntary sector
- Act as a bridge between its members and large organisations (local authorities, Police, Health Board etc)
Membership of ESDP provides a route for the voluntary sector to be involved in the shaping of the sustainable development agenda and strategies within the city.
Forward Scotland
Forward Scotland is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. It employs 17 staff. It aims to promote sustainable development in Scotland through practical projects and policy development. Partnership working arrangements with other organisations and focus on community based projects and development are key elements of its work. The organisation has a project development budget of £60,000 but primarily manages the distribution of funds from external sources.
Examples of work include:-
- Joint management with Scottish Natural Heritage of the £3 Million, Lottery Funded, Fresh Futures grant programme to support projects that help communities understand, improve, use and enjoy their local environment.
- Distribution of landfill tax grants from Viridor Credits and Paterson's.
- Management of the Scottish Executive funding for a small projects grant scheme.
- Management of BP funded Jobs in the Environment Programme aimed at maximising impact of the New Deal Environment Task Force Option within Scotland and supporting the development of pathways into employment in 'environmental' related industries.
Membership of the ESDP helps Forward Scotland to maintain a valuable link with contacts and initiatives going on within Edinburgh.
Friends of the Earth Scotland
Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoE Scotland) is a campaigning membership organisation with independent charitable status, 15 staff members and 5000 members. The focus of its work is on environmental justice: the right of everyone in Scotland and elsewhere in the world to have a decent environment and a fare share of the earth's resources.
A wide range of campaigns have been carried out within Scotland over the last 20 years aimed at bringing about renewable energy, better public transport, cleaner rivers and beaches, and freedom of information. Current campaigns include: -
- Environmental justice
- Real food
- Industry and pollution
- Energy and Climate
- Eradication of fuel poverty
- Good neighbourhood agreements linking communities and industry
- Third party rights of appeal
Campaigns are backed up with research and survey work and results are published. FoE Scotland also carries out practical advisory, educational and training programmes on environmental justice and green office policies and practice.
While FoE Scotland is a national organisation, Edinburgh is strategically important as the capital city, and membership of the partnership provides FoE Scotland with an opportunity to be involved in the debate about Sustainable Development within the city.
Keep Scotland Beautiful
Keep Scotland Beautiful is part of ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns), a national environmental charity whose aims are to improve the quality of local environments. ENCAMS works with community groups, local authorities, businesses and other partners in order to promote a litter free and sustainable environment.
The key issues that ENCAMS focuses on are:
- Litter deposition
- Prevention of rubbish
- Improvement and maintenance of local environments
Keep Scotland Beautiful supports the work of the ESDP and in turn the partnership helps provide a link through which to promote the work of Keep Scotland Beautiful in the city.
LEEP (Lothian and Edinburgh Environment Partnership)
LEEP is a limited company operating as a not for profit Charity. It employs 53 staff and is a registered Environmental Body enabling it to access Land Fill Tax funds.
LEEP delivers a number of educational and service based projects which promote sustainable development with a particular interest in the alleviation of poverty and disadvantage. The main focus of this work is therefore eco-efficiency in the areas of recycling and energy efficiency. LEEP works on both a local and national level depending on project or service area.
LEEP is committed to partnership working and seeks to promote and support partnerships such as the ESDP where they are consistent with its aims.
NHS Lothian
Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and the Lothians
Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian's purpose is to help deliver jobs, prosperity and opportunity for people throughout the Lothian's, and to help the whole Scottish economy to grow. SEEL is part of the wider Scottish Enterprise network, Scotland's main economic development agency which is funded by the Scottish Executive.
SEEL works in partnership with the private and public sectors and aims to secure the long-term future of the Scottish economy by making industries more competitive.
SEEL seeks to achieve this through:
- creating new businesses
- helping existing businesses and organisations to grow
- helping people to improve their skills and job prospects
- creating a modern business environment
This means that SEEL has important responsibilities to individuals, businesses and the environment and SEEL seeks to achieve a balance in these responsibilities by promoting sustainable development. The ESDP provides an opportunity for SEEL to represent business interests in the sustainable development of the city and to support the work of the partnership in this area.
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage is a non-departmental public body funded by the Scottish Executive with responsibility for the protection and enhancement of Scotland's countryside and wildlife. It has a statutory duty under the Wildlife and Countryside Act for the protection of designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest SSSIs and Special Protection Areas SPAs.
SNH provides advice and guidance to Government, Local Authorities and other bodies in relation to Natural Heritage protection, enhancement and access matters, and must be consulted in relation to all planning matters involving SSSIs and SPAs.
SNH plays an educational role, working with schools and other bodies to improve the public's awareness and understanding of environmental and countryside issues. It also provides funding and grants for projects, initiatives and other bodies working in support of SNH objectives (e.g. Council Ranger Service, national and country parks etc.).
Much of SNH's work focuses on issues such as biodiversity, environmental protection, landscape enhancement, public amenity and access to the countryside (quality of life)
There are strong links between SNH objectives and other key Sustainable Development issues dealt with by the ESDP such as transportation, waste, energy and resource use. SNH is seeking to increase awareness of environmental issues and membership of the partnership provides an opportunity to do this.
Scottish Water
SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)
SEPA is a statutory body with responsibility for protection of the land, air and water in Scotland as set out in the Environment and Protection Act 1995. It has 900 staff based in 22 offices throughout Scotland and aims to provide an efficient and integrated environmental protection system that will improve the environment and contribute to the Scottish Executive's goal of sustainable development.
In broad terms, SEPA regulates:-
- Activities that may pollute water
- Activities that may pollute air
- Storage, transport and disposal of waste
- Keeping and disposal of radioactive materials.
Some of SEPA's other principal responsibilities include:
- Maintaining a flood warning system
- Implementing the National Waste Strategy
- Controlling, with the Health and Safety Executive, the risk of major accidents at industrial sites
- Operating the Scottish part of the Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network.
SEPA is committed to developing partnership working and the aims of the interests of the ESDP are either directly or closely related to the work of SEPA. ESDP membership provides a forum for SEPA
SISTech
The Scottish Institute of Sustainable Technology, known as SISTech, is a not-for-profit organisation specialising in Sustainable Development.
SISTech delivers high quality, enduring solutions for Sustainable Development. We do this through innovative research, policy and technical advice and by practical application.
SISTech was founded in 1999 as a joint venture between Heriot Watt University and Scottish Enterprise. It is located on Heriot Watt University's campus at Riccarton, offering specialist knowledge, advice and services in sustainable development (SD.)
SISTech also represents Heriot-Watt University on the ESDP.
TRANSform Scotland
TRANSform Scotland campaigns for a more sensible transport system, one less dependent on unsustainable modes such as the car and the heavy lorry, and more reliant on sustainable modes such as walking, cycling and public transport. Its 55 member organisations include local authorities, national environmental organisations and local cycling and rail campaigns.