Mainstreaming Sustainability in Local Economic Development Practice

Sustainable development objectives now form a central part of the local economic development practitioner's remit. So an understanding of the concepts used and the tools required to mainstream sustainability is vital. The paper reviews economic, environmental and social conceptualisations of sustainability as these relate to local development practice. It distinguishes between weak sustainability 'no-regrets' policy instruments (such as ecological modernisation, industrial ecology and eco-taxes) and the ecological and social implications of a strong formulation of the concept. Strategic environmental assessment is then evaluated as an important new part of the sustainability tool-kit, which can help practitioners shape the development process in a sustainable fashion, allowing more environmentally-just outcomes.