Sustainability Charter

General and economic principles

Individually and collectively we will:

Principle 1

Promote and demonstrate sustainability through the integration of environmental, social and economic considerations into all aspects of our activities and policies.

We recognise that Sustainability is not an unchanging state, but a dynamic process which both allows for and requires continuous improvement.

Principle 2

Wherever possible ensure that Wolverhampton does not export problems to the wider environment or the future. We will support the principles of Fair Trade and encourage decision-making that addresses the cumulative, long term, indirect, long distance and global consequences of activity.

We will support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights and ensure we are not complicit in human rights abuses, conflict, or forced, compulsory or child labour.

Principle 3

Seek to meet local needs as locally as is possible

Principle 4

Pursue social inclusion and the eradication of poverty.

Principle 5

Promote a vibrant, diverse and stable local economy with strong links to the wider urban, rural, regional and national economies.

Principle 6

Support the development of the social economy and encourage access to community managed forms of finance such as credit unions and community banking, as well as removing the barriers to accessing traditional banking and credit systems.

Principle 7

Promote a wide range of opportunities for participation in life-long learning ensuring high quality, high levels of educational attainment, universal access and relevance to identified skills deficits within the City.

Principle 8

Seek to increase the number of people in the City in employment through the creation of high quality new employment opportunities within environmentally and socially sound competitive enterprise.

We will value the significant contribution to the quality of life in Wolverhampton of volunteer and unpaid work.