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On 13 November 2008, the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) published a report (Capability for local sustainability) which seeks to assess how to improve the capability of local government and its partners to deliver sustainable development.
The SDC has defined ‘capability’ as the degree to which organisations have the leadership, attitudes, knowledge, culture, skills/competencies, tools and resources to put sustainable development into practice through their own policies and programmes.
The report concludes that local authorities and their partners are not yet maximising the immense potential they have to contribute to sustainable development. Although research highlights many examples of good practice, available evidence also demonstrates that delivery is being hampered by limitations in capability for local sustainability and limitations in the support available to help deliver sustainable development.