"The front cover of Issue 49 says it all: "making great strides" is an accurate description of the key part that sustainÕ has played in the advance of the environmental movement in the UK, and those of us who have been proud members of the editorial board thank Jim McClelland for his personal inspiration. It is almost 20 years since I joined the board of The Environment Council. In those days, the Government White Paper 'This Common Inheritance' followed by the Environment Protection Act 1990 paved the way for the rise and rise of the 'green' movement in the UK. The corporate world was not always responsive to the suggestions of The Council, which was then perceived as the 'green ACAS', as it sought to resolve environmental disputes within local communities. Company boards seemed more anxious about avoiding demonstrations by environmentally-concerned shareholders at the AGM, than about taking active steps to change their corporate behaviour. How times have changed!

"There is an environment story in most national papers on most days, and the environment correspondents, many of whom have been around for 20 years, find it so much easier to secure space for their copy. This level of communication has helped the green NGOs to grow, recruit new members, and to increase their levels of activity, almost becoming part of the establishment in the process.

"Another great stride is that there is now a Director of Environment or Sustainability on many, if not most, corporate boards, recognising the high level of concern among such audiences as employees, suppliers, shareholders and investors. Schools have environmental education as part of the national curriculum, and British families are beginning to see 'being green' as second nature, as the Danish, Dutch, Germans and Swedes have done for years, with waste to energy and recycling.

"A further great stride is the rise in importance of renewable energy, as companies and families appreciate the value of saving carbon. Onshore wind has enabled local communities to generate their own power, PV panels are becoming commonplace on the roofs of new houses, schools and garages, tidal power from the River Severn is being taken seriously by government at long last, and biomass is also playing its part. Renewables are the future, and government is recognising this.

"The political world has seen the value of embedding the environment and sustainability within the general policy spectrum. David Cameron made the environment his top issue within his first year as Opposition Leader, and it is still a mainstream factor in his daily life, and in his policy development. It is interesting that commentators are now asking whether it is still relevant to adopt an environmentally-friendly lifestyle during the current credit crunch? The answer is clearly yes, as saving energy means saving money as well as the planet, recycling rubbish saves in the costs of council tax, and keeping the local environment clean and green is a simple way of ensuring that we protect our local communities for future generations - the true meaning of sustainability. "Long live sustain'!"

Nick Wood-Dow, Deputy Chairman, The Environment Council & Director, Chelgate Environment