The Government Council for Sustainable Development (GCSD) is a permanent advisory, initiating and coordinating body of the Government in the areas of sustainable development, strategic management and long-term priorities of the state.
The main tasks of the GCSD are to find consensus on long-term priorities and to assess key trends in sustainable development at national and global levels. It is also the guarantor of the implementation of the overarching strategic framework, the Czech Republic 2030 (CR 2030), which guides the development of public administration strategic materials and translates the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the Czech environment.
The basic principle of sustainable development is to ensure a balance between all pillars of sustainable development, i.e. environmental, social and economic. The Council seeks to connect experts with politicians, but also with strategic departments of ministries, as well as the professional public with civil society, to ensure a comprehensive view of the key issues affecting the development of our country.
The GCSD meets regularly three times a year in plenary session and thematic committees are used for more detailed discussions. Technical and administrative support is provided by the Sustainable Development Unit of the Ministry of the Environment (MoE).
History
The GCSD was established by Government Resolution No. 778 of 30 July 2003 as a permanent advisory, initiating and coordinating body of the Government of the Czech Republic in the field of sustainable development and strategic management. In 2003-2006 it operated under the Office of the Government, in 2006-2014 under the Ministry of the Environment, in 2014-2018 again under the Office of the Government and since 2018 it has been working again under the Ministry of the Environment.
Composition of the Government Council for Sustainable Development
The GCSD is composed of representatives of ministries, the Office of the Government, the Parliament of the Czech Republic, social partners and a wider range of non-governmental non-profit organisations and academia. The Council currently has 42 members and is chaired by the Minister of the Environment.