Sustainability in the Public Sector provides a quick-start guide for a wide variety of public sector stakeholders, equipping them with knowledge of both the sustainable development challenges and the political backdrop to this agenda.This guide: uncovers the history of the term "sustainable development" and introduces basic sustainability theory; highlights the realities of the politics behind the sustainable development agenda, alongside the responses of successive political administrations; provides a snapshot of how sustainable development in local government is developed and demystifies the roadmap for achieving the UK’s 2050 carbon reduction targets.This book will be invaluable to a variety of public bodies, such as local authorities, and their stakeholders, including councillors, officers, members of Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Nature Partnerships, scrutiny panels and other forums, in enhancing understanding of both the sustainable development challenge facing us today and the political backdrop to this agenda.