Since 2002, the Government has required all bureaux and departments to conduct sustainability assessments of major initiatives and to highlight the findings and implications in submissions to the Policy Committee and Executive Council and in public consultation documents. The Environment Bureau's Sustainable Development Division processed 139 sustainability assessments in 2007.

The Division has developed a Computer-Aided Sustainability Evaluation Tool to assist Government officials in carrying out their assessments. It is built around eight guiding principles relating to the economy, health and hygiene, natural resources, society and social infrastructure, biodiversity, leisure and cultural vibrancy, environmental quality, and mobility.