Professional Documents
Culture Documents
a better
quality
of life
Review of progress towards
sustainable development
February 2003
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
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Published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Printed in the UK, February 2003 on material
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Front cover: Satellite image of the UK: NERC Satellite Receiving Station, University of Dundee
CONTENTS
PRIME MINISTER’S FOREWORD 5
INTRODUCTION 9
The Summit helped highlight how the poorest people on our planet also suffer most from
environmental problems. Over a billion people worldwide, for instance, still have no access
to clean water. And it is the poorest countries that are least well-equipped to deal with
environmental problems such as climate change. At the Summit we also began to put in
place the policies to tackle these problems, both through international efforts and
partnership agreements.
I’m proud that the UK has taken a leading role internationally on poverty alleviation, debt
relief, trade reform and on encouraging better long-term environmental policies. I want the
UK to step up its efforts both nationally and with our partners in the coming years.
I am determined, too, that we will do more at home. Here in the UK, people on low incomes
are also more likely to suffer the worst local environmental problems, from traffic fumes and
poor quality housing, to dirty streets and inadequate local amenities. But all of us pay a heavy
price in our overall quality of life.
It was to give fresh momentum to our drive to tackle these problems that we set out in
1999 a wide range of headline indicators to help us measure sustainable development. It was
a bold step, making us the first country in the world to report annually on progress towards
sustainable development in this way.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
As you will see, many of these indicators show excellent progress, thanks to the efforts of
Government departments, agencies, local authorities, businesses, non-governmental bodies
and communities themselves. And the report challenges the myth that economic
improvements are at the expense of the environment. We have reduced our emissions of
greenhouse gases and improved the quality of our rivers and air, alongside real improvements
in socio-economic indicators such as child poverty and unemployment.
But there can be no room for complacency. We clearly need to address the areas where we
could do better. And this report will help make sure we do.
Only by holding ourselves to account in this way – as a government but also as a country – will
we continue to achieve, together, the better quality of life we want for ourselves and our children.
TONY BLAIR
6
FOREWORD
By the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs –
The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP
Few of you will have failed to notice the importance of 2002 for
sustainable development.
Achieving sustainable development requires innovation and a mix of policy measures and
individual commitment. Sustainable development “should free our thinking and challenge our
actions” as one participant in a recent discussion forum on the Government’s sustainable
development website put it. It demands action at all levels, from the global agreements made
at the Johannesburg Summit to action at the community level and by individuals.
I am determined to ensure that the Johannesburg Summit marks the beginning of a new
phase of implementation and action.To champion co-operation and co-ordination across
Government to embed the Summit outcomes in our existing approaches to issues as diverse
as renewable energy, waste, biodiversity, fisheries and oceans, trade and market access, and
tackling poverty. I am especially aware that the single most important issue for my
department to follow up after Johannesburg is improved market access and subsidy reform
in the agricultural sector.This will support both our environmental and international
development policies. We are negotiating hard to achieve reforms to the Common
Agricultural Policy that will result in a better deal for our communities, developing countries,
and the environment.
Our 1999 Sustainable Development Strategy, ‘a better quality of life’, set the framework for
achieving sustainable development in this country.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
This annual report, the third since the Strategy, illustrates some of the changes that are
already in train: businesses working in innovative ways to increase their resource productivity;
local authorities working to reduce fuel poverty; communities with renewable energy
partnerships and schools with educational recycling programmes.
The 15 headline indicators of sustainable development also show that progress is clearly
being made across the three pillars of economic, social and environmental indicators.
However there is still a considerable way to go.
Crime and waste are just two of the areas where we will need to redouble our efforts to
ensure that we improve quality of life in the years to come. In the Strategy we made it clear
that action would be taken where a trend in the indicators was unacceptable. We remain
strongly committed to doing this and will continue to develop cross-government policies and
initiatives such as the Street Crime Initiative and others detailed in the report.
Of course, we won’t convince anyone unless we act too. We need to work hard to make the
principles and objectives laid out in the Strategy integral to the way that departments work,
to bring the challenges of sustainable development into the very heart of Government. Last
year saw the first Sustainable Development in Government Report and the launch of the
Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.This showed that we
still have a lot to do, but the Government-wide targets on travel, water usage and the roll-out
of environmental management systems are a strong start, and the requirement for all
Departments to produce Sustainable Development Reports alongside their bids in the 2002
Spending Review was an important step forward.
2002 was an important year for sustainable development. Now we must build on this to
ensure that the same can be said of the years to come.
MARGARET BECKETT
8
INTRODUCTION
In ‘a better quality of life’, the Strategy for sustainable development for the UK (1999), the
Government made a commitment to report annually on progress towards sustainable
development in the UK as a whole.
This report, the third in the series, sets out progress made in 2002. In addition to bringing
together the latest data available up to the end of 2002 on the 15 headline indicators which
comprise the ‘quality of life barometer’ (Chapter Three) and highlighting the main strategic
developments in 2002 (Chapter One), it also contains a wide range of case-studies
showing some of the cross-cutting action being carried out across the UK to further
sustainable development (Chapter Two/Three).
The report covers developments within the European Union and in the wider international
context, but focuses on progress in the UK within:
● central government;
● the first meeting of Parties to the Aarhus Convention in Lucca in October which bought
into force the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in
Decision Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, and set out a new work
programme in support of sustainable development and environmental democracy;
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
The fifteen headline indicators show progress being made across the three pillars of
sustainable development: economic, social, and environment.The assessments for four of the
indicators have been split into two components to better reflect the trends within them; so
in all there are now nineteen assessments.
In assessing progress since the Strategy the indicators show there are:
● three red lights, indicating significant decline (significant change in direction away from
meeting objective); and
Although half the assessments are green lights, further progress is still required; these are
simply a reflection of the improvements made since the Strategy.
This report does not provide an update on every issue included in the Strategy; it
concentrates on cross-cutting initiatives which either contribute to or present a challenge to
sustainable development.
For further information on sustainable development and any issues discussed in this report
visit www.sustainable-development.gov.uk
10
CHAPTER ONE
Strategic Direction
1.1 To make sustainable development a reality it must be built into policies and decisions at all
levels. We need specific measures to drive change, both at home and abroad.This Chapter
looks at some of the highlights and key developments of sustainable development in a
strategic context in 2002, internationally and in Europe, but particularly in the UK.
1.2 A decade on from the Rio Earth Summit, the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) held in August-September 2002 in Johannesburg marked another important step on
the road towards achieving sustainable development.
1.3 Taken as a whole, the negotiations at Johannesburg were a success. Johannesburg recognised
that progress in the last ten years had been limited. International political momentum has
been reinvigorated recently, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Doha (November
2001) agreeing an agenda for a development-focused World Trade Round, and agreements at
the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development (March 2002) to increase the
volume and effectiveness of international aid. But the real successes will be measured by how
these agreements are translated into actions in the months and years to come; and how well
we establish sustainable development and the objectives outlined above as our central
operating principles for policy making.
1.4 WSSD secured commitments across a wide range of issues and sectors.The targets and
work programmes agreed at WSSD are of course aspirational, rather than legally binding.
However they give a strong global mandate for action in these areas.The targets set
standards against which to measure progress, and they make it easier to be held to account
by other stakeholders. Whether the targets are reached and the work programmes achieve
their goals depends on the resources – human and financial – devoted to them by all
governments and international bodies.
1.5 The UK has taken concrete steps to honour the pledge at Monterrey to increase official
development assistance (ODA) – following the 2002 Spending Review in July, the UK’s ODA
budget will increase by £1.5 billion to reach nearly £4.6 billion by 2005-06. In the same way,
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
the United Kingdom should also pioneer implementation of the World Summit outcomes.
We are aiming for a rapid and effective implementation of what was agreed at the Summit,
with the public sector taking an active lead in producing concrete results.The partnerships
formed before the Summit, and arising from it, remain a key focus. We will continue the
momentum to drive these forward, but also use this opportunity to secure a step-change in
the delivery of our domestic policies.These commitments will impact across Government,
with a range of departments taking the lead on specific commitments.
1.6 Rather than establishing a separate process for following up WSSD, the Government intends
to mainstream follow-up actions into departments’ work, building on existing processes.The
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is working with other UK
Government departments on their plans to translate WSSD commitments into their delivery
plans for Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs).The Government will also take WSSD
outcomes into account in the forthcoming review of ‘a better quality of life’, the Strategy for
sustainable development for the UK. Government departments will also look for additional
opportunities to develop joint targets and delivery plans where responsibilities fall to more
than one department, for example, on corporate social responsibility, sustainable production
and consumption, and the Doha Development Agenda. Indeed on this latter point a joint
target has already been agreed between the Department of Trade and Industry, the
Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
1.7 Internationally the UK will continue to work to improve the effectiveness of the international
development effort so that poverty is reduced and the Millennium Development Goals are
achieved.The agreements reached at WSSD – particularly on access to sanitation and the
importance of energy services – provide important additions to the existing international
consensus. We will continue to support the integration of environmental sustainability into
the Poverty Reduction Strategies of developing countries. We will also continue to support
the United Nations and other institutions in the integration of sustainable development in
their operations and policies, focusing on implementation rather than further negotiation.
1.8 But as well as working with developing countries to encourage all development to be
sustainable development, we must also address our own policies.
1.9 The G8 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will be
useful fora for taking forward specific issues – these will be elaborated with partners over the
coming year. Within the European Union (EU) we will continue to push for policy coherence
and a focus on practical implementation of WSSD outcomes in the 2003 review of the EU’s
Sustainable Development Strategy. We need to reform trade-distorting and environmentally-
damaging subsidies so that developing countries can compete in world markets, particularly in
agriculture, fisheries and energy.
1.10 In the UK, the most important domestic commitment we made at WSSD was to shoulder
our responsibility, as an industrialised country, to work towards sustainable patterns of
production and consumption – meeting our economic, social and environmental objectives
through more efficient use of resources and decoupling economic growth from environmental
degradation.This is a potentially massive agenda, so a key challenge will be establishing a clear
and practical vision for taking it forward. Over the next few months Defra will be working
with others to develop a strategy for sustainable consumption and production, incorporating
resource productivity, which will set out what the Government is already doing and identify
what more needs to be done. As this will form part of our follow up to WSSD, it will also
take account of the work being pursued with our partners in the EU and by other
international bodies.
12
Strategic Direction
1.11 We also have key commitments to reach targets to increase renewable energy use and to
significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity. Outside of WSSD commitments, we also
need to take action on climate change.
1.13 Each English Region has developed a sustainable development framework, through partnerships
of key stakeholders including Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies, and
they now face similar challenges and opportunities to the devolved administrations.
1.15 The Executive’s commitment to sustainable development is driven forward by the Cabinet
Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland (CSCSS), which is chaired by the First Minister, Jack
McConnell. As well as drawing together key Ministers with responsibility for the environment,
transport, planning, housing and finance the Sub-Committee has three external members –
Kevin Dunion, Friends of the Earth Scotland; Mark Hope, Shell Expro; and Jan Bebbington,
Aberdeen University.The remit of CSCSS is to identify priorities for action on sustainable
development in Scotland, co-ordinate implementation action, support Cabinet colleagues in
embedding sustainable development in their policies and programmes and to report progress
to the Cabinet at regular intervals. Details of CSCSS are published on the Sustainable
Scotland website: www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk
1.16 Much of the Executive’s work in 2002 has been in delivering the four point action plan for
sustainable development in Scotland announced in October 2001.That action plan included:
● developing a clear statement of what sustainable development means for the Scottish
Executive and how it will work towards greater sustainability;
1.17 The First Minister made his first major speech on sustainable development at the ERM
Scotland Environment Forum in February 2002. He emphasised how important it is for
everyone to take responsibility for the environment, that caring about environmental issues
can no longer be seen as a luxury, and his own determination that government should lead
by example. One of the means through which this may be realised, he said, was through the
Spending Review (see below). Other early actions set out by Mr McConnell included those
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
on setting higher targets for recycling and renewable energy. He also said that businesses
needed to be encouraged to become ‘good neighbours’.The speech challenged the assertion
that there need be a conflict between economic progress and environmental protection. He
also highlighted the importance of balancing these considerations with social justice and
introduced his commitment to environmental justice – that Scotland’s poorest and least
powerful communities should not also be those that suffer the most from the worst
environmental conditions.
Spending Review
1.19 Sustainable development, along with the Executive’s five priorities for action – health,
education, crime, transport and jobs – and closing the opportunity gap were fixed as the
priorities for the Spending Review. Departments were tasked to produce draft aims,
objectives and targets for their portfolios, along with a detailed assessment of what the
spending in their area would achieve. As part of this, they were required to demonstrate how
they had taken account of these priorities. In September 2002, the Executive set out spending
proposals in ‘Building a Better Scotland’, including a number of major commitments to
sustainable development in Scotland. Further details of the work of each department to
promote sustainable development were published in November in ‘Building a Sustainable
Scotland’. For further information visit www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk
14
Strategic Direction
1.22 As part of that work, Sustainable Northern Ireland Programme, a local independent NGO,
has been working with communities and with local government to develop appropriate
responses to the sustainable development challenge.That has included work on community
visioning, community indicators, local action planning, local economy projects and community
waste minimisation projects.This work has been linked to local government through
sustainability indicator projects, corporate strategy development, sustainable development
strategy development and environmental management systems.
1.23 In addition, the Department of the Environment consulted on proposals for a sustainable
development strategy for Northern Ireland and has engaged with a range of sectors
representing a cross-cutting slice of public and civic society. By engaging with Sustainable
Northern Ireland Programme the department has been able to use new methods of
consultation and a totally new way to engage groups who would never before have met with
policy officials from government.
1.24 Some examples include an Education Sector consultation with the School of the Built
Environment, University of Ulster, and the School of Environmental Planning, Queens
University Belfast. In the case of the latter the students engaged the university community of
academics and students in the consultation as part of their course.There was also a rural
process, facilitated by the Rural Community Network and consultation with the Youth Sector
involving the Youth Council and Youth NGOs. In total, eleven events were hosted with
different sectors and provided a two-way communication where each of the sectors was
better able to articulate their contribution to achieving sustainable development as well as
telling government what it should be doing.The responses to the consultation are now being
examined. For further information visit www.nics.gov.uk
“If anyone agrees with The Economist’s recent conclusion that sustainable
development is ‘a rather woolly concept’, all very well in theory but impossible to
put into practice, I’m putting them on the first train to Cardiff. …..That’s not to
say that Wales has all the answers to its serious and complex challenges… But it
does seem that Wales is trying to tackle these issues with gusto and tenacity, in a
holistic, long term way, looking for the mutually reinforcing economic,
environmental and social benefits sustainable development requires.”
Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission,
Jonathon Porritt, August 2002
1.25 From its inception, the National Assembly for Wales has tried to take sustainable
development into account in all its work, and this ‘mainstreaming’ approach has been taken
forward by the Welsh Assembly Government in respect not only of its policies and
programmes but also its internal decision-making processes.
● the National Assembly for Wales’s statutory duties regarding sustainable development;
● the commitments in the Assembly’s Sustainable Development Scheme, especially that the
Assembly will take sustainable development into account in everything it does;
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
● the structures the Welsh Assembly Government has put in place to meet these
commitments, including a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development (papers
and minutes of which are published on the internet) and a 3-year partnership with
Forum for the Future;
● how the Welsh Assembly Government’s corporate plan, ‘Plan for Wales 2001’, and
strategic policies on economic development, farming, planning, transport, Information
Communications and Technology and community regeneration are contributing to
sustainable development;
● the partnerships the Welsh Assembly Government is fostering to help deliver sustainable
development ‘on the ground’.
1.27 Further details of these, and of the Welsh sustainable development indicators, are given in the
Welsh Assembly Government’s annual report for 2001-02, available on the Assembly’s
sustainable development website (the annual report for 2002-03 should be available there
too in April 2003).
1.28 This report relates specifically to what has happened during the period from January to
December 2002.
1.29 Building sustainable development into the Assembly’s mainstream programmes remains at the
heart of its work. Over the course of the year, with help from Forum for the Future, the
Welsh Assembly Government has developed and piloted a top-level sustainability appraisal
methodology, or integration tool, and (from September 2002) has started to roll it out for all
policy-making.This draws on the ‘Plan for Wales 2001’. It sits alongside a suite of materials
designed to improve the formulation, consultation on, communication, implementation and
evaluation of policy.
1.30 Sustainable development is taken into account in Assembly budget decisions.This year, for the
first time, reducing Wales’s Ecological Footprint – the demands Wales places on the earth’s
resources – was identified as one of the focal themes for the spending round.
1.31 A Green Policy Statement and Action Plan for the National Assembly for Wales were
launched in June 2002, covering the Assembly’s own operations. Within a year, all electricity
for its largest site is to be procured from renewable sources, amounting to around 70 per
cent of the Assembly’s total electricity consumption.
1.32 A Compact was agreed in October 2002 between the Welsh Assembly Government and the
Welsh Local Government Association, to provide a framework for working relationships to
pursue sustainable development co-operatively in Wales. It will be supported by structured
plans for action, updated regularly.
1.33 During the course of the year, the Welsh Assembly Government has supported moves to
establish an independent Sustainable Development Forum for Wales to become a catalyst for
change in all sectors of Welsh society, map the path towards sustainable development, and
stimulate practical action. After engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, this was
established in December 2002 as a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee.
16
Strategic Direction
1.34 Amongst the specific initiatives mentioned in the 2001 report was a successful bid for
European Commission support for a €4 million programme, under the European Regional
Development Fund Regional Programme of Innovation Actions.The four projects included in
the bid are now under way. For further information visit www.sustainableregions.net
1.35 Funding for a Pan-European Regional Network on Sustainable Development was confirmed
by the European Commission in August 2002.This network (of which Wales is the designated
lead region) started work in October 2002. It will aim both to share and to develop
innovation and good practice in sustainable development, drawing on ‘Innovative Action’
projects in the partner regions.The founder members include twelve regions from EU
member states, and four partners from Accession Countries.
1.36 The Welsh Assembly Government is grateful to all its partners within Wales for their support
in preparing for, and following up on, the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Special
thanks are due to Oxfam Cymru and WWF Cymru, who co-hosted the preparatory ‘Wales
& the World Conference’ with the Assembly in April 2002. With Assembly support, the Centre
for Alternative Technology and Techniquest combined to stage two conferences for young
people either side of the Summit.The first nominated a small group to represent the young
people of Wales in Johannesburg, and the second gave those who had gone an opportunity
to report back and looked at how to carry the Summit’s deliberations forward within Wales.
The City and County of Swansea, in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government,
hosted a major conference in December 2002 on translating the Summit outcomes into
practical action.
1.37 The First Minister attended the World Summit in Johannesburg as part of the UK delegation
and was able, whilst there, to help establish a global network of regional governments
committed to sustainable development.The Welsh Assembly Government co-sponsored a
conference arranged by Stakeholder Forum for regional governments and associations of
regions, at which the First Minister chaired the session which agreed the Gauteng Declaration.
This draws attention to the importance of regional and other sub-national governments in
putting sustainable development into practice; commits its signatories to try to make all their
development sustainable development; and announces a global network of regional
governments building and exchanging good practice.
1.38 The Welsh Assembly Government looks forward to taking these and other initiatives forward
in 2003, with its partners at home and abroad. For further information visit
www.wales.gov.uk/themessustainabledev/index.htm or
www.cymru.gov.uk/themessustainabledev/index.htm
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
European Union
1.39 Sustainable development requires international co-operation on matters such as trade, the
relief of global poverty, and environmental protection. For the UK, the European Union is
especially influential.The following section focuses on the key developments in a European
context in 2002: the EU Sustainable Development Strategy; progress being made in
implementing the Aarhus Convention; sustainability impact assessment; and the advances
in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
18
Strategic Direction
global dimension in February 2002, and the Development Council agreed conclusions drawing
on this in May 2002.
1.41 Following the World Summit, the General Affairs and External Relations Council has agreed
to oversee development of an implementation plan which will follow up commitments made
at Johannesburg.The UK supports this work and hopes it will identify actions which draw on
commitments already made by the EU as well as new undertakings from Johannesburg, to
provide a practical map of how the EU is addressing its global responsibilities.
Aarhus Convention
1.42 The EU have been making progress with their proposals to implement the Aarhus
Convention. A Directive on Public Access to Environmental Information, repealing Council
Directive 90/313/EEC, was adopted in December 2002. A draft directive for public
participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the
environment has completed most of its stages in Brussels. We expect this to be adopted in
2003. Meanwhile the European Commission have also consulted on proposals for a draft
directive providing access to justice in environmental matters and on proposals for applying
the provisions of the Aarhus Convention to the institutions of the Community themselves.
1.45 For this reason the UK supports the European Commission’s most recent proposals for
reform of the CAP which will be the subject of intense negotiations into 2003. Internationally,
reform is essential to rectify the distortions of world markets which flow from the CAP (and
other developed country agricultural policies). It is among the very highest priorities for
developing countries who have consistently demanded that the EU reduce its subsidies
substantially, in order to allow them to compete fairly on domestic and world markets and
because of the damaging impact of EU subsidies and protection on their ability to develop
their agriculture sectors.
1.46 Implementation of the main elements of the Commission’s proposals is essential if we are to
achieve our global sustainable development goals. But reform as proposed would also assist
the EU in reaching some of its domestic sustainable development objectives, including the
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Government departments
1.49 Placing sustainable development at the heart of an organisation can be achieved in a number
of ways, including legislative approaches, policy directions by the relevant Secretary of State,
or inclusion in non-statutory aims and objectives.This section will look at two key examples
of placing sustainable development at the core of central government departments in 2002.
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Strategic Direction
“This strategy marks the start of a process by which we hope to embed the tenets
of sustainable development deep within the culture of the Department and, by
example, within Government.”
Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs,
Margaret Beckett, June 2002
1.51 The strategy provides a framework for how Defra will develop policies and states that the
department will:
● include and learn from others as much as possible, recognising that the best outcomes
usually result from a broad base of advice, evidence and opinion;
● ensure that the environmental, social and economic costs and benefits of its work are
understood and addressed; and
1.52 The strategy identifies a set of indicators which will be used to monitor Defra’s progress, and
sets the tone for future policy documents.
1.53 Following the launch of the strategy the department is carrying out an awareness raising
campaign that includes;
● professionally run discussions for Defra’s directorates to help staff fully understand the
importance of sustainable development and the contribution they can make to its
success;
● a new competency and skills framework reflecting Defra’s values, including the
behaviours needed to make sustainable development a reality;
● new and improved information for staff on the intranet and the Defra website.
1.54 Defra is committed to working in partnership with the rest of Government, and the public,
private and voluntary sectors to achieve its sustainable development goals; the strategy will
help to achieve this. For further information visit www.defra.gov.uk
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
1.56 The new Policy Statement makes an important contribution to the integration of sustainable
development at all levels within DWP and forms the bedrock for the strategy that is
currently being developed.The Statement covers all of DWP’s business, from decision making
to delivery and has been made available to all staff by being posted on the department’s
intranet, and on notice boards in all departmental buildings. For further information visit
www.dwp.gov.uk
“We have made real progress in reducing the Department’s impact on the
environment, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, awareness, travel, and
the introduction of Environmental Management Systems, and this statement
marks an important milestone in our contribution to the Government’s
Sustainable Development objectives.”
Minister for Work and Pensions, Baroness Hollis, July 2002
1.58 The report, covering the period 1 April 2001- 31 March 2002, showed good progress being
made: there were continuing improvements in environmental performance on the
Government Estate particularly in respect of energy and water use and waste emissions; an
inter-departmental agreement was made on a new ‘Framework for Sustainable Development on
the Government Estate’ with targets for future progress on travel, water and environmental
management systems; and all departments were being encouraged to integrate sustainable
development into decision making, and to build on the increasing focus on sustainable
development across all sectors of society arising from the World Summit on Sustainable
Development.
1.59 In addition to measures focused on improving performance of the Government Estate, the
report set out how departments were being encouraged to integrate sustainable
development into their policy making. Key initiatives include:
● all departments with a Public Service Agreement being required to submit separate
Sustainable Development Reports in support of their bids for resources in the 2002
Spending Review;
● a selection of departments piloting the Integrated Policy Appraisal tool developed initially
by the former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in
association with Defra and the Department of Health;
● the Government beginning a review to consider the implications of climate change for
the full range of their policy and operational responsibilities;
Future priorities
1.60 Planned activities for the year ahead mainly build on projects initiated over the last year.
Priorities include:
● the further development and piloting of Integrated Policy Appraisal tools across
Government by the end of 2003;
● the development and publication of the remaining sections of the Framework for
Sustainable Development on the Government Estate during 2003;
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
1.61 Last year’s Greening Government report signalled the Government’s intention to consider
wider impacts beyond Greening Operations including the social impacts of the operation of
the Government Estate. A Social Impacts Sub-Group of the Green Ministers Official Working
Group (GMOWG) has been established and Defra has also commissioned a consultancy
study to consider the benefits and burdens of social reporting to Government departments.
Departments will consider the consultant’s recommendations over the next few months. For
further information visit www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/
1.63 This new approach covering central departments and executive agencies is the main vehicle
for systematically assessing, managing, reporting and improving the performance of the
Government Estate.This is the first time that such an approach has been agreed across the
Government Estate. For further information visit www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/
Procurement
1.64 The interdepartmental Sustainable Procurement Group (SPG) was established in November
2001 by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett, to
consider how Government bodies can carry out the procurement of goods and services in
a manner that supports the Government’s policy and objectives for sustainable development.
It is envisaged that outcomes from SPG’s recommendations will inform the procurement
section of the Framework.
1.66 The World Summit on Sustainable Development has been a major strand of the Committee’s
recent work. In March 2002, the Committee acknowledged that the Government was preparing
well for the Summit and a small EAC delegation to the Summit observed the UK in action.The
Committee continues to monitor the Government’s implementation of Summit commitments.
1.67 The Committee has also continued to scrutinise the impact of Government expenditure and
revenue raising on sustainable development, largely through its examination of the annual
Pre-Budget Report. Other strands of work, some of which will continue into 2003, have
included: an examination of the impact on sustainable development policy-making and
delivery of the post-election Whitehall reorganisation; the New Electricity Trading
Arrangements and the progress made in relation to the Voluntary Initiative on Pesticides; and
a major examination of the effectiveness of the Government’s Waste Strategy.
1.68 The EAC’s reports, recommendations and details of current inquiries can be found at
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/environmental_audit_committee.cfm
24
Strategic Direction
For the Commission’s own part, we have been enacting our remit in the following
main areas.
Coming ten years after Rio, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg represented the most important opportunity for a decade to put
sustainable development at the top of the political agenda. We used the occasion to
focus attention on Sustainable Development here in the UK, including a challenge to
Government departments to take effective action to follow up the Summit.
We have mirrored that theme in our input to the Government’s forthcoming Energy
White Paper, calling for a sustainable energy policy to stimulate a low carbon, competitive
economy, and seeking a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by at least some 60% by
about 2050. We have also initiated a partnership to develop ‘dCARB-uk’.This programme
will assess the feasibility of achieving deep carbon-reduction targets at a variety of spatial
and sectoral levels in the UK.
And we’ve also recently completed an audit of the Government’s Climate Change
Programme. Our analysis shows that although the Government is on track to meet its
Kyoto targets, it will fall well short of its goal for reducing emissions of CO2 by 20 per
cent by 2010 unless radical new measures are introduced in the forthcoming Energy
White Paper.
Following our submissions to the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food,
we have worked closely with Defra on its Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. We
have also provided advice about sustainable food procurement within the NHS. (See
comments by the Commission’s Chairman below).
We have sought to influence the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on
establishing a statutory purpose for planning. We have also produced, and are following
up, a discussion paper ‘Vision for sustainable regeneration: environment and poverty – the
missing link’, which included a set of principles for sustainable regeneration. Central to this
is the concept of environmental justice: equal access to a clean environment and equal
protection from possible environmental harm, irrespective of race, income or class.
For the future, the Commission intends integrating these work themes, to assess how, for
example, our work on climate change and regeneration can be linked particularly at a
local level.
25
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
26
Strategic Direction
Unfortunately, the speed with which this transition can be effected is not completely
within our control. In a move that took policy-makers completely by surprise,
President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder stitched up a deal at the EU Summit in
October last year which means that CAP expenditure, excluding rural development,
will be constrained at 2006 levels (plus 1% inflator) until 2013.This does not go as far
as the UK was arguing for.The UK has been in the vanguard of those EU countries
seeking to reform the CAP, not just in terms of sorting out a more sustainable set of
policies for our own farmers, but in terms of meeting our obligations to developing
countries whose farmers are so adversely affected by continuing subsidies in both the
EU and the US. But the Mid-Term-Review proposals are still on the table. If agreed,
these will delink subsidies from production and reduce some commodity prices, with a
positive impact on developing countries.
There should be no such barriers as far as the DTI is concerned in fashioning a
genuinely sustainable energy strategy for the UK. It’s had all the advice it could possibly
need from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (advocating the adoption
of a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 60 % by around 2050), the Performance and
Innovation Unit in Number 10, the Carbon Trust and the Sustainable Development
Commission itself – all recommending an unambiguous shift to renewables, energy
efficiency and CHP as the fundamental elements in a new sustainable strategy.
What matters most is that all the different options (including coal, gas, nuclear,
renewables, efficiency, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and hydrogen) should be
assessed against the same sustainable development criteria – making like-for-like
comparisons on economics, security of supply, environmental issues, employment
implications and so on.There should be no “special deals” this time round. If nuclear, for
instance, doesn’t perform well against these criteria (and our own appraisal indicates that
it certainly doesn’t), then there is no logical justification for continuing to spend billions
of pounds of public money on a supply option that simply can’t deliver the goods.
And if, as we believe, the combination of renewables, energy efficiency and CHP can be
demonstrated to deliver “best value” on all counts in terms of a sustainable strategy,
then Government must pursue these options with vigour and single minded
determination. Any perpetuation of the incoherent, contradictory and half-hearted
approaches that have dominated the scene until now would be disastrous.
If we could sort out both agriculture and energy, which affect so many peoples’ lives
directly and indirectly, then the principle with which this article started can be brought
to bear on many other policy areas. It’s clear, for instance, that both Number 10 and
the Treasury are now seriously engaged in sorting out some of the most vexed issues
surrounding waste minimisation and recycling – issues that have kept us embarrassingly
close to the bottom of the EU’s recycling league tables ever since the Government was
elected in 1997.And that leads into the whole area of resource productivity – driving
down inputs of energy and raw materials for each unit of production or value added –
on which all today’s enduring assumptions of reconciling the pursuit of conventional
economic growth with genuine sustainability so optimistically rest.
Then urban regeneration; housing; environmental justice; planning and land use;
aviation; public transport; public health; education – as I said, sustainable development
is not just cross-cutting but all-embracing! That’s what makes it such a devil to deal
with for hard-pressed Ministers, but it’s also what gives it such integrating power.
Which is why we often find ourselves speculating, on the Sustainable Development
Commission, why it’s taking so long for this Government to realise they don’t need to
fabricate phoney “big ideas” – they’ve already got the most authentic of big ideas to
hand, which they’re just beginning to make a fist of.
27
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
CHAPTER TWO
Guiding Principles and
Approaches
2.1 The following Chapter introduces the ten guiding principles and approaches outlined in the
Strategy for sustainable development for the UK that underpin the achievement of
sustainable development. Four of the principles and approaches are considered in more detail
– Transparency, information, participation and access to justice; Using scientific knowledge; The
precautionary principle; and Taking a long term perspective – charting key developments in
these areas in 2002 and featuring related case-studies.
28
Guiding Principles and Approaches
2.3 The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 requires all public authorities to make
information available pro-actively. Central Government departments and Non-Departmental
Public Bodies were required to have Publication Schemes in place by the end of November.
These schemes give details of the information that an authority makes available, and how to
access it.The Lord Chancellors Department (LCD) provided guidance in July for Government
departments and NDPBs on what to consider in producing their schemes. Other public
authorities will be preparing Publication Schemes in 2003.
2.4 In 2002 Defra went out to consultation on draft regulations to replace the existing
Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) 1992. More than 2000 public authorities, Non-
Governmental Organisations and other stakeholders were consulted and this was followed
by meetings and discussions in the autumn.The intention is to implement the requirements of
pillar 1 of the Aarhus Convention on access to environmental information and also to
implement the new EU Directive.The new regulations are now being prepared.They will be
accompanied by updated guidance. An awareness raising campaign to ensure that officials in
public authorities and members of the public are aware of their information responsibilities
and rights will follow, co-ordinated in parallel with work by the LCD to raise awareness and
understanding of the FOIA.
29
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
2.5 In October 2002 the Magistrates’ Association Annual General Meeting focused on
environmental crime.The session, named ‘Costing the Earth’, identified the domestic and global
costs of environmental crime as well as regulatory costs. Staff from across Defra, as well as
from local authorities and the Environment Agency, supported the Association’s work which
aimed to raise magistrates’ awareness and understanding of sustainable development and to
give a better understanding of the breadth of environmental law; the amounts of money
involved; and the harm being done to our environment.The meeting was a complete success.
Presentations were well received.This event was followed in November by a press launch by
Michael Meacher of a training package for magistrates on environmental crime.The pack,
developed by the Magistrates’ Association, aims to help magistrates deliver effective sentences
for environmental offences. Environmental crime affects the quality of our lives, now and for
generations to come.The magistrates can therefore play a key role.
2.6 An International Symposium on Environmental Law for Judges was held in October 2002.The
Symposium was attended by senior judges from across the world, many of whom spoke
about the system and problems in their country. For example, Chief Justice Mahla Pearlman
spoke about the New South Wales Land and Environment Court in Australia.The discussions
showed the amount of serious international interest in the subject.
2.8 As well as organising regular meetings and workshops, through its academic Advisory Group
and research User Forum, the SDR-Network hosts an Annual Sustainable Development
Research Conference and publishes an online database of UK sustainable development
research activities.The proceedings of the Network’s 2001 conference were published this
year as part of a Joseph Rowntree Foundation report ‘Sustainable Development and Social
Inclusion’ reviewing the linkages between social exclusion, environmental justice and
sustainable development.
2.9 Interest in the SDR-Network’s activities has grown rapidly, with some seven hundred
individual researchers, policymakers and practitioners subscribing to the Network’s electronic
newsletter – the SDR-Network Mailing.
2.10 A key task of the SDR-Network over the last year has been liaising with funding bodies to
promote support for crosscutting sustainable development research. In May 2002 the
Network published ‘A New Agenda for UK Sustainable Development Research’.This set out a
challenging agenda for funders and researchers alike to develop the institutional frameworks,
research programmes and specific projects necessary to better equip the UK on the path to
30
Guiding Principles and Approaches
2.12 The Interdepartmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment (ILGRA) was commissioned by
Ministers to develop guidance on a more consistent approach to application of the principle
across Government.This guidance was set out in the paper ‘The Precautionary Principle: Policy
and Application’, published by ILGRA in June 2002. It makes the following key points:
– there is good reason to believe that harmful effects may occur to human, animal or
plant health or to the environment; and
– the level of scientific uncertainty about the consequences or likelihood of the risk is
such that the best available scientific advice cannot assess the risk with sufficient
confidence to inform decision-making.
● The precautionary principle should be distinguished from other drivers that require
caution such as society’s view on the extent of protection afforded to children or others
considered to be vulnerable, or the wish to ensure that conventional risk assessment
techniques deliberately over rather than under-estimate risk.
● Action in response to the precautionary principle should accord with the principles of
good regulation, i.e. be proportionate, consistent, targeted, transparent and accountable.
● Decision-making should bring together all relevant social, political, economic and ethical
factors in selecting an appropriate risk management option.
Learning to Last
In 2000 the Government set up the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA)
to support the development of post-16 education and training, advising the national
Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and its 47 local councils. LSDA’s ‘Learning to Last’
project focused on integrating sustainability principles and practices into all levels of
post-16 education.
Early in 2000 three seminars on Citizenship, Sustainability and Social Inclusion, Education
for Sustainable Economic Development and Responsibility in Education in a Risk Society in
London and Birmingham kicked off the initiative.These involved formal presentations
by leading figures in education and sustainable development and workshops that
facilitated creative multi-disciplinary dialogues. Key findings were published at a launch
conference focusing on practical and policy issues raised during the seminars.
This complemented a 2001-02 LSC initiative funding projects at 11 Further Education
colleges to devise and promote best practice in education for sustainable
development.This proved so successful that the LSC has made further funding
available and 12 new projects have been planned, including a joint Cornwall College
scheme with the Eden Project, and work on key skills for sustainable development at
St Helen’s College.
For further information visit www.lsda.org.uk/pubs/ (put “learning to last” in the
search box) or for the “Dissemination of good practice in Sustainable Development
Education” www.lsda.org.uk/research/activeproj.asp
32
Guiding Principles and Approaches
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
34
CHAPTER THREE
Headline Indicators
3.1 In the Strategy for sustainable development for the UK, the Government made a
commitment to report annually on progress against a set of 15 headline indicators1 – a
quality of life barometer – in order ‘to provide a high level overview of progress, and be a
powerful tool for simplifying and communicating the main messages for the public.’ In addition,
the Government stated that its ‘aim is for all the headline indicators to move in the right
direction over time or, when a satisfactory level has been reached, to prevent a reversal’.
3.2 This chapter gives an overview of the progress being made in each of the headline indicators,
and provides related case-studies showing the range of activities being carried out across
government and by stakeholders at all levels of society to further sustainable development.
3.3 The indicators are divided into three sections: economic, social, and environmental. Progress is
highlighted for each individual indicator by the use of ‘traffic light’ assessments. In most cases
there is information in the text or a graph providing a forward look, reflecting either the
expected or desired outcome of policies or actions in place or planned, or targets or
objectives to which the Government is committed, or a combination of these.The case-
studies illustrate how these policies can affect the individual headline indicators, as well as
looking more widely at their cross-cutting implications.There is also information on public
attitudes2 to some of the issues behind the indicators, taken from the ‘Survey of public
attitudes to quality of life and to the environment’, published in October 2002.
3.5 Progress is indicated by green (significant change, in the direction of meeting the objective),
amber (no significant change), and red (significant change, in the direction away from meeting
the objective).Year to year fluctuations in the individual indicators – in the right and wrong
directions – are to be expected, even when the long-term trend is showing good progress.
3.6 It should be emphasised that the traffic lights only signify progress compared with the 1990
and Strategy baselines. A green ‘traffic light’ does not mean that we have now reached our
goals, only that we are making progress in the right direction.
1 The headline indicators are part of a larger set of indicators, ‘Quality of life counts’, published in
December 1999 to provide a baseline assessment against which progress towards sustainable
development can be measured.
2 Survey of public attitudes to quality of life and to the environment – 2001’, Defra 2002
(www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/pubatt/index.htm)
35
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Summary of progress
3.7 Compared with the position in the 2001 annual report, individual indicators that continue to
make good progress and show green ‘traffic lights’ since the Government introduced the
Strategy include ‘Economic output’ (H1), the selected indicators on ‘Poverty and Social
Exclusion’ (H4) and ‘River water quality’ (H12).There has also been significant progress, and
hence green ‘traffic lights’ both since the Strategy and since 1990, for ‘Land Use’ (H14). In
addition, new data have, for the first time, allowed an assessment for ‘Housing’ (conditions)
(H7) since the Strategy to be made – this too is a green ‘traffic light’.
3.8 The indicators for ‘Employment’ (H3), ‘Crime’ (burglary from dwellings and thefts of or from
vehicles) (H8), and ‘Climate change’ (H9) still show good progress – and hence show green
‘traffic lights’ – since the Strategy, but recent progress has slowed or has changed direction.
‘Wildlife’ (woodland birds) (H13), shows good progress. However, access restrictions related
to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak severely restricted data collection in 2001.
It is not possible, therefore, to provide a meaningful update of the headline indicator for 2001.
3.9 Indicators for ‘Investment’ (H2), ‘Education’ (H5) and ‘Air Quality’ (H10) previously showed
good progress since the Strategy, but figures updated during 2002 show little change –
indicated by amber ‘traffic lights’ – compared with the position at the time of the Strategy.
3.10 For most indicators, the recent figures have not justified changing the longer-term assessment
of ‘Change since 1990’ originally made in the year of the Strategy. However, in addition to the
progress in the ‘Land use’ (H14) indicator, ‘Change since 1990’ for ‘Investment’ (H2) now
shows an amber ‘traffic light’, rather than a red and ‘Change since 1990’ for ‘Housing’
(conditions) (H7) now shows a green ‘traffic light’ rather than amber.
3.11 As also proposed in the 2001 report, the ‘violent’ component of the ‘Crime’ (H8) indicator
has been refined to ‘robbery’ – a subset of violent crime. However, this has not affected the
red ‘traffic light’ assessments for this component, rather, recent trends in robbery reinforce this
as an area of particular concern.
3.12 The indicator for ‘Road traffic’ (H11) has previously caused some confusion as to whether
assessments were based on absolute traffic levels or rates of growth.The position is not
helped by the weak relationship between the indicator and the overall objective against
which the assessment is made. We will be reviewing this objective, and the most appropriate
headline indicator to reflect it, ahead of the next report. In the meantime, in order to remove
any ambiguity, a new split assessment has been introduced. One component highlights the
continuing pressures that increasing road traffic volumes continue to generate.The second
component highlights progress in weakening the association between traffic and economic
growth which has prevailed strongly over the last few decades.
3.13 The assessment of ‘Waste’ (H15) has also been split, as it is not currently possible to update
figures on all waste arisings and management. A separate red ‘traffic light’ assessment is
therefore made for household waste, which reflects the continual increase in the levels of
waste generated.This and the changes mentioned above are explained in more detail in the
supporting text for each indicator.
3.14 Putting some of these indicators on a sustainable path will not happen overnight. As the
Strategy explains, however, a key test of whether progress is being made towards sustainable
development is whether improvements are to be found across the three pillars of social,
economic and environmental indicators. As Table 3.1 shows, this is still the case.
36
Table 3.1 Headline indicators – assessment of progress since baselines
– based on information available up to the end of 2002
(Full explanations of assessments are given in the individual indicator sections)
Economic
H1 Economic output ✔ ✔
H2 Investment ≈ ≈
H3 Employment ≈ ✔ (3)
Social
H5 Education ✔ ≈
H6 Health ≈ ≈
H7 Housing – conditions ✔ ✔
H8 Crime – robbery ✘ ✘
Environment
Key
Significant change, in direction of meeting objective ✔
No significant change ≈
Significant change, in direction away from meeting objective ✘
Insufficient or no comparable data ...
3 Recent progress has slowed or has changed direction, but not sufficiently to change the assessment
of progress since the Strategy
4 New data are expected in 2004
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Economic indicators
3.15 A better quality of life for all will require better, more widely available goods and services:
decent housing, efficient household equipment; safe and nutritious food; and access to a
growing range of leisure activities. We have to meet those needs in ways which deliver overall
sustainable development objectives on social progress, the environment, resource use, and
economic growth and employment.
3.16 To do so requires a stable and competitive economy. We must continue to increase the
productivity and efficiency with which we use resources. Also, goods and services must be
produced in ways that treat people fairly, give them the opportunity to fulfil their potential
and make the best use of their skills and knowledge.
UK Priority Areas identified in the Strategy for sustainable development for the UK –
a better quality of life (1999):
We need more growth – not less. Although, compared with many countries, the UK’s economy
is highly productive and our average incomes are high, we have steadily been overtaken by
other nations in both respects.
That growth must be of a higher quality than in the past. It needs to be achieved while
reducing pollution and the use of resources.
3.17 The following section looks at the progress made by the end of 2002 as shown by the three
economic headline indicators: ‘Economic output’ (H1), ‘Investment’ (H2) and ‘Employment’
(H3). It features related policy examples and case-studies from a range of stakeholders
showing the importance of action at all levels and the need for a joined up approach to
achieving sustainable development.
38
Headline Indicators
H1 – Economic output
Objective: Our economy must continue to grow.
180
GDP
Index (1970 = 100)
160
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Change since 1990: Output of the economy per head grew by 25 per cent, ✔
2.1 per cent per year on average, between 1990 and 2001.
[data: UK, 1990-2001]
Change since the Output of the economy rose by 2.7 per cent in 1998, ✔
Strategy: 2.1 per cent in 1999, 2.9 per cent in 2000 and 1.6 per cent
in 2001. [data: UK, 1998-2001]
3.18 Maintaining high and stable levels of economic growth is one of the key objectives of
sustainable development, the quality of that growth is just as important as the quantity.
5 The economic projections presented in Budget 2002 are anchored on a neutral assumption of 2.75
per cent for annual trend output growth over the period.This revised estimate underpins the mid-
points of the Budget 2002 economic forecast ranges and is in line with those produced by a number
of independent organisations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.19 Economic progress should not conflict with social and environmental goals.The following
section looks at some of the predominant policies and processes for a sustainable economy,
balancing quantity and quality of growth. One of the priorities recognised at the World
Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was the need to make our patterns of
consumption and production more sustainable.
3.21 This is potentially a massive agenda, so a key challenge for the Government is to establish a
clear and practical vision for taking it forward. Over the next few months Defra will be
working with others to develop a sustainable consumption and production strategy which will
set out what the Government is already doing and identify what more needs to be done.
3.22 At the strategic level, we will need to work out priorities with our European Union partners
and integrate those with other relevant strategies for sustainable development, innovation and
growth.The Government will play a full part in this strategic work, and in getting clarity about
the wider international role of bodies like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
3.23 Within the UK, there are a number of existing programmes which help to support
sustainable production and consumption – such as the Sustainable Technologies Initiative,
Envirowise, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the Market Transformation
Programme and the work of the Carbon Trust. Further important work is already in progress,
for example in following up the Strategy Unit’s reports on resource productivity and waste
and in the forthcoming White Paper on energy. We shall also be looking hard at the future
role of public procurement, in the light of a review currently being carried out within
government.
3.24 Initial discussions have been held with stakeholders about the priorities the Government
should be considering for further action. Our advisory committees working in this field will
also have recommendations to make.There is undoubtedly a lot of work to be done to
shape this into a focussed and practical plan of action. However, we are well-positioned to get
the necessary coherence over the coming year, to lay the ground for what WSSD envisaged
as being a full 10-year initiative.
40
Headline Indicators
Resource efficiency
3.25 At the heart of achieving a sustainable economy is resource efficiency; it is what the Strategy
calls a ‘key to change’. Often it is the environmental impacts of resource use which are of
most concern. Fossil fuel use is already causing climate change; we are producing volumes of
waste which can be expansive and increasingly difficult to dispose of and generating more
traffic than roads and many communities can cope with.This was the subject of a research
project commissioned by DETR/Defra from the Wuppertal Institute6 in collaboration with
the Office for National Statistics. Amongst other things the study showed that:
● economic growth in the UK is becoming de-coupled from the total use of materials
(Total Material Requirement7) [see figure below];
● resource use per capita in the UK has remained fairly stable over the past three decades,
despite a steady increase in the output of the UK economy; and
6 The full report of the study, ‘Total Material Resource Flows of the United Kingdom’ is available on
request from Defra, by contacting: enviro.statistics@defra.gsi.gov.uk
7 The Total Material Requirement (TMR) measures the total material basis of the economy.That is to
say the total primary resource requirements of all the production and consumption activities. It
includes not only the direct use of resources for producing exports, but also indirect flows associated
with domestic extraction and the production of goods imported into the UK from other countries.
Although TMR is widely favoured as a resource use indicator, the estimates of indirect flows are less
reliable than those for materials directly used by the economy, and the indicator therefore needs to
be considered alongside other indicators.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
200
Index (1970 = 100)
150
100
50
0
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
3.26 The development of such an overarching measure anticipated one of the recommendations
of the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU, now Strategy Unit) report on resource
productivity ‘Making more with less’8. In this connection the PIU report also included
recommendations for developing simple proxy measures to track progress on resource
productivity, considering the use of long term indicative targets, and reflecting resource
productivity and other aspects of sustainable development in Government procurement.
3.27 As work on developing a strategy for sustainable consumption and production incorporating
resource productivity proceeds, it needs to take account of other parallel workstreams.These
include the recently published Strategy Unit report on waste, the work of the Sustainable
Procurement Group and the Energy White Paper.
3.28 While the UK has been making progress in decoupling growth from resource use much
remains to be done.
3.29 Every year, industry and commerce in the UK produces more than 70 million tonnes of
waste, equivalent to over £1 billion in disposal costs alone and up to £20 billion every year
through the inefficient use of resources.
3.30 To encourage action by individual businesses Government funds the ‘Envirowise’, resource
efficiency best practice programme.This aims to help UK businesses become more resource
efficient, by offering free, independent advice on ways to reduce costs, convert more turnover
to profit and improve environmental performance.
42
Headline Indicators
3.31 In 2001, the programme helped UK business to make resource efficiency savings of over
£217 million and reduce solid waste by 1.6 million tonnes. Information about these services
and of the many guides and case studies can be accessed via the Envirowise website or from
the freephone helpline (0800 585794). For further information visit www.envirowise.gov.uk
3.32 The Government has an ambitious vision for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): to see
private and public organisations in the UK take account of their economic, social and
environmental impact, and take complementary action to address key challenges based on
their core competences – locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
3.33 In May 2002, the Government published it’s second Corporate Social Responsibility report
‘Business and Society.’ It sets out what the Government has been doing to promote CSR and
highlights examples of initiatives at national and international level. For further information
visit www.societyandbusiness.gov.uk/2002/report
3.35 Defra reported back to the Prime Minister in July 2002 and estimated that 99 companies in
the FTSE 350 have met the Prime Minister’s challenge by reporting on their environmental
policies and publishing some environmental performance data. A further 144 have taken the
first steps although they are not as yet publishing a full environmental report.
3.36 The Government is continuing to encourage business to measure, manage and report on its
environmental performance, including through the White Paper on Modernising Company
Law published in July.The proposals would make it a requirement for larger businesses to
report on a range of non-financial issues where the directors judge them to be material to an
understanding of the business.The White Paper stressed that company directors need to
consider the company’s impact on the environment as ‘first among equals.’
3.37 The Government is appointing an independent group of experts to provide guidance on how
directors can assess whether an item is material to their company and hence must be
included in their report.The Group will aim to produce guidance by autumn 2003.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Sectoral strategies
3.38 Much can be achieved by concerted action by business sectors.Through the ‘Pioneers
Group’, Defra and the DTI have been encouraging some 20 trade associations or sector
bodies to develop sectoral sustainability strategies.These provide a practical framework for
identifying key issues facing their industry and priorities for action.To date six sectors have
published strategies: motor manufacturing; oil and gas; retail; civil engineering; brick
manufacturing and steel construction.The chemical industry is building on its existing
‘Responsible Care’ programme, while others, the Non-Ferrous Alliance and Water UK, have
focused on developing environmental/sustainability indicators.
3.39 The ‘Pioneers Group’ have developed best practice toolkits for producing a strategy and
reporting on progress, whilst the Sustainable Development Commission have published a self-
assessment guide to assess draft strategies. All of these documents can be downloaded from
the DTI website. For further information visit www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability
44
Headline Indicators
H2 – Investment
Objective: Investment (in modern plant and machinery as well as research and
development) is vital to our future prosperity.
18
16 Total investment
(constant prices)
14
Percentage of GDP
12
10
4 Social investment
(current prices)
2
0
1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
Source: Office for National Statistics
Change since Total investment at constant prices as a percentage of GDP fell from
1990: 18.1 per cent in 1990 to 17.2 per cent in 1997, but was
18.0 per cent in 2001. [data: UK, 1990-2001] ≈
Change since Total investment at constant prices as a percentage of GDP was
the Strategy: 18.0 per cent in 2001, down slightly from 18.9 per cent in 1998. ≈
[data: UK, 1998-2001]
The latest data for social investment is for 1998 when it was estimated to
be around two per cent of GDP.
3.40 The slowdown in the global economy during 2001 clearly had a marked impact on UK
business investment and, amidst heightened global uncertainties, business investment has
weakened further in 2002. Business investment has now declined for seven consecutive
quarters, with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) industrial trends survey indicating
that uncertainty about demand has remained the key factor holding back investment.
3.41 While significant global downside risks remain, investment growth is forecast to pick up from
next year. Strengthening global demand, reduced uncertainty and improvements in corporate
finances are expected to encourage firms to replace existing assets, bring deferred capital
spending back on stream and begin expanding capacity again. Government investment is
forecast to show further strong expansion in 2003, providing support for whole economy
investment, as the Government’s spending plans continue to deliver sustained spending
increases on priority public services.
45
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.42 Investment is vital to our future prosperity, but in the past the UK has invested too little in
our future, and our competitiveness has suffered.
3.43 The latest data show that total investment has increased in real terms by almost 3 per cent
since 1998, but GDP has increased by over 7.5 per cent, so that total investment as a
proportion of GDP has fallen.
3.44 As was proposed in the 2001 annual report, the way ‘total investment’ is reported has been
changed from ‘current’ to ‘constant’ prices. In recent years, Information Technology (IT) and
related goods and services have become increasingly important to investment. However, the
cost of IT has fallen sharply, so measuring investment in relation to GDP on a constant rather
than current price basis better reflects the volume of investment taking place. Social
investment is only available at current prices, and includes public and private (including Private
Finance Initiatives (PFIs)) investment in social assets such as railways, hospitals, schools and
investment in water and sewerage services.
46
Headline Indicators
H3 – Employment
Objective: Maintain high and stable levels of employment so everyone can share
greater job opportunities.
90 Men
80
All
70
Women
60
Per cent
50
40
30
20
10
0
1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002
Source: DWP, ONS Labour Force Survey *Percentage in May-July quarter each year
Change since The percentage of working age people in work was 74.6 per cent
1990: in 2002 compared with 74.7 per cent in 1990. ≈
[data: UK, 1990-2002]
Change since The percentage of working age people in work was 74.6 per cent
the Strategy: in 2002, unchanged since 2001 and up from 74.0 per cent in 1999. ✔
[data: UK, 1999-2002]
3.45 The number of people in work and the employment rate have both risen significantly in the
long economic upswing since 1993, with the employment rate recently being one of the
highest on record.There have also been a number of structural reforms over this period that
aim to improve the functioning of the labour market and reduce the equilibrium level of
unemployment.The employment rate is now at about the same level as it was in 1990, at the
peak of the previous economic cycle.
3.46 The latest figures show that Labour Force Survey (LFS) employment stands at a near record
level of 27.8 million (September-November 2002).We have the lowest International Labour
Organisation unemployment rate of any of the G7 major industrialised countries and claimant
unemployment is now 3.1 per cent (December 2002), which is around the lowest level
since 1975.
3.47 The Government’s key labour market objective is to achieve high and stable levels of
employment so everyone can share in growing living standards and greater job opportunities.
The highly successful ‘New Deals’ scheme provides people with individually tailored help to
moving into work, and ‘Jobcentre Plus’ is now up and running.The Government has
introduced the Working Families’Tax Credit and the National Minimum Wage to make sure
that work pays. For further information visit www.dwp.gov.uk
47
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
9 Survey of public attitudes to quality of life and to the environment – 2001, Defra 2002.
48
Headline Indicators
Social indicators
UK Priority Areas identified in the Strategy for sustainable development for the UK –
a better quality of life (1999):
Prosperity must be shared more widely and fairly: some parts of the country and some
groups are falling too far behind.
Our towns and countryside contribute significantly to our quality of life.We need to make our
towns and cities better places to live and work, and to retain the special characteristics of our
landscape which we most value.
3.48 The following section looks at the progress by the end of 2002 as shown by the five social
headline indicators: ‘Poverty and social exclusion’ (H4), ‘Education’ (H5), ‘Health’ (H6), ‘Housing’
(conditions) (H6), and ‘Crime’ (H8). It features related policy examples and case-studies from
a range of stakeholders showing the importance of action at all levels and the need for a
joined up approach to achieving sustainable development.
49
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Selected indicators of poverty and social exclusion for working age people,
children and the elderly
90
Great Britain
60
10
Working age people in workless households
0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Change since The overall assessment since 1990 of the selected poverty and
1990: social exclusion indicators is that there has been no significant ≈
change. However, there has been more recent progress from the
levels seen in the 1990s.
Change since The overall assessment of the selected poverty and social
the Strategy11: exclusion indicators is that there have been significant ✔
improvements in recent years.
DWP: Reduce the proportion of children in households with no one in work over the 3 years
from Spring 2003 to Spring 2006 by 6.5 per cent.
ODPM: Promote better policy integration nationally, regionally and locally; in particular to
work with departments to help them meet their PSA floor targets for neighbourhood renewal
and social exclusion.
3.49 The fourth DWP ‘Opportunity for all’ report sets out the main elements of the Government’s
strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion. A comprehensive list of indicators is used to
monitor progress against this strategy.The key policies highlighted in the report aim at:
● making work possible, making work pay and making work skilled;
“We are making progress. Employment is at record levels… We are making good
progress towards our target to reduce by a quarter, by 2004, the number of
children in low-income households – we are a third of the way there after a
third of the time…. We know that we have a lot more to do.Tackling the root
causes of poverty takes time as well as sustained commitment and investment.”
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Andrew Smith, September 2002
3.50 These indicators monitor progress in key parts of the strategy for children and working age
adults.There are now 1.5 million more people in employment than in 1997 and around
250,000 fewer children in workless households. Due to changes in tax and benefits introduced
in the last Parliament since October 2001 all families with children are better off in real terms
by, on average, £1,200 a year compared with 1997. In ‘Opportunity for All’ and ‘Households Below
Average Income’, the number of ‘Children in households with relative low incomes’ is monitored
both before and after housing costs, using a range of low-income thresholds. Here, the 60 per
cent of contemporary median income threshold is used.The figures after housing costs are
presented above. Before housing costs, 21 per cent of children were living in households with
relative low incomes in 2000/1, down from 26 per cent in 1996/97.
3.51 A key part of the Government’s strategy to prevent poverty and social exclusion is to
encourage lifelong learning, so that people can acquire the skills to help them find a job or
broaden their career opportunities.The Government is determined to continue its fight against
poverty and it will introduce new measures including a child tax credit and a working tax credit
in 2003, helping those who are in low paid work. For further information visit www.dwp.gov.uk
52
Headline Indicators
3.53 The study has identified the need for a more systematic process for identifying disadvantaged
groups or areas with poor access to key services. It also emphasises the importance of local
authorities and other local service providers and agencies working together more effectively
to develop a strategy for tackling these accessibility problems. Recommendations arising from
the project will impact on a number of key departments (e.g. Departments for Transport,
Education & Skills, Health, and Work & Pensions).
Neighbourhood renewal
3.54 The ‘National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal (2001)’ set out the Government’s
commitment to improving public service outcomes in the most deprived areas of the
country, and narrowing the gap between these areas and the rest so that no-one be
disadvantaged by where they live.To drive delivery of improved outcomes in deprived areas,
Government departments were set a number of ‘floor’ (minimum standard) targets covering
health, education, crime reduction, housing and employment.The Neighbourhood Renewal
Unit leads on co-ordinating the implementation of the National Strategy across Government.
3.55 Spending Review 2002 saw the suite of floor targets rolled forward and strengthened and
significant additional resources made available to improve public service delivery over the
three years to 2006. For further information on the Government’s approach to
neighbourhood renewal visit www.neighbourhood.gov.uk
Urban Summit
3.56 The Urban Summit 2002, which took place on the 31 October and 1 November 2002,
discussed progress with urban renaissance since publication of the Government’s White Paper
‘Our Towns and Cities; the Future’ in November 2000. Hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister,
the Summit provided delegates from a wide range of sectors – professionals, private sector,
local national and regional government, academics, media, and community and voluntary
groups – with the opportunity to share experiences of urban regeneration, discuss what
works and what does not, and outline priorities for the future.
3.57 In the themed session on social exclusion, participants were given four different perspectives
on social exclusion from grass roots experiences to policy making at national level.The
perspectives formed the basis of a broader discussion, with participants invited to think
about:
● designing and delivering services that meet the needs of the hardest to reach groups;
53
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
● striking a balance between rights and responsibilities for socially excluded people; and
● delivering minimum standards in public services and more for those who need it most.
Fuel poverty
3.58 Between 1996 and 2000, it is estimated that about one million households in the UK were
removed from fuel poverty (a fuel poor household is one that cannot afford to keep
adequately warm at reasonable cost).This is as a result of improved incomes, lower energy
prices and better housing. Provisional analyses indicate that the number of fuel poor
households in England may have fallen by a further half a million as a result of income polices
in the period 2000-2002.
3.59 Fuel poverty can be assessed on two bases – before or after housing benefit and income
support for mortgage interest (ISMI).The indicator in the chart represents single elderly
households experiencing fuel poverty before housing benefit and ISMI. After these are taken
into account, 52 per cent were experiencing fuel poverty in 1996, falling to 40 per cent
in 1998.
3.60 The Government’s ‘UK Fuel Poverty Strategy’ was published in November 2001. It sets out
measures to ensure that no vulnerable household will be in fuel poverty by 2010.
3.61 Progress in tackling vulnerable households continues through a number of different routes:
● in England the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, now marketed as Warm Front Team,
provides measures to improve the comfort of homes and the quality of life for
vulnerable households in the private sector. Since its inception in June 2000 the scheme
has assisted over 400,000 vulnerable households. Similar schemes exist in each of the
devolved administrations;
● households in the social sector will be assisted primarily through work to bring all social
housing up to a decent standard by 2010;
● five pathfinder Warm Zones have been established across England. Warm Zones is a
major Government-sponsored initiative to systematically address fuel poverty on a local
area basis.The aim is to substantially deal with fuel poverty in a locality within 3 years,
using a range of approaches aimed at proactively identifying and helping fuel poor
households within the area;
● in line with a commitment made in the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy a scoping study is now
underway to assess the potential use of alternative technologies in combating fuel
poverty in England; and
● the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG) was set up following the publication of the UK
Fuel Poverty Strategy to advise the Government about delivery of its target of
eradicating fuel poverty. FPAG is an Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body jointly
sponsored by Defra and DTI. It has a range of representatives from bodies in the energy
sector, local government, the health sector and Non-Governmental Organisations. Its
primary task is to report on the progress of delivery of the Government’s Fuel Poverty
Strategy and to propose and implement improvements to regional or local mechanisms
for its delivery.
55
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
H5 – Education
Objective: Equip people with the skills to fulfil their potential.
90
80
70
60
Per cent
50
40
30
20
10
0
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002
Change since The percentage of 19 year olds with level 2 qualifications (e.g. five
1990: GCSEs at grades C or above, NVQ level 2 or equivalent) was
75.6 per cent in 2002 compared with 52 per cent in 1990. ✔
[data: UK, 1990-2002]
Change since The percentage of 19 year olds that have level 2 qualifications has
the Strategy: remained relatively unchanged from 74.5 per cent in 1999 to
75.6 per cent in 2002, having fallen slightly from a peak of 75.9 ≈
in 2001. [data: UK, 1999-2002]
3.62 A substantial proportion of young people are not achieving the level 2 equivalent through
school and a minority (5.4 per cent) are achieving no qualifications at all.There is no overall
UK target for this indicator and, therefore, future projections cannot be shown on the chart.
The following targets have been set for the proportion of 19 year olds achieving a level
2 qualification:
● England: increase the proportion of 19 year olds attaining a level 2 qualification at the
end of 2002 by three percentage points by the end of 2004, and by a further three
percentage points from 2004 to 2006;
● Wales: one in five 19 year olds without a level 2 qualification by the end of 2002;
56
Headline Indicators
DH: Improve life chances for children by improving the level of education, training and
employment outcomes for care leavers aged 19, so that levels for this group are at least 75 per
cent of those achieved by all young people in the same area, and at least 15 per cent of
children in care attain five good GCSEs by 2004.
57
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
58
Headline Indicators
H6 – Health
Objective: Improve health of the population overall.
Males Females
80
Life expectancy
75
Life expectancy
Years
70
60
55
50
1981 1985 1990 1995 1999 1981 1985 1990 1995 1999
Change since Between 1990 and 1999 healthy life expectancy increased only
1990: slightly, from 66.1 to 66.6 years for men and from 68.3 to 68.9 ≈
years for women. [data: GB, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999]
Change since Between 1995 and 1999 healthy life expectancy increased only
the Strategy: slightly from 66.4 years to 66.6 for men and from 68.7 years to ≈
68.9 for women. [data: GB, 1997, 1999]
3.63 Between 1981 and 1999 average life expectancy in Great Britain increased from 70.9 to 75.1
years for men (by 4.2 years) and from 76.8 to 80.0 years for women (by 3.2 years). Over the
same period healthy life expectancy increased from 64.4 to 66.6 years for men (by 2.2 years)
and from 66.7 to 68.9 for women (by 2.2 years). So whilst overall life expectancy has
increased, this is in part owing to an increased life expectancy whilst in poorer health.
Joint Defra – DfT: Improve air quality by meeting the Air Quality Strategy targets for carbon
monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particles, sulphur dioxide, benzene and 1-3 butadiene.
59
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.64 ‘Tackling Health Inequalities – The Results of the Consultation Exercise’ was published in June
2002 by the Department of Health and identified a number of key themes that need to be
addressed in tackling health inequalities.These included:
● the need for strong government leadership and more co-ordination of policies and
policy mechanisms;
● the need to look beyond the NHS to the wider determinants of health inequalities;
● the potentially pivotal role of Primary Care Trusts in drawing the NHS into the health
inequalities agenda.
3.65 This consultation also contributed to the cross-cutting spending review (CCSR) on health
inequalities undertaken as part of the 2002 Spending Review.The consultation and the CCSR
will provide the basis for the Government’s delivery plan on health inequalities due to be
published in 2003.
3.66 There is a significant body of work already underway which is tackling health inequalities on
the ground.This work is helping to influence both the health objective as well as Headline
Indicators relating to Poverty and social exclusion (H4), Employment (H3) and Housing
(conditions) (H7). For further information visit www.doh.gov.uk
60
Headline Indicators
The Physical Activity Plan has been led by ENCAMS and will target communities who
lead sedentary lifestyles and have been identified by GP’s to take leisure activity.
‘Leisure buses’ and volunteer drivers will take communities to leisure centres and
short guided walks in and around Ladywood.The Safety Action Plan work will be
carried out with different sectors and agencies to address street safety issues such as
neighbourhood watch, racial harassment and self-defence as well as drugs and alcohol
abuse. Befriending and Practical Help will improve the home safety of the elderly and
parents who are isolated.
For further information visit www.encams.org
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
H7 – Housing
Objective: Improve the condition of housing stock.
50
40
Per cent
All Stock
30
Private
Social
20
10
0
1996 2001
Change since Between 1991 and 1996 there was no significant change across a
1990: broad range of condition measures. As housing conditions have
changed for the better since 1996 (see below), the overall ✔
assessment is that there has been an improvement since 1990.
Change since Between 1996 and 2001 there was an improvement in the
the Strategy: condition of housing in England as assessed against the decent
home standard (in 1996, 46 per cent of dwellings were non-
decent, compared with 33 per cent in 2001).This improvement
was seen in both the private and social sectors – 52 per ✔
cent of social housing was non-decent in 1996 compared with
38 per cent in 2001 and 32 per cent of private sector stock
was non-decent in 2001, falling from 45 per cent in 1996.
[data: Eng 1996 and 2001]
3.67 Although this indicator only covers the condition of houses, the Government is also
concerned about provision. In order to create and maintain sustainable, thriving communities,
we need a balance in the housing market, and housing pressures must be addressed.To that
end, the Government is taking action to increase overall housing supply where it is needed.
For example, it is working with regional and local partners to accelerate existing proposals for
growth in the four key priority areas of the Thames Gateway, Ashford, Milton Keynes and the
London-Stansted-Cambridge corridor. As many as 200,000 homes could be created in the
growth areas as a result of this process. In addition, it has significantly increased investment in
affordable housing through the Housing Corporation’s Approved Development Programme –
spending has almost doubled to over £1.2bn in the three years to 2003/4. All headline
indicators are reviewed to ensure that they remain relevant to key priority areas, and the
coverage of this indicator will be considered accordingly.
62
Headline Indicators
3.68 Since the figures for 1996 were published in the last sustainable development report, we have
consulted upon and made refinements to the detailed definition of the decent home
standard. Prior to these refinements 47 per cent of the social sector, 40 per cent of the
private sector and 41 per cent of all housing was non-decent.The changes maintain the link
between the indicator and the PSA target.
3.69 A decent home is one that meets all of the following criteria:
3.70 In March 2002, the Homelessness Directorate’s report ‘More than a Roof ’, was launched,
outlining the Government’s plans to tackle homelessness.This includes a £35 million
programme to help local authorities ensure that by March 2004 no homeless family with
children is in a Bed and Breakfast hotel other than in an emergency, and even then for no
more than 6 weeks. Statistics show that at the end of June 2002 over 12,000 households
were living in Bed and Breakfast in England alone, of which around 6,500 were families with
children.
3.71 In addition, all local authorities will benefit from recent changes to Housing Benefit subsidy
levels, worth up to £10 million, which provide an incentive to lease private sector homes as a
better quality alternative to B&B hotels.
“Too often, homeless people are housed in Bed and Breakfast hotels. They are
totally the wrong place to give children the right start in life. The environments
put pressure on families and are bad for children’s education and health. In the
twenty-first century this is completely unacceptable and we must help councils
find decent alternatives.”
Former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,
Alistair Darling, March 2002
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
64
Headline Indicators
H8 – Crime
Objective: Reduce both crime and fear of crime.
Burglary in
800,000
dwellings
400,000
200,000
Robbery
0
1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1997/8 2001/2 2006/7
*1970 to 1998/9 data are for the number of crimes recorded in that financial year using the coverage and rules in use until 31 March 1998.
After 1998/9 data are for the number of crimes recorded in that financial year using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules
that came into effect on 1 April 1998.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.72 The use of total figures, rather than crimes per 100,000 population as previously used, is
consistent with recorded crime figures contained in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 07/02:
Crime in England and Wales 2001/2002. Recorded crime figures are likely to have been
affected by changes to police recording practices. Figures for 2001/2 in particular have been
affected by the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS). Some police forces adopted the
principles of the standard prior to the national implementation in April 2002 and it is
estimated that this caused total recorded crime levels to be uplifted by 5 per cent in 2001/2.
3.73 The British Crime Survey, which measures people’s actual experiences of crime, can provide a
better reflection of crime as it includes crimes that are not reported to the police. Published
in July 2002, ‘Crime in England and Wales 2001/2’ is the first in a new annual publication that
combines the reporting of police recorded crime and British Crime Survey results.This will
ensure that the public has the most comprehensive picture of crime in England and Wales
available in a single volume and at the same time.
3.74 British Crime Survey data for all vehicle thefts showed a 32 per cent decrease between 1991
and 2001/2, from 3,825,000 to 2,597,000 and burglary fell by 28 per cent, from 1,373,000 to
991,000 in the same period.There has been a 14 per cent and 23 per cent fall respectively,
since 1999.
3.75 The 2000 British Crime Survey found that 19 per cent of people had high levels of worry
about burglary, 21 per cent about car crime, and 24 per cent about violent crime.Those
figures had fallen to 15 per cent, 18 per cent, and 22 per cent respectively in 2001/2.
3.76 Previously recorded violent crime per 100,000 of the population was included in the H8 –
Crime indicator. Police records show that recorded violent crime increased by 34 per cent
between 1998/9 and 2001/2. However the increase in recorded violent crime was not
reflected in findings from the British Crime Survey. For example, the 2001/2 British Crime
Survey estimated that the number of violent incidents had fallen by 17 per cent since 1999
and by 22 per cent since 1997.The reasons for the rise in recorded violent crime are
complex, but are likely to include changes in public attitudes towards reporting violent crime,
as well as changes in police reporting, both of which will have increased the number of
violent crimes being reported.
3.77 As a consequence, recorded violent crime may not be a reliable indicator of progress in
tackling violent crime, and by extension, assessing progress towards sustainable development.
Therefore, the H8 Crime Indicator now includes an indicator on recorded robberies, a subset
of violent crime, for which recording is more reliable. For further information visit
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
66
Headline Indicators
Street crime
3.78 The formation in April 2002 of the Street Crime Initiative is a clear demonstration of the
commitment across Government to tackle street crime. Its goals are to target and fast-track
all robbery offenders at every stage of the criminal justice process and ultimately reduce the
number of robberies in the ten police force areas with the worst robbery problem.
● specialist street crime courts in the ten areas to fast track street crime cases and provide
separate facilities and support to victims and witnesses;
● strengthening the powers of the courts to deal with young people on bail by introducing
electronic tagging in the ten areas; and
● work to ensure that street crime offenders with drug problems are fast tracked to drug
treatment services.
3.80 There are key roles not only for the police, Crown Prosecution Service, and the courts, but
for departments like Health, Education and Skills,Transport, Work and Pensions, Culture
Media and Sport, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. On 14 October 2002, the
Home Secretary announced the results of the initiative.The figures show that, since the start
of the initiative, street crime has fallen by 16 per cent during April to September 2002. For
robbery, the more serious offence, the number of offences in September was 25 per cent
lower than in March for the ten forces as a whole.The figures also show that, when
compared to the same period last year, there has been a reduction in robbery of 10 per cent.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
“We cannot leave the fight against street crime to the police and criminal justice
system alone. We need to support them through extending the actions of every
Government Department to this vital task…..We must target those both at risk of
offending and of victimisation though schools, employment opportunities, the
health service, the transport system and even sport. We are joining-up the whole
of Government to deal with the problem on our streets.”
Home Secretary, David Blunkett, March 2002
Transport crime
3.81 The Government is committed to reducing crime and the fear of crime wherever it occurs in
the transport system, including in the pedestrian environment.
3.82 During 2002 the Department for Transport issued good practice guidance to bus operators
on improving personal security on buses for both passengers and staff.The Department
recently launched the Safer Travel on Buses and Coaches Panel.This group brings together
operators, unions, transport and local authorities and the police, as well as Department for
Transport, DfES and Home Office officials, to consider how best to tackle bus and coach-
related crime and to spread good practice throughout the industry.The Department also has
a joint project with the Strategic Rail Authority underway on ways to improve personal
security in train travel. Earlier in the year, the Department held a series of seminars aimed at
raising the profile of transport crime as an issue which Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnerships need to address.
13 Survey of public attitudes to quality of life and to the environment – 2001, Defra 2002
68
Headline Indicators
Environmental indicators
UK Priority Areas identified in the Strategy for Sustainable Development for the UK –
a better quality of life (1999):
That [economic] growth must be of a higher quality that in the past. It needs to be achieved
while reducing pollution and use of resources.
3.83 The following section looks at the progress made by the end of 2002 as shown by the seven
environmental headline indicators: Climate Change (H9), Air Quality (H10); Road Traffic
(H11); River Water Quality (H12); Wildlife (H13); Land Use (H14); and Waste (H15). It
features related policy examples and case-studies from a range of stakeholders showing the
importance of action at all levels and the need for a joined up approach to achieving
sustainable development.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
H9 – Climate change
Objective: Continue to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases now, and plan for
greater reductions in the longer term.
gases by 2008-2012
140
CO2 projections plus impact of
Climate Change programme
Domestic CO2 goal by 2010
120
100
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
Change since Emissions of the ‘basket’ of six greenhouse gases fell by 13 per
1990: cent between 1990 and 2000. [data: UK, 1990-2000] ✔
Change since Between 1997 and 2000, emissions of the ‘basket’ of six
the Strategy: greenhouse gases fell by 5 per cent, although there was no ✔
change between 1999 and 2000. [data: UK, 1997-2000]
3.84 The assessment of progress for this indicator is based on the emissions of a ‘basket’ of six
greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. Estimates for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are
available a year ahead of estimates for all six of the gases making up the ‘basket’.
3.85 The projections to 2010 were made before the provisional 2001 CO2 emission estimates.
The 2001 CO2 estimates are relatively high, increasing by 1.5 per cent from the level in 2000,
due to short-term factors including a shift to coal in electricity generation as a result of lower
coal and higher gas prices, and colder weather than in the preceding two years. However,
these factors are not expected to change the direction of the longer term trend in CO2
emissions away from that shown in the projections to 2010.
70
Headline Indicators
Kyoto Protocol
3.86 The UK climate change programme, published in November 2000, sets out a wide ranging
package of policies and measures that will be good for the environment, good for people and
good for the economy. It is estimated that these policies could reduce the UK greenhouse gas
emissions to 23 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010. On the basis of policies that can be
quantified, the programme could also deliver a cut of 19 per cent in carbon dioxide by 2010.
This is significantly beyond the UK’s Kyoto greenhouse gas target of a 12.5 per cent reduction
below 1990 levels by 2008-2012 and a long way towards the government’s domestic 20 per
cent goal of reducing CO2 emissions.
3.87 The European Union Member States, including the UK, demonstrated their political
commitment to tackling climate change by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol on 31 May 2002.
Ratification by the EU helps bring the Kyoto Protocol much nearer entry into force.The UK
has been working hard to encourage other countries to ratify and has shown international
leadership on this issue. Once the Kyoto Protocol has entered into force, the UK and other
developed countries which have ratified and which have targets, will be legally bound to meet
their reduction targets. For further information visit
www.defra.gov.uk/news/issues/climatechange.asp
“EU ratification of the Kyoto Protocol sends an important message to the world
that we are committed to the Protocol and to tackling climate change… The UK
has been central to negotiations on the Protocol and we are making strong
domestic progress in implementing a strategic and innovative programme of
action to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. The UK’s Climate Change
Programme strikes a balance between ambitious action to tackle climate change
and safeguarding and enhancing UK competitiveness...”
Minister for Environment, Michael Meacher, May 2002
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.89 The scenarios show that average annual temperatures across the UK may rise by between
2° and 3.5°C by the 2080s. Summers may become drier across all of the UK and winters will
become wetter, while the amount of snow could decline substantially. In addition, relative sea
levels will continue to rise around the coast. Some types of extreme weather events will
become more frequent, such as heat-waves, extreme coastal high water levels and heavy
spells of rain.The scenarios provide invaluable information for more detailed studies on the
implications of climate change for different sectors and regions within the UK. In this way, all
of us – government, public and private organisations, and individuals alike – can ensure that
we have taken adequate steps to prepare for the impacts of climate change. For further
information visit www.ukcip.org.uk/scenarios.
Renewable energy
3.90 The UK-led Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) was launched in August
2002, at WSSD. It is a partnership of progressive governments, businesses and organisations
that are committed to accelerating the development and deployment of renewable energy
and energy efficiency systems. Considerable input has been provided by Brazil, the Czech
Republic, Ghana, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Shell and the World Wide
Fund for Nature and interest has already been shown by EU Member States, notably by Italy,
as well as officials from Austria, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.
3.91 The UK sees the REEEP as the main vehicle for taking forward the energy agreements in the
WSSD Plan of Implementation, including the commitment to urgently and substantially
increase the share of renewable energy within the energy supply mix. We believe that it is
also a key vehicle for helping to translate the EU inspired declaration ‘The Way Forward on
Renewable Energy’ into concrete actions.
72
Headline Indicators
3.93 It sets out ambitious Government targets that by 2012 ten per cent of new cars sold in the
UK will be low-carbon vehicles, defined as 100 or less grams of CO2 per km at the tailpipe
(compared with the current new car average of 178gm). It also sets the target that by 2012
600 new buses joining the fleet yearly (around 20 per cent) will also be low-carbon.
3.94 These targets make the UK the first country to set itself a target for shifting its mainstream
motoring to low-carbon – as distinct from targets for niche vehicles or technologies.The
Government is supporting the shift to low-carbon by linking mainstream vehicle taxation –
i.e. the graduated Vehicle Excise Duty introduced in 2001, and graduated company car
taxation, introduced in 2002 – to carbon dioxide emissions.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.95 Delivering these objectives involves more than one part of Government, and the Prime
Minister has set up a ‘Ministerial Low Carbon Group’ to oversee the delivery of the low-
carbon agenda.The Ministerial Group will report annually to Parliament.
3.96 The Strategy looks further forward to the long-term shift to ultra-low carbon vehicles and
ultimately to zero emission transport.The Government will put in place further targets
beyond the decade, accelerating the shift towards technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells.
For further information visit www.roads.dft.gov.uk/vehicle/environment/futurepower/index.htm
74
Headline Indicators
60
Average number of days per site
50 Urban sites
40
Rural sites
30
20
10
0
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Source: National Environmental Technology Centre (NETCEN)/Defra
Change since Urban air quality has improved significantly since 1993, from
1990: 59 days of moderate or higher air pollution on average per site
to 21 days in 2001. [data: UK, 1993-2001]
✔
Rural air quality has also improved from 48 days of moderate or
higher air pollution on average per site in 1990 to 30 days in 2001.
[data: UK, 1990-2001]
Change since Year on year variations to air quality, which is strongly affected
the Strategy: by the weather, mean that several years’ data are needed before
a trend becomes clear. 2000 saw the best air quality to date, but
the average number of days of moderate or higher air pollution
at urban sites increased from 16 to 21 days in 2001, compared
with 22 days in 1998. [data: UK, 1998-2001]
≈
For rural sites, air pollution depends mainly on ozone levels, which
can vary widely, so there is no clear trend since the strategy.The
average number of days of moderate or higher air pollution was
30 in 2001, compared with 26 in 1998 and 42 in 1999, and 25
in 2000. [data: UK, 1998-2001]
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.97 The above assessments reflect figures updated during 2002 for the previous year. Provisional
figures for air quality in 2002 show a reduction in the number of days when air pollution was
moderate or higher.
3.98 It is estimated that air pollution in the UK brings forward the deaths of between 12,000 and
24,000 people each year. Air pollution is also responsible for discomfort and many hospital
admissions. Government sponsored research, published this year, highlights that it is often
poorer people living in poor areas who are exposed to the highest levels of air pollution.
A report into the links between social deprivation and air pollution in four UK cities (London,
Birmingham, Belfast and Cardiff) shows that, in three of the cities, air pollution tends to be
highest in the most socially deprived areas.
3.99 In August 2002, the Government announced tighter air quality targets for particles, benzene
and carbon monoxide and introduced, for the first time, a new target for polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons.These will complement the other targets already in place for the main air
pollutants contained in the Government’s national Air Quality Strategy ‘Working Together for
Clean Air’ and which sets out policies and action for delivering cleaner air.The new target for
particles will, by 2010, have cut the amount of particles pollution in air by at least 50 per cent
from present levels.
It is not possible to produce targets for the Headline Indicator directly from the national
objectives for individual pollutants.Work is being carried out to develop a robust approach to
estimate the impact that meeting the objectives will have on the Headline Indicator.
3.100 Air quality is getting better.The 2001 results for the Government’s Headline Indicator of air
quality, published in May 2002, reinforced earlier findings that the number of days of
moderate or higher air pollution has declined substantially at urban sites since 1993.The
number of days of poor urban air quality per year has fallen by about two thirds since 1993,
consistent with the reductions in emissions of key pollutants over the last decade. Actions at
international, national and local level have all contributed to this improvement. For example,
emissions of air pollutants from road transport have fallen by 50 per cent or so over the last
decade as a result of progressively tighter EU standards for new vehicles and fuels. Relative
emissions from transport are, however, growing as emissions from other major sources, such
as power generation and industry, have also declined in response to, for example, reduction
targets introduced through the National Emissions Ceiling and Large Combustion Plant
Directives.
3.101 In 2002, the new Air Quality Expert Group started work to help the Government tackle air
pollution by examining sources and levels of pollution, analysing trends and suggesting
potential priority areas for research.The group are part of the Government’s commitment to
deliver clean air for the UK and help future reviews of the Air Quality Strategy by improving
the understanding of levels and sources of pollution.
76
Headline Indicators
“Levels of most pollutants have fallen considerably over the last few years
through measures to cut emissions from industry and traffic. But the latest health
evidence shows that we cannot afford to be complacent. Further action is needed
to cut air pollution levels, in particular in our congested towns and cities, which
continue to have a significant impact on our health. The new targets we have
announced [today] represent a significant strengthening of our air quality targets
for particles and other important air pollutants.”
Minister for Environment, Michael Meacher, August 2002
3.102 Air pollution does not recognise borders between countries and international commitments
play a key role in meeting air quality targets.The UK continued to play a prominent and
supportive role in discussions and negotiations on measures to cut air pollution. Several EU
Directives to reduce emissions of air pollutants were transposed into UK law during 2002.
These include the National Emission Ceilings Directive, which sets ceilings for UK emissions of
various pollutants; the Large Combustion Plant Directive, which will reduce emissions from
large industrial plants; and the Second Air Quality Daughter Directive, which sets limits for
two key pollutants. Full public consultation was undertaken on the Government’s proposals
for ratifying important international agreements on further reductions of air pollution.
3.103 Local authorities have continued to make good progress with their air quality management
duties. Practically all authorities have completed their first round of reviews and assessments
to check whether the air quality targets will be met. Over 100 authorities have designated Air
Quality Management Areas and have started preparing action plans to tackle problems
identified.
3.104 It is important that people can access information about levels of air pollution to check any
impact on their health and judge whether the Government measures to reduce levels are
working. An improved public air pollution information service was launched in May 2002 to
report hourly up-dates and 24 hour forecasts on air quality in sixteen regions and sixteen
urban areas of the UK. Information is readily available from freephone 0800 556677, teletext
and the internet. At the same time, a new, much improved, user friendly website for people
to view current and historical data on air pollution was launched.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.105 Road transport is a major source of local air pollution, particularly in our towns and cities. Air
quality and transport policy measures have already led to significant improvements in local air
quality and will continue to lead to further improvements. Key transport initiatives include:
Regulatory measures and standards to reduce vehicle emissions and improve fuels.
This includes the Euro standards emissions testing as part of the MOT, and the Road
Traffic Vehicle Emissions Regulations 2002 which allow local authorities with air quality
management areas to undertake roadside emissions testing.
Tax based measures that encourage people to supply and use cleaner fuels and also
encourage them to buy more environmentally-friendly vehicles. Fuel duty differentials
favouring Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), biodiesel and
ultra-low sulphur petrol and diesel encourage people to use these cleaner fuels.
Sulphur free fuels offer further air quality and fuel efficiency benefits over ultra-low
sulphur fuels and the Government intends to introduce duty incentives favouring
sulphur-free fuels in 2003.The company car and Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) taxation
regimes offer discounts for alternatively powered vehicles, such as electric, hybrid and
LPG/CNG.
78
Headline Indicators
Road traffic
600
Great Britian
500
Road traffic in England
projected to increase
by 17% (2000-2010)
Billion vehicle kilometres
Traffic intensity
300 (vehicle km per unit of GDP)
140
80
100
60
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2001
0
1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Source: DfT
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
DfT: Secure improvements in rail punctuality and reliability with a 50 per cent increase in rail
use in Great Britain from 2000 levels by 2010.
DfT: Secure improvements to the accessibility, punctuality and reliability of local public
transport (bus and light rail), with an increase in use of more than 12 per cent by 2010
compared with 2000 levels.
DfT: Cut journey times on London Underground services by increasing capacity and reducing
delays. (Specific targets will be agreed with the Mayor after the Public Private Partnership has
been established.)
DfT: Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in Great Britain in road
accidents by 40 per cent, and the number of children killed or seriously injured by 50 per cent,
by 2010 compared with the average for 1994-98, tackling the significantly higher incidence in
disadvantaged communities.
3.106 For the reasons explained in paragraph 3.12, the assessment for the Road traffic Headline
Indicator has been split. A new, separate assessment is now made for road traffic volumes,
which have continued to rise, albeit more slowly than in earlier years, and which constitute a
continuing pressure against our objectives to deliver reductions in congestion and pollution.
The second assessment reflects the relationship between traffic and economic growth, as an
intensity measure, and shows that the close association between the two seen in recent
decades has weakened. Since 1993 traffic intensity (the ratio of traffic growth to economic
growth, measured as the amount of traffic generated per unit of GDP) has fallen steadily,
following a significant increase during the previous decade.
3.107 In July 2000, the Government published its 10 Year Plan for transport.This long term
investment strategy was aimed at improving transport systems, to ensure that people and
goods can move around the country freely and efficiently, whilst tackling the adverse impacts
of congestion and pollution.The amount that will be spent on transport over the ten years
covered by the Plan is now more than £180 billion. Since the Plan was published, the
Government has been working to ensure this significant increase in funding is translated into
real improvements on the ground. A report on progress with delivering the Plan [Delivering
Better Transport: Progress Report, DfT 2002 (www.dft.gov.uk/trans2010/index.htm)] was
published on 17 December 2002.
80
Headline Indicators
Public transport
3.108 It is currently difficult to register bus routes that do not have a timetable or specified start
and finish points, for example door to door and demand responsive services.The
Department for Transport embarked on a public consultation exercise in August 2002 on
proposals to address this.They suggested that, in order to register a flexible route, an
operator should define the area of operation and pre-booking arrangements rather than
specifying a precise timetable.These measures would be restricted to subsidised services and
those run by not-for-profit organisations, although the consultation also asked whether
commercial operators might find them attractive to run.
3.109 Three new types of bus service were included in the proposals.These are:
● The ‘many to one’ service – picking up individual passengers from a location specified by
them (perhaps their home), and taking them to a single, fixed destination. An example
could be a minibus that picks up passengers from any address in a group of villages and
takes them to a fixed stop at the supermarket in an adjacent town;
● The ‘one to many’ service – the above example in reverse. Passengers are picked up
from fixed boarding points and taken to disparate destinations, on demand; and
● The ‘many to many’ service – this offers maximum flexibility, allowing the service to pick
up passengers from various locations, on demand, and taking them to disparate
destinations (within a defined geographical area of operation), again on demand.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Light rail
In the right conditions, such as along high-volume transport corridors in major cities,
light rail schemes can bring about cost-effective improvements in public transport.
They can also secure significant benefits in congestion reduction, local air quality and
safety and help to promote economic regeneration and social inclusion.Typically,
15 per cent of light rail passengers used to rely on cars for the same journeys.
Light rail schemes are already running in London (Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and
Croydon),Tyne and Wear, Greater Manchester, Sheffield, and the West Midlands – as
well as the historic Blackpool tram.The Sunderland extension to the Tyne and Wear
Metro opened in spring 2002.The first phase of the Nottingham Express Transit will
start operating in late 2003.
Three more schemes are now in procurement. Phase 3 of Manchester Metrolink will
connect the city centre to Oldham and Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester
Airport. Leeds Supertram will serve three key corridors into the city centre and
provide a loop line round it. South Hampshire Rapid Transit will connect Fareham and
Gosport to Portsmouth through a new tunnel under Portsmouth Harbour.
Bristol and South Gloucestershire Rapid Transit, Merseytram line one, and two
extensions to the Midland Metro have also been approved in principle.
82
Headline Indicators
Scotland
(new basis)*
Scotland
95
Percentage of river lengths
Northern Ireland
90
England
85
80
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Source: Environment Agency of England and Wales, *Scottish river classification network changed in 2001
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA),
Environment and Heritage Service (NI) (EHS)
100
90
80
Percentage of river lengths
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1990 1995 2000 1990 1995 2000 1991 1995 2000 2000 2001 1990 1995 2000 2001
Old New
‘General Quality Assessment’ classification classification classification
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Change since Ninety-four per cent of English river lengths were of good or fair
the Strategy: chemical quality in 2000 compared with 89 per cent in 1998.The
chemical quality of rivers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ✔
have remained relatively stable over this period.
[Chemical river quality: Eng, Wales & Scotland, NI: 1998-2000]
[Biological river quality: Eng & Wales, 1995, 2000, Scotland, NI: 1995, 2001]
3.110 Most UK rivers are of good or fair quality. River water quality is important because rivers are
a major source of water used for drinking and by industry.They also support a wide variety
of wildlife and are used extensively for recreation.
The Government set a target to increase RQO compliance in England and Wales from 82 per
cent in 1997 to at least 91 per cent in 2005 (by 2000, RQO compliance had increased to 90.4
per cent).
The relationship between movement towards the RQO target and improvement in the water
quality headline is not straightforward. A river length that changed quality to meet its RQO
objective would affect the headline if its quality changed from ‘poor’ to ‘fair’ or from ‘fair’ to
‘good’, but not if it moved up a class within either the ‘fair’ or ‘good’ categories.
84
Headline Indicators
85
Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
H13 – Wildlife
Objective: Reverse the long-term decline in populations of farmland and woodland
birds.
100
Index (1970 = 100)
90
Woodland species (33)
80
70
50
1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
Change since The overall population of British breeding birds has been
1990: relatively stable over the last two decades, but farmland and
woodland birds have declined significantly. Between 1990 and
2000 the population of farmland birds fell by 17 per cent and ✘
the population of woodland birds by seven per cent.
[data: UK, 1990-2000]
3.111 Wild birds are good indicators of the health of the wider environment, because they are
wide ranging in habitat distribution and tend to be at or near the top of the food chain.The
Headline Indicator comprises indicators of the populations of common species of farmland,
woodland and all native species.The overall population of British breeding birds has been
relatively stable over the last two decades, however, there have been significant declines in
farmland and woodland species.The Government’s objective is to reverse these trends.
3.112 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the British Trust for Ornithology
(BTO) report that access restrictions related to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak
severely restricted data collection in 2001 and they judge that it is not possible to provide a
86 meaningful update of the Headline Indicator for 2001.
Headline Indicators
3.113 In October 2002 the Government published England’s Biodiversity Strategy, ‘Working with the
grain of nature’.The Strategy builds on the foundations laid by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan
(1994) and seeks to integrate biodiversity considerations into a range of key policy areas,
setting out programmes of action for the next five years in agriculture, water and wetlands,
woodland and forestry, towns, cities and development and marine and coastal issues. It also
looks at ways of ensuring that biodiversity is built into the concerns and behaviour of society
as a whole.
3.114 The Strategy brings together a series of biodiversity indicators for each of the sectors
considered. Many are already part of the ‘Quality of life counts’ series, such as the populations
of wild birds, progress with Biodiversity Action Plans and river water quality. Where possible
and appropriate, the indicators will use data for England and be broken down by sector. A full
report on the biodiversity indicators will be published in 2003.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Agri-environment scheme
3.115 Defra is developing a pilot scheme to take forward the Policy Commission on Farming and
Food’s recommendation for an “entry level” agri-environment scheme.
3.116 The new Entry Level Scheme is designed to achieve high uptake amongst farmers and broad
coverage of a high proportion of farmland. It will be simple to administer for both farmer and
Government and will not be competitive.
3.117 The scheme will be piloted for two years, starting early 2003. We hope that it will be rolled
out across England in 2005/6. Many partner organisations have been involved in designing the
pilot scheme, and will continue to be involved at all stages of the project.
3.118 As the scheme will be implemented across a broad area, it will be able to address
environmental problems which cannot be solved by focusing on isolated areas, such as diffuse
pollution, loss of widespread species like brown hare and farmland birds, loss of landscape
character and damage to archaeological sites.
3.119 The new scheme will include incentives for wildlife friendly farming practices, such as
sympathetic hedgerow management, over a much larger scale than at present. We expect this
to have a strong positive effect on the wild bird populations that make up Headline Indicator
H13 (wildlife), especially the farmland species that have declined by more than 40 per cent
since 1970. We also intend that the scheme will address resource protection issues, and hope
that it will have a positive effect on Headline Indicator 12 (river water quality). For further
information visit www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/schemesindex.htm
88
Headline Indicators
3.121 The National Parks Sustainable Development Fund, which was launched in July 2002, aims to
develop and test new ways of achieving a more sustainable way of living in countrysides of
great natural beauty and diversity, and which enhance and conserve local culture, wildlife,
landscape, land use and community. When the best ways of achieving sustainability have been
identified, they can then act as examples for other rural areas to follow.
3.122 The Fund is open to individuals or organisations from the public, private or voluntary sectors
from within or outside the National Park.
3.123 A few examples of current or completed sustainable development projects in the National
Parks are: the ‘Greater Exmoor Woodland Initiative’ (a scheme to increase the area of
woodland management and employment in woodland related industries); a bike and canoe
hire network scheme in the Norfolk Broads to support the holiday industry; the ‘Distinctly
Cumbrian Rural Regeneration Programme’ aimed at supporting the production, distribution
and marketing of Cumbrian products; and the Environmental and Economic Development of
the Hadrian’s Wall corridor.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
65
60
55
Per cent
50
45
40
35
30
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Source: ODPM
Change since In 2001 61 per cent of new homes were built on previously
the Strategy: developed land or through conversion of existing buildings14.
This compares with 57 per cent in 1996, after which there ✔
has been a steady increase from 1997 onwards.
[data: England, 1996-2001]
3.124 New developments within existing urban areas contribute to the revitalisation of
communities and enable people to live near shops and employment, reducing the need to
travel. Building homes on previously developed land wherever possible is also important for
the protection of the countryside.
14 In ‘Quality of life counts’ these statistics were based on the Land Use Change Statistics definition of
‘land in urban uses.’ The publication of Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing (PPG3), introduced
a concise definition of previously developed land – ‘land in urban uses’ plus defence buildings and land
for mineral extraction and waste disposal.The headline series was re-based on the PPG3 definition.
90
Headline Indicators
Millennium Communities
The Millennium Communities Programme was initiated in 1997 with the launch of the
development competition for Greenwich Millennium Village.The programme aims to
produce tangible, living examples of sustainable mixed-use development – providing a
new, environmentally friendly way of living.They incorporate good public transport
links, innovation in building technology, energy efficiency and challenging ecological and
environmental strategies. A range of different types of site have been chosen to
demonstrate that energy efficient, environmentally responsible development is
achievable regardless of geographic location.
The Greenwich Millennium Village in South London was the site of the largest gas
works in Europe and is now being developed by Greenwich Millennium Village Ltd, a
joint venture between Taylor Woodrow and Countryside Properties. From the outset,
the development of a community infrastructure was seen as installing the physical
infrastructure. At Greenwich Millennium Village the school and health centre were
built and open within 12 months of the first residents moving in and a dedicated bus
route existed before the first homes were sold.The full integration of affordable
housing both in terms of design and location promotes social inclusion.Those needing
affordable housing are not relegated to the periphery of the village and are living in
units indistinguishable from those for sale. A number of demanding targets for the
environmental performance and construction have been set. Good progress is being
made towards these.
For further information visit www.englishpartnerships.co.uk
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
H15 – Waste
Objective: Move away from disposal of waste towards waste reduction, reuse, recycling
and recovery.
500
Kilograms per person per year
400
300
200
100
0
/4 /5 /6 /7 /8 /9 /9
0 /1 /2 /3 /4 /5 /6 /7 /8 /9 /0
0 /1
83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00
19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20
Source: Defra
United Kingdom
30%
Landfill
Other disposal
58% Other recovery
Energy recovery
2% Recycling
7%
2%
92
Headline Indicators
3.125 Owing to the lack of new data on all controlled waste arisings, a separate assessment has
been made for household waste, which accounts for about a sixth of the total. Although the
amount of household waste that was not recycled or composted has increased, there has
been significant improvement in the proportion of household waste that is recycled or
composted, rising from 2.6 per cent of the total in 1991/2 to 11.2 per cent in 2000/1.
3.126 Tackling our growing mountain of waste is one of the biggest environmental challenges we
face. We need to reduce the waste we generate, while at the same time ensuring the safe
disposal of wastes for which efficient re-use, recycling or recovery solutions have not yet
been found. In the long term, decoupling the link between waste growth and economic
growth will require concerted action from governments, local authorities, businesses, and
individuals.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
3.127 Following the Waste Summit in November 2001, the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit has been
looking at what additional measures we may need to meet our obligations under the Landfill
Directive. Previous annual reports have included, in the graph showing all controlled waste
arisings, estimates for 2010 based on the existing measures within the Waste Strategy.
Estimates have not been included this year pending the results of the Strategy Unit’s review.
3.128 Defra has strengthened its support for local authority waste minimisation and recycling,
including through the ring-fenced fund of £140 million. Under a voluntary agreement, the UK
newspaper industry has succeeded in boosting the recycled content of their output to over
60 per cent.They have exceeded their target for 2001, and are on track to meet the 70 per
cent target for 2006. For packaging waste, the UK achieved a recovery rate of 47.9 per cent
in 2001, compared with 33.4 per cent in 1998 and a recycling rate of 42 per cent in 2001, a
significant increase on the 1998 rate of 28.9 per cent.
3.129 Action to improve resource efficiency and waste management will be crucial in taking
forward the work on sustainable production and consumption proposed at WSSD (see
Headline Indicator 1). For this to succeed, action is required at all levels.The following case
studies give some examples of the different work being carried out across the UK.
94
Headline Indicators
Archway School
Archway School took part in the ‘Action on School’ project for secondary schools.
Global Action Plan trained an Action Team consisting of students, teachers, caretaking
and kitchen staff and governors, plus the local council’s recycling officer.
Global Action Plan helped them to carry out their first audit. A campaign then took
place to reduce the amount of rubbish thrown away.This consisted of a launch event,
poster campaigns, the introduction of recycling facilities, and a student visit to a landfill
site.The second audit was carried out five months later and showed a massive
reduction of 65 per cent, saving them £1,800 on their annual waste-collection bill.
Archway School was awarded its United Nations certificate, followed by a celebration
event. Around 100 students have been directly involved in the programme and many
more have been involved through curriculum work.
For further information visit www.globalactionplan.org.uk
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
15 Survey of public attitudes to quality of life and to the environment – 2001, Defra 2002
96
Headline Indicators
3.131 As part of the indicator development process, several indicators that were ‘to be developed’
at the time of the 1999 report have now had a data source identified or developed.
● Quality of life counts (core indicator) – K7: Access to local green space: In 2001, 84 per
cent of respondents perceived they could easily access local green space or countryside.
● Quality of life counts (core indicator) – S8: Access to the countryside: In 2001 80 per cent
of survey respondents had visited the countryside for enjoyment in the preceding 12
months.
● Quality of life counts (core indicator) – C9: Low Pay: In 2001 1.3 per cent of people in
work aged over 18 were earning less than the minimum wage – down from 6.4 per cent
in 1998.
3.133 The presentation of the Headline Indicators has been improved on the sustainable
development website, and is updated when new data become available. A ‘Quality of Life
Barometer’ leaflet summarising the latest position in the headline indicators has been updated
several times during the year, and Regional Quality of Life Counts16 – regional versions of the
headline indicators – have been updated and published.
3.134 The full results of the Survey of public attitudes to quality of life and to the environment – 200117
were published in October 2002, providing an insight into people’s attitudes and behaviour
regarding sustainable development issues. Some of the results have been included in the
preceding Headline Indicator sections.
3.135 The Audit Commission has produced and piloted a set of local quality of life performance
indicators18 to assist local authorities in monitoring progress towards sustainable development
in their areas.The indicators were strongly influenced by the menu of Local quality of life
counts19 produced jointly by the Central Local (government) Information Partnership (CLIP)
Task Force on Sustainable Development.
3.137 The UK has continued to play an active role in the development of a set of indicators to
monitor sustainable development across the European Union.
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Achieving a better quality of life – Review of progress towards sustainable development
Geographical coverage
3.138 The Headline Indicators use data for the whole of the UK, wherever possible. However in
some instances data are not available for all the constituent countries of the UK, on a
comparable basis, or for the full period required, or at all.To avoid overly complicating the
overview of progress provided by Headline Indicators the most appropriate combination of
consistent data have been used, which allows for clear explanations of the ‘traffic light’
assessments and graph presentations.
3.139 The devolved administrations have, in some cases different policies and targets, or indeed
legal bases.Their data collection mechanisms have, therefore, rightly been established to
collect the relevant information with which to monitor their own progress that may differ
from that in other countries in the UK.
3.140 The National Assembly for Wales published its own set of sustainable development indicators
Sustainable development indicators for Wales21 in March 2002 and Scotland’s sustainable
development indicators were published in April 2002 in ‘Meeting the Needs…Priorities, Actions
and Targets for sustainable development in Scotland’ 22.The Headline Indicators produced for
Wales include most but not all of the UK Government’s Headline Indicators, plus some
others of particular relevance to Wales.
3.141 In Northern Ireland, the results of a consultation on a sustainable development strategy are
being evaluated, and this will begin the process of dialogue on an appropriate set of
monitoring indicators for Northern Ireland.
3.142 The devolved administrations do take comparability with other parts of the UK into account
when developing their own sets of indicators, but they must also reflect their own particular
needs.
21 www.wales.gov.uk/keypubstatisticsforwalesheadline/content/sustainable/2002/hdw200203274-e.htm
22 www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/rural/mtnsd-00.aspt.htm
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Headline Indicators
The release of Headline Indicators in 2003 will follow a similar pattern to 2002
(see Table 3.2)
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CHAPTER FOUR
International Co-operation
and Development
4.1 We live in an increasingly interdependent world. Sustainable development in the UK cannot
be considered in isolation from sustainable development elsewhere. Our lifestyles and policies
have an impact on the rest of the world. We have a moral duty to help the poorest people
in the world as we move towards a new global society. Allowing international inequalities and
environmental degradation to grow could jeopardise social stability and sustainable
development for us all.
UK Priority Areas identified in the Strategy for sustainable development for the UK –
a better quality of life (1999):
We must contribute to global sustainable development, in particular for those in extreme
poverty.
Women’s literacy and numeracy class in the village of Khabasdih, West Bengal (Howard Davies, DFID, 1997)
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4.2 The Strategy for sustainable development for the UK states that to achieve sustainable
development internationally we need to:
● work with others to eliminate global poverty and raise living standards in developing
countries;
● work with others to tackle global pressures on the environment and resources;
● promote a fair and open trade system which respects the environment; and
4.3 While much of the focus for international sustainable development in 2002 was placed on
the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, its outcomes
should be seen not as the watershed agreement that Rio was, but as part of a continuum of
recent conferences. Recently, an international process has been unfolding marked by three
key summits: the Doha (4th) World Trade Organisation meeting (which took place in
November 2001), Financing for Development in Monterrey and WSSD.The G8 also achieved
some important milestones at its Summit in Canada, and the First Meeting of Parties to the
Aarhus Convention brought into operation the world’s first international convention aimed at
the implementation of Rio Principle 10.The UK played a leading role in all of these.
4.4 The following looks at some of the ways the UK has been working to achieve the above
goals in 2002 through these processes. If delivered, the agreements reached at the Millennium
Summit, particularly the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Financing for Development
in Monterrey, the Doha Ministerial Trade Talks and the World Summit on Sustainable
Development all mark significant steps for global sustainable development.
4.6 During 2002 the UK committed to increase its aid budget.This will result in a rise from 0.26
per cent of gross national income (GNI) in 1997 to 0.32 per cent in 2001, and an increase to
0.41 per cent of GNI by 2005/6. Further progress was made in improving the effectiveness of
aid by moving away from project support to more strategic co-operation framed within
poverty reduction strategies drawn up by developing countries themselves.
4.7 The UK was instrumental in the successful replenishment of the Global Environmental Facility
(GEF), the main financial mechanism for global environmental issues such as climate change,
biodiversity and bio-safety, international waters, phasing out of ozone depleting substances
and programmes to deal with persistent organic pollutants, desertification and land
degradation.The replenishment of the GEF for the period 2002 to 2006 was completed in
August and resulted in agreement to provide $2.9 billion in total (including investment
income of $130 million and carry over of $570 million).The UK agreed to provide an
additional voluntary £15 million as a signal of our commitment to dealing with global
environmental issues, the effects of which are felt disproportionately by developing countries.
The UK is now the fourth largest donor to the GEF.
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4.8 The UK Government provided support to developing countries in the formulation of their
own national strategies for sustainable development. Policy and implementation guidance was
provided in cooperation with several other development agencies and institutions through,
firstly the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and then the
United Nations. Supportive publications were made available as part of the WSSD
preparations.
4.10 Negotiations are underway in the Special Session of the WTO Committee on Trade and
Environment.The deadline for completion of negotiations is 31 December 2004.The EU has
submitted papers that propose a ‘presumption of conformity’ with WTO rules for specific trade
obligations arising from Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs), and enhanced observer
status for MEA Secretariats within the WTO negotiations.The EU has also proposed that
tariff reductions for environmentally beneficial goods should be greater than the average tariff
reductions to be agreed for non-agricultural products.This will have the benefit of increasing
trade in such goods and promoting technology transfer to developing countries.
4.11 Similarly, negotiations to give effect to the Doha commitments on agriculture are being
carried forward in Special Sessions of the WTO Committee on Agriculture.These sessions
have covered the three central pillars of export competition, market access and domestic
support as well as related issues of special and differential treatment for developing countries
and non-trade concerns. A paper will be produced with a view to reaching agreement on
modalities for a new Agriculture Agreement in the first quarter of 2003.
4.13 The UK amongst others supported the package of further commitments announced by
the EU:
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● to press for a stronger developing country voice in international economic decision
making;
4.14 The UK will be working to build on the commitments in the Monterrey Consensus. On aid
volume, we will be working within the EU to clarify individual Member States’ responsibilities
to ensure that the target EU average is met, and pressing other donors to encourage them
to follow the EU and US in significantly increasing their overseas development assistance
levels.The UK will continue to press the aid effectiveness agenda in the EU (particularly on
untying aid), the OECD Development Assistance Committee and the G8.
G8 Summit
4.15 The 2002 G8 Summit took place in Kananaskis, Canada, in June.The main output was the G8
Africa Action Plan, the G8’s response to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development
(NEPAD).The Plan includes commitments on: promoting peace and security in Africa;
spending half the additional aid promised at Monterrey on Africa; providing up to $1 billion
extra funding for debt relief; support for countries with credible plans to achieve universal
primary education; further work on differential pricing for pharmaceuticals and providing the
resources to eliminate polio by 2005.
4.16 In his statement to the Commons after the Summit, the Prime Minister undertook that the
UK would contribute its share of the additional resources required to implement the Plan;
and said, “we expect UK bilateral spending on Africa to rise from around £650 million a year now
to £1 billion by 2006”.
“We know the problems. A child in Africa dies every three seconds from famine,
disease or conflict.We know that if climate change is not stopped, all parts of the
world will suffer. Some will even be destroyed, and we know the solution –
sustainable development. So the issue for this summit is the political will…..Rio of
course did not deliver everything, neither will Johannesburg, no summit can, but
this summit can and will make our world change for the better…”
Prime Minister,Tony Blair, September 2002
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Global preparations
4.18 Such a complex and wide-ranging agenda required plenty of preparation to ensure that the
Summit was successful. During the 18 months prior to the Summit, global preparatory
meetings for the Summit were held in New York and at Ministerial level in Bali, Indonesia, to
set the agenda for the Summit and begin negotiating the final outcomes, which Heads of
Government endorsed at Johannesburg itself.
4.19 Early consensus was reached that negotiations should focus on commitment to global action
rather than words, to deliver the Rio Summit’s Agenda 21 and the Millennium Development
Goals, building on – but not renegotiating – recent agreements made at Doha and
Monterrey. For further information visit www.johannesburgsummit.org
UK preparations
4.20 The UK Government’s strategy and priority objectives were developed, co-ordinated and
agreed through a Cabinet Committee, with Ministers from a wide range of departments
under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Our World
The ‘Our World’ project, a joint initiative between the World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF) and government (Defra, DfES and the devolved administrations), offered
young people around the UK the opportunity to add their voices to the debates on
environment and poverty in the lead up to the World Summit. Four Earth Champions
were selected following the schools challenge, after their original thinking on
sustainable development issues won them acclaim.Tim Green from England, Stephanie
Wiseman from Scotland, Peter Burton from Northern Ireland and Rhys Davies from
Wales attended the Summit as part of the non-official UK delegation to represent the
views of young people. In the lead-up to the Summit the Champions, aged between
seven and nine, met the Prime Minister and Defra’s Secretary of State Margaret
Beckett to discuss issues arising from the ‘Our World’ School debates.They also played
an active role in the Summit, interviewing members of the delegation, reporting back
to the UK via the WWF website and meeting with young people from South Africa.
“The voices of young people will be heard loud and clear in Johannesburg and I want them to
know now they ARE important.They are the future.We want to make the world a better place
for them and for generations to come. It’s up to us all to make it work and to make it happen.”
Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett, June 2002.
For further information visit www.wwflearning.co.uk/ourworld/
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4.22 The Government website had a dedicated WSSD section providing information on the
Summit. Between May and September the site received well over 3 million ‘hits’.The
information will still be accessible as an archive after the Summit. For further information visit
www.sustainable-development.gov.uk
4.23 ‘Reaching the Summit – Johannesburg, the UK and Sustainable Development’ was published by
the Government to inform the domestic audience about WSSD, highlighting the global/local
links through case studies which demonstrate UK activity since Rio in both the UK and
overseas.
4.24 The carbon emissions caused by the delegation’s travel to and attendance at the Summit
were offset by participating in the ‘Johannesburg Climate Legacy Project’.This project will fund
sustainable development projects in South Africa to deliver both positive benefits to local
people as well as offsetting greenhouse gas emission reductions. For further information visit
www.climatelegacy.org
In Johannesburg
4.25 The Summit was attended by over 180 countries.The Prime Minister was the first world
leader to commit to attending, and was joined by over 100 other national leaders. Margaret
Beckett led negotiations for the UK.The Deputy Prime Minister, Clare Short, Michael Meacher
and the leaders of the devolved administrations also attended. Strong contingents were
present from parliament, local government, business and NGOs, and all these stakeholder
groups were represented on the UK delegation.
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UNED-UK Committee
UNED-UK Committee, funded by Defra, took the lead in facilitating UK multi-
stakeholder civil society input into the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
The national multi-stakeholder dialogue process has been running since July 2000,
reaching more than 500 organisations and 1,000 individuals. Dialogues have focused
around six thematic areas, as identified by the stakeholders themselves: Biodiversity
and Natural Resources Conservation, Education for Sustainable Development, Energy
and Climate Change, Population and Sustainability, Sustainable Cities and Communities,
Sustainable Production and Consumption. Uniquely the dialogues provided a neutral
space in which a broad representation of the Agenda 21 Major Groups could meet,
and develop common positions and perspectives. Consensus was sought on national
and international policy statements and on where action should be taken to progress
sustainable development at the national and international level.
UNED-UK facilitated UK civil society input into the Preparatory meetings, and the
Summit itself, through representation at the meetings, networking, and the active
lobbying of governments on the outcomes of the dialogues.The multi-stakeholder
process provided members of UK civil society with a voice at the international level
that they would otherwise have not had, it also proved an effective mechanism for
driving priority issues for the UK further up the Summit agenda. Further to this,
UNED-UK was able to report back on, and translate the international process to UK
stakeholders, enabling them to understand the dynamics of the Summit process and
therefore more effectively contribute to it.
On coming back from the Summit, UNED-UK has provided stakeholders with analysis
of the outcomes of the Summit in general and as they relate to each thematic area.
Further to this a full report on the Summit process will be provided.The dialogue
groups continue to meet, with a focus on implementation and bringing Johannesburg
home.To facilitate this, discussions around priority areas for the UK, and the definition
of process and mechanisms are currently taking place, which will hopefully assist the
Government in delivering on their commitments through collaborative working and
consultation with UK civil society. For further information visit www.unedforum.org
“UNED-UK Committee’s Multi-stakeholder Dialogue process has been an outstanding
achievement. It has genuinely involved ordinary citizens in the process of planning for our
global future, something normally left to the high level politicians.The process should be a
model for the involvement of people in decision making on important global issues at all
levels of regional, national and international Government.”
Dr Norma Bubier, Durrell Institute and Pro Narua, 2002
Specific outcomes
4. 26 Given the wide-ranging nature of the issues under discussion and the different viewpoints,
negotiations were tough.The UK delegation worked round the clock to achieve a successful
outcome.There were some disappointments but taken in aggregate the outcomes represent
a significant step forwards.The Summit produced:
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● a Plan of Implementation, which was the main focus of negotiations, setting out the
priority actions needed to achieve global sustainable development; and
4.27 These outcomes provide much to build on. Commitment and resources at national, EU and
UN level will be required to ensure effective follow-up. Defra is leading interdepartmental
work to define plans for UK actions at home and abroad to deliver the commitments made
at Johannesburg.The full scope of the agreements reached is too broad to report in detail
here but for the UK the key advances which will galvanise action and set standards are set
out below.
4.28 The Summit forged close links between development and environment policy, in the service
of sustainable development. Agreements on poverty eradication highlight the importance
of good environmental and natural resource management to sustainable livelihoods and the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A paper entitled ‘Linking Poverty Reduction and
Environmental Management: Policy Challenges and Opportunities’ was prepared by DFID in
cooperation with the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
and the European Commission.This focused on ways to reduce poverty and sustain growth
by improving environmental management. It drew out the links between poverty and the
environment and sought to demonstrate that sound and equitable management of the
environment is integral to achieving the MDGs.
4.29 As well as reaffirming the importance of delivering the existing MDGs and reinforcing the
importance of the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development, the Summit agreed
new commitments on access to water, sanitation and energy:
● Sanitation – a new target to halve by 2015 the proportion of people living without basic
sanitation, adding to the MDGs.This should save millions of lives in developing countries,
and support existing goals on safe drinking water and health.
● Water – commitment to a programme of actions to help meet the new sanitation target
and the associated MDG on safe water. Countries should also develop integrated water
resource management and water efficiency plans by 2005.
● Energy – agreement to take joint actions to provide reliable and affordable energy for
the poor, to underpin achievement of the MDGs.
4.30 Negotiations on trade were particularly difficult as countries had differing expectations on
what WSSD could achieve. Without prejudging the outcomes of the next trade Round and
the balance of commitments in the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) the final agreement
recognises the significance of international trade for the wider sustainable development agenda
and reinforces the mutual supportiveness of the multilateral trading system and Multilateral
Environmental Agreements.The outcome reflects the forceful emphasis placed on delivering
the DDA, particularly commitments on market access and subsidy reform.
4.31 For industrialised countries, a priority will be to elaborate on the agreement to develop a
global framework for action programmes to make patterns of consumption and
production more sustainable, and to bring development within the carrying capacity of
ecosystems. Work should focus on de-coupling economic growth from environmental
degradation. Industrialised countries are tasked with leading the way.
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4.32 The current trend in natural resources degradation should be reversed as soon as
possible by implementing strategies to protect ecosystems and achieving integrated
management of land, water and living resources.
4.33 The pace of globalisation since Rio was recognised as a new challenge, offering both
opportunities and risks for sustainable development. In this context, corporate social
responsibility should be actively encouraged and promoted, including through the full
development and effective implementation of intergovernmental agreements and measures,
international initiatives, private-public partnerships and appropriate national regulations.
4.34 Countries agreed to significantly reduce the current rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010.
Action will include strengthening efforts to control invasive alien species, one of the main
causes of biodiversity loss, promoting the development and implementation of the ecosystem
approach, which is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living
resources, and the integration of biodiversity objectives into all policy areas. As part of the UK
contribution to global efforts to reduce biodiversity loss, the Prime Minister announced an
increase of £7 million over the next three years in the budget for the Darwin Initiative.This
programme puts UK expertise together with local partners to improve the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity in countries rich in biodiversity but poor in resources.
4.35 Marine protection and fisheries figured heavily at the Summit: we have a new target to
restore depleted fishstocks urgently and where possible by 2015, with enhanced action
against illegal fishing. Governments agreed to establish networks of Marine Protected Areas
by 2012 and produce a new Global Marine Assessment by 2004.
4.36 Despite strong resistance, the Summit agreed to urgently and substantially increase the
global share of renewable energy sources, recognising the role of national and regional
targets, and regularly evaluate available data to review progress. At the same time we should
be developing advanced, cleaner, and more efficient energy technologies and taking action,
where appropriate, to phase out energy subsidies that inhibit sustainable development. At
Johannesburg, the UK Government, along with around 60 other countries, joined the EU in a
commitment to set clear and ambitious time bound national targets for renewable energy
and to work together to establish regional and where possible global targets.This
commitment is enshrined in the declaration ‘The way forward on renewable energy’.
4.37 A new target tasks nations to use and produce chemicals in ways that lead to the
minimisation of significant adverse effects of human health and the environment by 2020 and
help developing countries deal with chemicals management and hazardous wastes.
4.38 Existing commitments on human rights and good national governance were reconfirmed as a
cornerstone of sustainable development, with expansion at the Summit of the Rio
commitments on public participation and access to justice.
4.39 The Summit also agreed to strengthen the way the United Nations deals with sustainable
development issues. UN agencies and other bodies should work together on sustainable
development.The outcomes of Monterrey and Johannesburg should be followed up in a co-
ordinated manner. Sustainable development should be mainstreamed into UN and other
international institutions.
4.40 The UK and the EU would have preferred harder formulation of a number of the targets
agreed, particularly on biodiversity, but this was not possible, despite strong pressure by the
UK and EU. A target on halting and reversing the trend in loss of natural or environmental
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resources, reconfirming in a global forum other targets such as the OECD target would have
given a strong message. Similarly, the UK and EU were pushing for concrete targets on
increasing renewable energy use – either at national or global level.
4.41 As well as the formal ‘Johannesburg Commitment’, the Summit gave momentum to sustainable
development issues more generally and precipitated unprecedented media attention.
Partnerships
“Perhaps the most innovative feature of the Summit was the emphasis on
partnerships between governments, civil society and business. Some criticised
business involvement, but partnerships are essential if we are to achieve the
targets we’ve set ourselves – for example, to help improve access to clean water
and energy. Governments can’t deliver these services on their own, though
development co-operation can help establish the necessary regulatory framework
for business to deliver what is required.”
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
Margaret Beckett, September 2002
4.42 One of the most important outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development
was the large number of partnerships that were developed between governments and civil
society, including business and NGOs.
4.43 In the UK it has long been understood that governments alone cannot deliver sustainable
development; that mobilising the resources, skills and energies of others is vital. However,
formal recognition of this within the United Nations, an intergovernmental body, is a major
step forward.
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4.44 These partnerships are not a substitute for strong leadership and commitment by
governments. However, they are an important vehicle for implementation involving all
relevant actors.
4.45 Over 300 partnerships were launched at the Summit, representing considerable additional
financial, technical and human resources towards achieving sustainable development.This
includes the five sectoral initiatives launched by the Prime Minister in March 2001, in financial
services, water and sanitation, forestry, energy, and tourism, and the European Union
partnerships on water and energy, among others.
CETISA partnership
The overall objective of the CETISA partnership (which is being led by the Royal
Institute of International Affairs, RIIA) is to bring together universities, research
organisations and governments from Africa and other countries, along with inter-
governmental organisations, businesses and civil society groups to design and establish
a network of sectorally-focused, regional Centres of Excellence for Technological
Innovation for Sustainability in Africa (CETISA).
Following the launch of the CETISA partnership at WSSD, RIIA plans to take the
process of developing the proposals for the Centres of Excellence forward through a
series of three high-level international workshops which will be held in the first three-
quarters of 2003.The workshops will bring African stakeholders from governments,
academia, the private sector and civil society together with experts and donors from
the rest of the world for the purpose of developing detailed proposals for establishing
centres of excellence for technological innovation to meet Africa’s freshwater and
energy needs.
4.46 We and all of our partners in these initiatives are committed to ensuring that they deliver
real measurable progress on the ground, significantly improving the quality of life of people
around the world.
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The Partnership for Principle 10
The UK has signed up to PP10 which aims to implement Rio Principle 10 and
endorses the provisions of the Aarhus Convention.This commitment strengthens
existing UK commitments:
● to make new Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) as soon as possible.
We have just completed consultations on new draft Regulations;
● to ratify the Aarhus Convention.This means ensuring that all parts of the UK meet
the requirements of the three pillars of the Convention; and
● continuing to play a role in negotiations within the Aarhus Convention (including
work on genetically modified organisms and Pollution Release and Transfer
Registers), and on work within the EU.
As part of this partnership work, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will have
responsibility for helping to roll out the PP10 agenda around the world outside the
UNECE region.
“We are all committed to the Aarhus Convention. We all want to make Aarhus
work. We know experts do not always have all answers. The public often have
local knowledge and experience which can contribute to better decisions. They
also often have a more long term interest in the outcome of decisions which can
affect their neighbourhood and lives of their children and their children’s
children.”
Minister for Environment, Michael Meacher, October 2002
4.48 The UK has played an important role in successfully taking the Aarhus Convention forward to
its First Meeting of Parties, including development of the Convention’s financial arrangements
and reporting requirements. Production of a Europe-wide handbook on Access to Justice was
also supported by the UK.The First Meeting of Parties to the Convention adopted innovative
Rules of Procedure reflecting the special status of civil society under the Convention and a
Compliance Mechanism which breaks entirely new ground, providing a fully independent
compliance committee that may be approached by members of the public.
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4.49 The First Meeting of Parties signed up to a new work programme.This includes:
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