Government Publishes Sustainable Development Report. The report is launched today by Environment Minister Michael Meacher. Social indicators show a more mixed result, with improvements in education standards and falls in non-violent crime, but rises in violent crime and no change in housing or health.
Environmental indicators show the worst results.
Since 1990 there has been progress on river and air quality and on greenhouse gas emissions. Wildlife and waste indicators have both deteriorated since 1990. But one fact leaps of the pages. While the economy has made progress under this Government, the quality of life as measured by social indicators has not improved at anything like the same rate. And too many environmental indicators have actually got worse.