There was also interest in reduced and balanced sets of indicators that provide signals on key dimensions of sustainable development to policy-makers and the general public. There was general agreement that sets of indicators reflecting key trends and policy variables are useful to respond to common policy goals, and to demands for simplified indicator lists. Core sets provide a base of comparable information to which countries can add to suit their circumstances. Core sets can also be adapted for different purposes, ranging from tracking performance against plans to budgetary information. There is also some convergence towards a core set of agri-environment indicators.
Further details are in the attached conclusions of the individual sessions.
As a result, sustainable development indicators primarily cover economic and environmental interface. But the presentations and the discussions at the Conference showed that the social interface is receiving increasing attention. The Conference discussed a number of issues where there are important links between environmental policies, social, environmental and economic issues. The Conference reviewed progress towards the implementation of sustainable development in Italy, drawing on the analysis and recommendations of the OECD environmental performance review in 1994. Future directions Governments in OECD countries are facing a growing number of large cross-sectoral and international issues, such as globalisation, climate change and biotechnology.