Sustainable development

Reviewing progress

This section contains quantitative analysis of the most relevant data relating to the specific subjects and commitments within in the government Sustainable Development strategy, Securing the Future, launched by the prime minister in March 2005.

Indicators

Indicators are integral to the communication of sustainable development.  They help review progress, they highlight where the challenges are, and they help people to understand what sustainable development means globally, nationally, locally and for them as individuals.

National

Indicators supporting and monitoring the National Sustainable Development strategy, Securing the Future

Regional

Regional versions of the National indicators where data are available

Local

Local indicator information is collected by the National Audit Commission, more information can be found on their website www.areaprofiles.audit-commission.gov.uk

International

Some international data have been compiled for as many of the national indicators as possible

Methods and data

Methods

The methods used to make indicator assessments and to monitor sustainable development policies can be found here.

Data

Data for all indicators presented on this website can be found here.

An update of the UK Government's national sustainable development indicators

A new set of national indicators were outlined in the UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, Securing the future, launched by the Prime Minister in March 2005.  A baseline assessment of all the indicators, for which data were available, was published in June 2005.

On 31 July 2008 an update of the national indicators was published both as a free pocket booklet Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2008.

There are 68 national indicators supporting the Strategy including measures of everyday concern such as health, housing, jobs, crime, education and our environment. The indicators also support one or more of the four priority areas outlined in the Strategy. 

The indicators can be used in several ways:

UK Government's national sustainable development indicators - Historical

National sustainable development indicators from previous years are also available. (This content has been moved to the National Archives website.)

 

Updated: 8 January 2009

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs