Reviewing progress
The Reviewing progress page 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.
An update of the UK Government's national sustainable development indicators
Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2009
- A new edition of Sustainable development indicators in your pocket (2009) was published on 30 July 2009. The publication is available to order, free of charge and is presented here (via the cover on the right). The national indicators it contains are also presented via the ‘national’ section below.
There are 68 national indicators supporting the UK Government Sustainable Development 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 2008 edition of the Sustainable development indicators in your pocket was accompanied by a user questionnaire, and the responses and comments have been much appreciated. They have provided a better understanding of the booklet's readership and how they use it. Almost all the responses were very postive and some have prompted revisions to the presentation and content including the production of a glossary of terms and a downloadable Microsoft Powerpoint version of the 2009 publication containing all the charts. A summary of the responses is available here.
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.
The indicators can be used in several ways:
- Full National Indicator set
- UK Framework Indicators - a subset of 20 indicators shared by UK Government and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Sustainable consumption and production - a subset of the indicators which are relevant to sustainable consumption and production.
- Climate change and energy - a subset of the indicators which are relevant to climate change and energy.
- Natural resource protection and enhancing the environment - a subset of the indicators which are relevant to natural resource protection.
- Creating sustainable communties and a fairer world - a subset of the indicators which are relevant to creating sustainable communities.
- Summaries - formal summary reporting for the indicator set as a whole, and for each of the priority areas.
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: 28 October 2009