In Search of Indicators of Sustainable Development

In 1989 the Dutch government published a National Environmental Policy Plan (Dutch abbreviation NMP). This NMP is based on the book Concern for Tomorrow. a national environmental survey by RIVM (the National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection). A major conclusion of the RIVM study was that emissions of many pollutants had to be cut by 70 - 90 % in order to reach environmental quality goals. The government accepted the RIVM analysis and consequently ClUTent Dutch environmental policy aims at large reduction of pollutants. Another conclusion of the RIVM study was that such high reduction goals would not be easy to achieve by technological means alone, and that thus structural changes would be required. These changes could eventually lead to sustainable development, which now forms the major focus of Dutch government national environmental policy. This being so, the Dutch government requested that RIVM in subsequent issues of Concern for Tomorrow should investigate the options for sustainable development.

1. Indicators of sustainable development: an overview.- 2. Towards sustainable development indicators.- 3. Note on the correction of national income for environmental losses.- 4. GNP and sustainable income measures: some problems and a way out.- 5. Natural Resource Accounting: State of the art and perspectives for the assessment of trends in sustainable development.- 6. The predictive meaning of sustainability indicators.- 7. The AMOEBA approach as a useful tool for establishing sustainable development?.- 8. Towards sustainability: indicators of environmental quality.- 9. Contours of an integrated environmental index for application in land-use zoning.- Notes on the contributors.- List of workshop participants.