Affiliations: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 207 944 6440; Fax: +44 207 944 6489; E-mail: john.custance@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Note: [1] This paper represents the views of the author and does not necessarily reflect those of the Department or the UK Government.
Abstract: In preparing the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, indicators formed an integral part in the thinking. These include 15 headline indicators making up a quality of life barometer, measuring everyday social, environmental and economic concerns. For some of these indicators the government has targets. More generally there is a commitment that where a trend is unacceptable, the government will adjust policies and will look to others to join it in taking action. The UK has also established a core set of national indicators, ‘Quality of life counts’, to focus on specific issues and identify areas for action. These 150 quality of life indicators provide a benchmark against which future progress can be measured, and cover the main themes of the UK Strategy: a sustainable economy, building sustainable communities, managing the environment and resources, sending the right signals and international co-operation and development. Where possible the indicators have been analysed to identify the main stories behind the trends. Regional quality of life counts (regional versions of headline indicators), and Local quality of life counts (a menu of indicators for use by local authorities) have also been established. Since the UK produced the first ever set of Indicators of Sustainable Development in 1996, indicators have become a key component of government policy and are helping to change policies. We hope the UK experiences in indicator development and in bringing them to the heart of policy may provide a valuable insight for others trying to do the same.
Keywords: headline, indicators, quality of life, regional, local
