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Nature and Environment 2002

Foreword

Is the environment getting better or worse? Over a number of years, the Ministry of the Environment has highlighted this question in the annual Indicator Report. Developments are being monitored using a number of indicators that provide an overview of conditions for nature and the environment in an easy-to-understand manner.

This year’s Theme Report for nature and the environment concentrates on sustainable production and consumption patterns. This theme is described using 32 selected indicators. The total set of 72 indicators for nature and the environment is available on the Internet.

The Report describes the developments in Denmark towards sustainable production and consumption patterns. For example, there are indicators of the relationship between growth and environmental impacts, consumption of natural resources, and integrating environmental considerations into the sectors. In a number of areas, the indicators show developments towards greater sustainability. Despite economic growth and increasing private consumption, energy consumption has remained constant, water consumption has fallen, and there has been a reduction in pollution in many areas.

The Report also indicates that there is a need for special efforts to adapt our consumption and production to achieve less impact on the environment, and to exploit resources better. Realisation of sustainable development remains a great challenge. For example, in the long term one objective is to limit consumption of resources to about one-quarter of the present level. This was presented in the Danish National Strategy for Sustainable Development.

This Theme Report is a follow-up to the World Summit in Johannesburg in 2002, where sustainable production and consumption patterns were highlighted as a significant challenge. The Summit adopted a ten-year framework of programmes for sustainable consumption and production patterns.

This Theme Report follows up the government’s initiatives for sustainable production and consumption.

The Theme Report comprises a section on production and a section on consumption. Each indicator is based on a set of data containing information on developments in the relevant area. A text is linked to each indicator describing the content of the data and developments over time. The developments are also related to political objectives for the area.

Hans Christian Schmidt Minister for the Environment

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