Executive Summary

1. The UK Round Table on Sustainable Development was established in early 1995. It aims to encourage discussion on major sustainable development issues and to build consensus between people who have different perspectives and different responsibilities.

2. This report summarises, and includes the full recommendations from, two new topics completed recently:

   • Getting the Best Out of Indicators. This report considers strategic issues relating to the use and development of indicators, with particular regard to issues of policy and communication. The role of indicators and targets in particular will be crucial in conveying the concepts and messages of sustainable development. In this context, Government proposals to revise and expand the cope of the 1996 package of indicators of sustainable development and to develop a set of 'key indicators' of sustainable development are welcomed.

   • Economic Regulation. While the existing economic regulatory structure of the energy, water and transport sectors has produced some successes, there remain concerns about the lack of priority given to social equity and environmental issues. This report confirms the view advocated in previous Round Table reports that regulators in these sectors should have increased duties and responsibilities to further sustainable development. However, the regulators' role needs to fit within a more explicit Government policy, Government taking responsibility for determining the policy framework and for setting clear objectives, with the regulators and other agencies responsible for the implementation of policy.

   It also includes brief summaries of current work by three Round Table subgroups:

   • Indicators for the Domestic Energy Market

   • Integrating Biodiversity into Environmental Management Systems

   • Sustainable Agriculture

   Work is also ongoing by the Round Table on Greening Business.

3. The report also includes the Round Table's response to the Government consultation paper Developing an Integrated Transport Policy. The response, which was submitted to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in November 1997, draws on recommendations and comments made in the previous Round Table reports Freight Transport, Defining a Sustainable Transport Sector, Making Connections and Getting Around Town.