Foreword
The Rio Earth summit in 1992 drew up an international action plan, known as Agenda 21, to promote sustainable development for the 21st century. Agenda 21 recognises that, as many of the problems and solutions being addressed have their roots in local activities, local government has a vital role to play in improving the environment and creating a more sustainable future. The role is also recognised in European Union's Fifth Environmental Action Programme - Towards Sustainability.
Central Regional Council has embraced its role in Agenda 21 through its Environmental Charter and Action Programme. These have been instrumental in encouraging the Council to improve its own environmental performance, in raising awareness of environmental issues and in integrating the ida of sustainable development into our policies and activities. The Council has also recognised that public participation is an essential element of Agenda 21. Through a newsletter and workshops it has sought to assist and involve communities in developing their own agenda and action plans for local sustainability.
The Green Report represents another step forward on the long road to a more sustainable future. It provides a set of indicators for Central region which help us measure, monitor and report on progress towards or away from sustainability. However, identifying indicators and gathering information is no substitue for action. We haope that the new Councils will use the Green Report to inform policy and set targets and that individuals will be able to us the Report to make more informed choices about the wasy they live their lives.
The Green Report presents a first set of sustainability indicators for Central Regiona dn where possible, thea reas covered by the new Councils. There is much work to be done in developing the indicators futher and in ensuring that better data and information is available in the future. More importantly, it is vital that local communities are able to develop indicators that reflect their views on local sustainability.
I hope that the Green Report will encourage further discussion and debate about sustainable development, I also believe that it will help organisations and individuals make better decisions about how they can make a positive and continuing contribution to Agenda 21.
Contents
Introduction
Local Environment
What People Think of Their Neighbourhood
Noise Pollution
Air Quality
Levels of Sulphur Dioxide in Central Region
Levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in Central Region
The Occurrence of Asthma in Central Region
Water Quality
River Quality
Is Sewage Polluting Our Rivers?
Waste
Disposal and Recycling of Household Waste
The Disposal & Recycling of Commercial Waste
The Disposal & Recycling of Industrial Waste
Transport
How people travel to Work
Car Ownership
Road Traffic Growth
Public Transport Usage
Biodiversity - The Natural World
Changes in Land Cover
Number of Redshank in Central Region
Salmon Caught in Forth District
Energy
Energy Consumption in Scotland
Energy Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Energy Efficiency Measures in Homes
Bibliography
Summary of Sustainability Indicators for Central Region