Since the Earth Summit of 1992, OECD countries have been intensifying efforts to promote global economic development that is environmentally and socially sustainable. What have they achieved so far? What steps have been taken to enable economic growth to satisfy current needs while using natural and social resources in a way that preserves the ability of future generations to prosper? Rising awareness of this crucial question has brought the promotion of sustainable development to the forefront of public debate...

In the wake of the Earth Summit of 1992, OECD countries renewed their efforts to preserve the environment, adopting ambitious objectives and introducing new policy instruments. This chapter reviews performance and objectives in five key environmental areas: climate change, air pollution, water pollution, waste management and natural resource management, and provides data on the costs of environmental policies. On the basis of thirty country reviews, the chapter then examines the extent to which the various instruments used for environment protection (such as voluntary agreements, regulation, environmental taxes and...

Achievement of social goals is central to sustainable development. In this respect, OECD countries are faced with the challenge of ensuring adequate retirement income for the elderly in a way that is financially viable over the long term despite population ageing. Based on 14 country reviews that dealt with this issue, this chapter presents the main lessons that have been drawn from reforms in this area and the recommendations that have been made for further progress. On a global scale, the improvement of living conditions in developing countries is a vital part of the sustainable development agenda. The chapter presents the main findings from...

Climate change may impose very large costs in the second half of the century and later unless greenhouse gas emissions are kept under control. Given the magnitude of the emission reductions that are required in the long run, it is of paramount importance to ensure that the most cost-efficient measures are used. For this reason, the twenty country reviews dealing with the issue have focused on the capacity of climate change policies to deliver the highest possible amount of emission reductions for the cost incurred. The chapter reports the findings and recommendations from country reviews based on analysis for each policy instrument: voluntary agreements, regulations, schemes to promote the use of...

Air pollution inflicts considerable damage to human health and ecosystems. The data presented in the chapter show that great strides have been made in recent decades to cut emissions. However, further efforts remain warranted, as is apparent from the estimates of pollution costs reported in the chapter. The chapter then examines the various policy instruments the fifteen reviewed countries have used to reduce emissions, discussing their efficiency. It also presents recommendations on how to minimise the trade-off between the costs and benefits of cutting air pollutant emissions.

Adequate clean water is a precondition to human and ecosystem life. Eighteen country reviews looked at policies affecting the management of water resources and the control of water pollutant emissions. The chapter reports the conclusions from the country reviews as regards developments in water use, in the quality of water bodies with a focus on the capacity of policy instruments to encourage sustainable use and to reduce pollution in an efficient fashion. It also provides data and analysis on sustainability issues in fisheries management.

Reducing waste generation and increasing recycling rates have been considered as central objectives of many sustainable development strategies. This chapter provides data on performance towards these goals and on the associated costs, notably for recycling programmes. It examines which waste disposal options enable to prevent negative effects on the environment at least cost and then presents recommendations drawn from peer reviews on ways to increase the efficiency of strategies to reduce waste-related environmental degradation.

Sustainable development requires that policy decisions aimed at a specific goal take proper account of their effects in the environmental, economic and social dimensions. All country reviews of sustainable development have briefly reviewed the arrangements in place to promote policy integration. The chapter reports on the main findings and recommendations from the reviews which examined the extent to which sustainable development plans and institutions facilitate policy integration. It includes specific analysis on the role of various instruments such...