THE States’ record on sustainable development has been backed by a new report. More than half of 55 indicators of sustainable development agreed by the States two years ago are considered to be improving, or remaining stable.

But 12 elements of island life are reported to be unsustainable, including high inflation levels and rising levels of household waste.

Authors of the report from the States Policy and Research Unit said that the indicators could not give a snapshot that life in Guernsey is generally better or worse. ‘It is only intended as a rough guide of how the island is faring,’ they said.

Chief Minister Laurie Morgan welcomed the publication of the report, which will be debated for the first time by the States at the end of the month and assist in the development of this year’s Policy and Resource Plan to be published in December.

‘This report gets better every year,’ he said, ‘but it hasn’t reached perfection yet. The report itself would probably be in the stable category rather than better – though it is better than before.

‘The report has developed into a key source of information providing not only an objective picture of trends developing within the community. It is also a helpful tool for policy development.’

Andrew Birnie, strategic adviser (economics and research), the author of the report, said that the indicators acted as signposts to changes occurring within the three dimensions of sustainability – community well-being, economic vitality and environmental integrity.

He said that a stable or improving indicator on the new-style ‘sustainability gauges’ in the report did not necessarily mean all was well.

‘This should not be viewed as an opportunity to pat ourselves on the back and assume all is well. It is important to monitor emerging patterns and understand the inter-connected nature of some of them.’