GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The concept of sustainable development has dominated the environmental agenda in the 1990s and has been embraced by governments at all level s, most notably since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. The term lends its elf to many interpretations, making the implementation of strategies f or sustainable development fraught with difficulties. We argue that th e environmental, socio-economic and political contexts of national str ategies will largely, determine the responses to Rio and illustrate th is argument by exploring the key themes that have shaped the UK strate gy for sustainable development We conclude that despite political rhet oric and some important advances in policy, the political style of the present Government and its approach to economic management ensure tha t moves to instigate commitment and a continuing political process tow ards sustainable development remain limited to particular policy initi atives. The publication of a revised strategy on sustainable developme nt for the UK in late 1998 will be the benchmark for how far the Gover nment's position has moved in favour of a holistic approach to sustain able development.