ARCHIVE: Environmental Statistics
Introduction
The Environmental Statistics presented here are only available as a publication on the internet. The last paper edition of the 'Digest of environmental statistics' was Number 20 in 1998.
Text and data of topics are reviewed at least annually and occasionally additional material becomes available which allows us to revise part of a topic or add data shortly after receipt. Corrections are made to information or data on an irregular basis when necessary. See What's New page for further information.
Background
Many of the statistics presented here are already available elsewhere, however the material covers a wide range of environmental topics in a readily accessible form to provide a handy reference. It focuses on key trends over time, on performance in relation to national targets and commitments, including those agreed internationally, and on geographical variation where available.
As a National Statistics output, it seeks to be as objective as possible, presenting a balanced picture and using commentary and footnotes to tables to help the reader interpret the statistics and understand their provenance and reliability. References are included in each topic to point the reader to more detailed sources of the statistics presented.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defra) continually seeks to improve the relevance and presentation of its environmental statistics publications.
Coverage and Presentation
Topics include the climate change, air quality, inland water quality and use, coastal and marine waters, radioactivity, noise, waste and recycling, land and wildlife, and a topic summarising the results of the Department's Survey of Public Attitudes to the environment, conducted during 1996/7. For each topic, the text is presented as a block, with the tables and graphics also grouped together.
Tables and figures are for the UK unless otherwise stated. Attempts have been made, through the use of footnotes and accompanying commentary, to ensure that each table is self-standing and as comprehensive as possible, but readers are advised to refer to source documents for a full discussion of the methods of obtaining data and possible interpretations of them.
Sources
The tables and figures have been compiled by the Environment Statistics Service with the help of other government departments and non-governmental bodies. The division is grateful to these bodies for their help. Information on sources of the data is given under each table.
Environment in your Pocket
More than 50 key series of data are made available in the pocket sized booklet of environmental key facts. This booklet can obtained, free of charge, through the Defra Free Literature Dispatch Centre. Please see Contacts and further information. The Environment in your Pocket is also available electronically on the internet from here.
For teachers and students
Teachers, students and many others in education use the Environment in your Pocket as a teaching and learning resource for statistics and general studies about the environment and presentation of information. The Key Facts represent contents of the booklet and are useful for presentations. Please see guidance on Copyright.
Enquiries
General enquiries on the content, The Environment in your Pocket, or regarding environmental statistics in general, should be directed to ESS. See Contacts and further information
Further Information:
Your questions and comments about information presented on this page are welcome. Contact information and Email . Copyright of data and/or information presented or attached in this document may not reside solely with this Department. Please see guidance on Copyright.
Page last modified: 9 May 2008
Page published: 29 October 2004