English Abstract The growth of industrial production, consumption,
transport and energy use over the past years has not propagated to a similar
increase of substances affecting the environment. The 'disconnection'
between the growth of the Gross National Product and the resulting
development of environmental pressure has increasingly become visible.
Implementing environmental measures has to a large extent contributed to
this 'disconnection'. This is the most important conclusion of this first
Environmental Balance. Policy targets over 1994/95 have been met with
respect to (a) the reduction of atmospheric emissions of sulphur dioxide and
ammonia, (b) the decrease of discharges of phosphates, cadmium and chromium
to water, and (c) the treatment of priority waste compounds. Targets with
respect to atmospheric emissions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic
compounds and carbon dioxide, and discharges to water of nitrogen compounds
and other heavy metals have not yet been satisfied. The generally positive
development of environmental pressure does not imply that the environmental
quality improves to the same extent. In some cases, Dutch emission
reductions of substances do not immediately bring about an improvement of
environmental quality due to low removal rates of particular substances and
unfavourable developments abroad. The Environmental Balance points out that
the air and surface water quality has improved, despite environmental
quality guidelines still being exceeded in some cases. Air pollution and
noise continue to exercise a negative impact on health. Concentrations of
greenhouse gases and substances which damage the ozone layer have increased
over the past years, and nitrogen concentrations have remained high both in
groundwater and in surface waters. Acid deposition decreased. The
populations of almost all vulnerable species in nature have decreased due to
a variety of causes including acidification, eutrophication, desiccation and
reductions of habitat areas, however, the improved quality of air and water
has brought about positive impacts in a number of cases.
