In 1989 the Dutch government published a National Environmental Policy
Plan (Dutch abbreviation NMP). This NMP is based on the book Concern for
Tomorrow. a national environmental survey by RIVM (the National
Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection). A major
conclusion of the RIVM study was that emissions of many pollutants had
to be cut by 70 - 90 % in order to reach environmental quality goals.
The government accepted the RIVM analysis and consequently ClUTent Dutch
environmental policy aims at large reduction of pollutants. Another
conclusion of the RIVM study was that such high reduction goals would
not be easy to achieve by technological means alone, and that thus
structural changes would be required. These changes could eventually
lead to sustainable development, which now forms the major focus of
Dutch government national environmental policy. This being so, the Dutch
government requested that RIVM in subsequent issues of Concern for
Tomorrow should investigate the options for sustainable development.