ABSTRACTThe Environment White Paper entitled ‘This Common Inheritance’, published in September 1990, set out for the first time a comprehensive statement of the Government's environmental policies and its strategy for their implementation. It established a number of principles on which that strategy is based, the key one being that we have a duty to hand on our world in good order to future generations.Another principle is that we must only act on the best available scientific evidence, but if that evidence is inconclusive we must take precautionary action. In applying this principle, the Government is aware of the need to promote scientific research to ensure that the results are given wide and clear dissemination.Everyone is involved in protecting and improving the environment. Many businesses are already investigating ways of reducing damage to the environment that, in fact, make good commercial sense. Local authorities, voluntary groups and individuals can and do h