In May 1998, OECD Ministers agreed "that the achievement of sustainable development is a key priority for OECD countries. They encouraged the elaboration of a strategy ... in the areas of climate change, technological development, sustainability indicators, and the environmental impact of subsidies'. They also agreed "to interpret the term ‘sustainable' as including social and environmental, as well as economic, considerations", and in a context of "integrating economic, environmental and social policies to enhance welfare". Finally, they "stressed the importance of promoting effective integration of environmental considerations in the multilateral [trade and investment] system". A report, including policy recommendations, was anticipated in 2001. The report Policies to enhance sustainable development responds to that mandate. It draws mainly on recent work done by the OECD and its affiliate Organisations on various themes related to sustainable development. It also uses other appropriate sources to complete the discussion of these themes. Consistent with the mandate for the project, the report makes no attempt to be comprehensive in its treatment of sustainable development. Rather, it focuses on policy options available to OECD countries to improve the integration of environmental considerations into the working of the economic system, and to address some of the social consequences of better integration. While many of these policy options are well-known, their actual implementation in Member countries has often fallen short of what is desired. This report stresses that high priority needs to be put on building stronger support within governments, and society more broadly, for comprehensive implementation of sustainable development policies, both domestically and internationally. A range of government agencies, international organisations and groups in civil society are actively promoting the sustainable development agenda. What the OECD brings to these efforts is its economic perspective to these issues and its multidisciplinary expertise. Implementing policies in practice that promote sustainable development requires the strong involvement of both economic and other policy communities, as well as ongoing efforts to build bridges among these communities. Policies specifically aimed at securing sustained economic growth, a healthy environment or an inclusive social development are important in their own right for sustainable development. Although these policies are not extensively discussed in this report, related OECD documents on economic growth, on an environmental strategy for the next decade, and on guidelines for poverty reduction in developing countries contribute to the analysis of policies in these other areas. These reports are also highly relevant for the broader discussion on sustainable development. The policy report, Policies to Enhance Sustainable Development, builds upon, and is complemented by, a more detailed analytical report on sustainable development. It is provided as background for the OECD Council Ministerial Meeting in May 2001, and is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General.