Economic activities in the Netherlands cause lesser damage to the environment, the Dutch Central Bureau for Statistics said Tuesday in a report named Green Growth in the Netherlands 2012.

According to the report, greenhouse gas emissions, waste production and emissions of heavy metals in the Netherlands had all decreased during the 2000-2012 period.

The CBS looked at the development of the green economy by a total of 33 indicators. Of these, 18 indicators progressed in the positive direction between 2000 and 2012, while 7 of these slid backwards.

Compared to the European average, the Netherlands scores poorly on the quality of surface water. Also, the number of meadow birds is reducing and green areas are increasingly being converted into built-up areas.

According to the report, one bright spot is that exposure to particulate matter in cities is decreasing. Also, increased investment in the environment and employment growth in green companies is also a positive indicator, the CBS said.

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