All branches of government function best when they are fully aware of actions undertaken by the other branches. For example, the judiciary increases its ability to interpret and apply the law when it has been fully briefed on new and developing laws as they come out of the legislature. In the same vein, the legislature does a better job at developing new laws and amending existing ones when it has a clear picture of how existing laws are being implemented and enforced by the executive branch and what results are being achieved.
One way of reaching this goal is through the development of a “State of the Environment Report” by the country’s environment agency (with input from other relevant national/state agencies or units). Such a report can contain indicators on environmental trends as well as interpret and analyse data on the environment. In the United States, the “State of the Environment Report” has been hailed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chief information officer as telling: “a story of national conditions based on a suite of appropriate indicators which are used to answer questions about the environment.” The officer noted further, “When environmental indicators, questions and issues are connected, it will be possible to assess trends environmental conditions and the relationships between environmental stressors, conditions and public health. Decision makers can then use this information to determine whether or not the investments made in environmental policies have in fact delivered their intended results”.