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UNITEDNATIONS AE

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a8n8ral A••8mbl.yDistr.

Economic and Social Council GENERAL

A/44/350 ./E/19a9/9927 July 1989ENGLISHORIGINALI ARABIC/CHINESE/ENGLISH/

___________________________.r.IIIIilI'NII1ISIirli~QNISH

GENERAL ASSEMBLYForty-fourth sessionItem 83 (f) of the provisional agenda'"DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC

CO-OPERATIONI ENVIRONMENT

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCILSecond regUlar session of 1989DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL

ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION IENVIRONMENT

Implementation of General Assembly resolutions 42/186 and 42/18~

Report of the Se~~~ry-General

'.

CONTENTS

Paraaraphs ~

I. INTRODUC'!ION •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• , , •.••••••••••••••

11. VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE U~lTED

NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ON EFFORTS TOWARDSSUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND DEVELOPMENT ••..•••••

Ill. SUGGESTIONS BY THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONSENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ON ~ONG-TERM STRATEGIES AND NEWENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ••••.••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••

IV. INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENTS AND INTERGOVERNMENTALORGANl Z.ATIONS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Australia .

Bangladesh .

'It A/44/150.

09-18308 10381 (E)

1 - 6

7 - 17

18 - 27

28 - 51

29

30

5

6

9

12

12

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CONTENTS (continued)

8819i\1111 ••••••••••••••••••••••••...••••••.•••••••.••••.•••.• 31 13

Brunei Darussalam , . 32 13

Cyprus

Chile

I1gypt

, .· , ............................................ , .

33

34

35

13

13

14

Israel · . 36 14

Italy ..... , . 37 14

Madagascar •••••••.••.•••....... 11 •••••••••••••••• , •••••••••• 38 15

Netherlands

Mexico

~Hgeria

· .................................................

....................................................

39

40

41

15

15

16

Pakistal1

Norway

Panama

· .................... , , .

........................................... , ... , .... "

42

43

44

16

17

1'/

Peru .................................................... ( .. 45 17

Philippines , , , . 46 18

Republic of Korea .......................................... 47 18

Singapore .................................................. 48 19

Sweden • ••••••••••••••••••• 11 •••••••••• 11 ••••••••11(\

• 7 "19

Turkey . 50 20

European Community ••••••••••••••••••••••••• I ••••••••••••••• 51 20

v. ACTIONS FOR ~HE REVl~W AND CO-ORDINATION OF THE EFFORTS OFTHE UNITED NATIO~S SYSTEM TO PURSUE SUSTAINABL~ DEVELOPMENT 60 i!.\

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Paragraphs fAgt

VI. SUMMARY OF ACTION TAR~N BY THE GOVERNING BODIES OF THEORGANIZATIONS, BODIES AN~ PRnORAMMES OF THE UNITED NATIONSSYST~M AND OF ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN FOR ACHIEVINGENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ••••••.•••

Unit~~ Ndtions Environment Programme •••••••••••••••••••••••

Department of Int~rnational Economic and Social Affairs ofthe United Nations Sftcretariat .•..••••••••••••.••••••••••••

United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations ••••••••

United Nations Chi13ren's Fund ......•..••.••..•..••.•••••••

United Nations Conf&rence on Tra~e and Development •..•••.••

United Nations Development Programme ••••••••••••••••••.•.••

61 - 167

61 - 64

65 - 66

67 - 69

70 - 71

72 - 73

74 - 79

23

23

24

25

26

26

26

United Nat30ns Sudano-Saheli~n

United Nations Population Fund

Office .

· .80

81 - 84

28

28

United Nations University •...•••••••••••••••.•••.•••••••••. 85 29

Economic Commission for Africa · . 86 30

· .

............

Economic Commission for Eur.ope

Economic Commission for Latin Americ~ and the Caribbean

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

E(~onomic and Social Commission for Western Asia

....

....

1;1'" - 89

90 - 92

93 - 96

97 - 99

30

31

32

33

Orfice of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator •. 100 - 101 33

United Nations Centre for Hwnan Settlements 10Z - 103 34

World Food Council. 10';. - 105 34

World Food Programme •••••••• , ••••••••• t •••••••••••••••••••• 106 - 108 35

International Labour orqanisation •••••••••• " •••••••• It •••••• 109 '. 117 35

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations •••. 118 - 122 37

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World B811k •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

United Nations Educational, Scienti£ic and CulturalOrganization t •

International Atomic Energy Agency ••••••••••••.••.••••.••••

Paragraphs f.Ag§

H3 - 130 39

131 - 132 42

133 - 137 42

138 - 143 44

144 - 148 45

149 - 152 47

153 - 155 49

156 - 160 50

161 - 165 51

166 - 167 53

........ , .

War ld Health Organization ••••.•••.•••••••••••••••..•..••.•.

International Civil Aviation Organi~ation ••••••.••.•.••••••

International Maritime Organization

World Meteorological Organization ••.••••••••••••••••••••.••

World Tourism Organization .••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••

Interuational Fund for Agricultural Development ••••••••••••

United Nations Industrial Development Organization •••••••••

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I. INTRODUCTION

1. At its forty-second session, in 1987, the General Assembly considered theEnvironmental Perspective to the Year 2000 and Beyond, developed by the GoverningCouncil of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the report of theWorld Commission on Environment and Development, 6Htitled Qur Common Future,transmitted to it by the Governing Council (A/42/~~7, annex). Subsequently, by itsresolution 42/186 of 11 December 1987, on the Environmental Perspective to the Year20LO and Beyond, the General Assembly adopted the Environmental Perspective, anG byresolution 42/187, also of 11 December 1987, it welcomed the report of the WorldCommission on Environment and Developm~nt. The resolutions containedrecommendations to Governments and the United Nations system. They alsoestablished a framework for reporting to the General Assembly at its forty-fourthsession, through the Economic and Social Council. This included reporting by thegoverning bodies of the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nationssystem on progress made in their organizations towards achieving environmentallysound and sustainable development, and by the Se~retary-General on action for thereview and co-ordination of the efforts of the Uni~ed Nations sYotem to pursuesustainable development. The governing bodies of the organs, organizations andprogrammes of the United Nations system were also invited to make their reportsavailable to the Governing Council of UNEP, which, in turn, way invited to expressits views on these reports. In addition, the SAcretary-General was requested tosubmit a consolidated report.

2. In the process of preparing the present consolidated report, the ExecutiveDirector of UNEP, on behalf of the Secretary-General, transmitted General Assemblyresolutions 42/186 and 42/187 to all Governments by letter of 1 March 1988 andrequested them to provide information on the action they had taken for theirimplementation, so that the present report of the Secretary-General might be ascomprehensive as possible. The Executive Director also request~d all theorganizations of the United Nations system concerned on 24 Ma~~h 1988 to makeavailable the reports of their governing bodies, as well as any other informationrelevant to the Secretary-General's consolidated report to the Assembly at itsforty-Lourth session. The United ·'ations bodies, as well as Governments, weresubsequently reminded of this request, on 6 September 1988 end 10 October 1988, andthe United Nations organizations once more on 8 December 1988.

3. In order to structure and simplify the documentation to be prepared, theAdministrative Committee on Co-ordination, at its first regular session of 1988,considered how best to respond to the requirements for reporting by the governingbodies of the United Nations system. The Committee considered that theorganizatio~s should 9ndeavour, to the greiltest extent possible, to combine therep~rting under the two resolutions, noting that both resolutions covered the issueof environmentally sound and sustainable development. Committ~e membJrs havechosen to follow this suggestion and combined their reporting on the implementation~r the two resolutions into a single report.

1. At the time the present document was prepared, some of ~he go~erning bodies of~he Administrative Committee on Co-ordination members had alre~dy met to consider

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their reports to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session. In severalother organizations, documentation was being finalized for consideration by theirgoverning bodies within the next few months. Whenever thiH was the case, thesummaries contained in chapter VI were based on the documentation submitted.Otherwise, wherever available, interim reports and other materials were used. Itwil be recalled that a progress report of the Secretary-General summarizing theaction taken in response to resolu~ion 42/187 immediately following theforty-second .ession of the Assembly was considered by t~e Assembly at itsforty-third session (A/43/353-E/1988/7l).

5. A review of the individual organizations' reports shows that their governingbodies, in keeping with their respective mandates, have s~t out a wide variety ofpolicies for the implementation of the recommendations of the EnvironmentalPerspective an~ for taking into account the concepts and recommendations containedin the report of the World Commission. The reports also reflect the fact that theoperational activities of the agencies also respond in many different ways to theconcerns of both documents. In addition, the reports demonstrate that eachorganization, in moving from generality to specific action, has translated theconcepts set forth in the Environmental Perspective and the report of the WorldCommision into terms that are directly related to its own ongoing programmes; thereports indicate how these programmes are being adapted and strengthened throughadditional efforts and new approa~hes. The diversity of responses to the conceptand requirements of sustainable development is in itself an expression of theunique and wide-ranging contribution of the United Nations system to support theefforts of Governments to achieve environmentally sound and sustainable development.

6. In short, the information received from Governments and the governing bodiesof the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system confirmsthat, although many new environmental problems and perspectives have emerged duringthe last decade and continue to do so, long-standing environmental prioritiescontinue to require unfaltering attention and, consequently, a continued effort byGovernments and the United Nations system in their ongoing programmAs.

11. VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONSENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ON EFFORTS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ANDENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND DEVELOPMENT

7. The Governing Counci~ noted that at the forty-third session of the GeneralAssembly and at its own fifteenth sess.ton a number of representatives ofGovernments reported on fOllow-up activities under way in their countries as aresponse to General Assembly resolutions 42/186 and 42/187 on, respectively, theEnvironmental Perspective to the Year 2000 and Beyond and the report of the WorldCommission on Environment and Development. Tbe Gov~rning Council further notedthat, as at 24 March 1989, 22 Governments and the Commission of thA EuropeanCommunities had responded to the request of the Executive Director forinformation. Hence a full picture had not emerged because of the complexity of thetask and shortage of time. The Governing Council was confident that Governmentshad been and continued to be responsive to the two resolutions a~d hoped that

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further progress towards implementing sustainable and environmentally sounddevelopment would be achieved.

8. The replies received by the Executive Director showed that, in addition toemerging environmental problems, Governments considered that they were confrontedwith many long-standing environmental issues with which they must deal. On thebasis of the information provided, the Governing Council noted that response to theresolutions, as well as more effective efforts, to address environmental problems,whether new or long-standing, involved a preventive approach that addressed thesources of environmental degradation and matters of overall national policy.Existing strategies and programmes and existing mechanisms for their implementationshould be reviewed and modified as appropriate, in a situation where theperceptions and priorities concerning environmental issues varied trom country tocountry. The Governing Council nevertheless believed that OovernmentB shouldendeavour to make the implementation of resolutions 42/186 and 42/187 a matter ofcontinuing concern.

9. The Governing Council noted with appreciation the action already taken by mostof the governing bodies of the organs, organizations and programmes of the UnitedNations system that met during the reporting period and thus were able to respond.Others had indicated their plans to do so in the coming months. The GoverningCouncil also noted that a number of Governments, at a high level, had worked to putinto ~ffect the recommendations contained in the Environmental Perspective to theYear 2000 ana Beyond and the report of the World Commission on Environment andDevelopment. Furthermore, a number of non-governmental organizations had also setout to put into effect the concept of sustainable development at local, nationaland international levels.

10. The Governing Council commended the governing bodies of the organs,organizations and programmes of the United Nations system concerned for the effortsthey had made and on the results achieved in implementing resolutions 42/186an~ 42/187. As was to be expected, each of those governing bodies had interpretedthe resolutions in the light of its partiCUlar mandate, and the Governing Council.viewed this outcome as a genuine contribution to incorporating environmentalconsiderations in the wide range of development activities carried out by theUnited Nations system and thus as a ~anuine effort towards the attainment ofenvironmentally sound and sustainable development. It was important to note thatthe governing bodies not only identified priority environmental areas of particularconcern to themselves but also established new priorities or adjusted existingpriorities, particularly in their medium-term plans and in their programme bUdgetsfor the period 1990-1991. It is particularly valuable that, within some UnitedNations organs, new projects had been identified for the practical implementationof environmentally sound anc sustainable development. The present reportindicates, however, that further activities are still needed to implement theseresolutions.

11. The Governing Council noted the decision of the Administrative Committee onCo-ordination ta strengthen co-operation among the organizations of the UnitedNations system so that they might assist Member States more effectively. In thisconnection, the Governing Council welcomed the decision of the Committee to

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establish an ad hoc task force at the executive head level under the authority ofthe Secretary-General to assist United Nations system preparations for a UnitedNations conference on environment and development. The Governing Council welcomedthe initiative taken by the Executive Director of UNEP, and its endorsement by theAdministrative Committee on Co-ordination, to test and apply knowledge availablewithin the United Nations system for the incorporation of environmentalconsiderations in national development planning and policy formulation. It alsowelcomed the Committee's decision to envisage the convening of a joint meeting ofthe Consultative Committee on Substantive Oue~tions (Operational Activities) andthe designated Officials for environmental matters on the question of theapproaches to be followed by the system's organizations with regard toenvironmental guidelines and their application to the operational asp~~ts of thesystem. The Governing Council considered that such guidelines should lead tocompatible policies within the United Nations system, including its financialinstitutions. It also welcomed the work undertaken to develop proposals forenvironmental accounting within the framework of the system of national accounts.

12. The activities of the organs, organizations and programmes of the UnitedNations system, as reflected in the reports of their governing bodies, covered awide range of activities in support of environmentally sound and sustainabledevelopment, and the Governing Council noted particularly the new elements that hadbeen referred to in those reports. One such new element was the recognition of theneed for environmental action by the system's financial institutions. TheGoverning Council expressed the hope that this would bring about closerco-operation by and with the donor community in the pursuit of environmentallysound and sustainable development at all levels. In this co-operation, attentionshould also be given to emerging environmental problems, particularly those whichwere of global concern.

13. The Governing Council shared the view of the Administrative Committee onCo-ordination that climatic change and global warming, the loss of biologicaldiversity and the threats posed by hazardous wastes and their disposal figuredpredominantly among emerging problems. The Council appreciated the actionsinitiated by a number of organiz~tions concerning these problems and the emphasisplaced on the elaboration of legal instruments and institutional arrangements tocope with them. In addition to regional or global efforts, the implementation ofthe legal instruments would require that Governments took specific actions at thenational level. The Governing Council believed that the United Nations systemshould assist Governments to take the relevant actions and should support theirefforts, where necessary, through technical co-operation activities.

14. New problems notwithstanding, the Governing Council stressed the need for theorgans, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to ··qmainvigilant in their efforts to make progress towards the resolution of lon~-standing

problems that remained critical to environmentally sound and sustainabledevp,lopment - the protection of Corest ecosystems, the prevention of soil erosion,inclUding desertification, the improvement of human settlements and environmentalhealth, the provision of drinking water and sanitation, and the protection of thenarine envirc.unent, among others. The Governing Council noted that many of theJrgans, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system had, for &

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considerable period of time, carried out programmes in support of environmentallysound and sustainable development. Among these were the Man and the Biosphereprogramme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) and the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources of the Foodand Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The Council consideredthat such work must be continued and expanded as required. Nevertheless, much workwas still to be done and continued activities were necessary to further thedevelopment and implementation of environmontally sound and sustainabledevelopment. It should be pointed out that in their further efforts to promoteenvironmentally sound and sustainable development the United Nations organs shouldbenefit from the many recommendations on various sectors of economic and socialactivities contained in ~~e Environmental Perspectiv6 to the Year 2000 and Beyondand the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development.

15. Nevertheless, the Governing Council was aware that emerging environmentalproblems and the new dimensions, as well as the magnitude of long-standingproblems, required additional resources to be put at the disposal of theorganizations concerned, in particular for projects in developing countries. TheCouncil appealed to each United Nations organ, organization and programme and totheir governing bodies, as well as to all Meli;\)er States and to multilateral :mdbilateral donors, to make such resources available as a matter of urgency.

16. The Governing Council noted in the r~ports from the governing bodies thatenergy and transport i~sues, despite their great importance for an environmentallysound and sustainable development, had received relatively little attention. Thereason might be the lack of United Nations bodies with an integrated responsibilityfor those two fields of policy.

17. The Governing Council emphasized that, in the further work of the UnitedNations organs in the promotion of an environmentally sound and sustainabledevelopment, special regard should be given to the need to take decisive steps inthis direction well in advance of the forthcoming United Nations conference onenvironment and development.

III. SUGGESTIONS BY THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONSENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ON LONG-TERM STRATEGIES AND NEWENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

18. The Governing Council noted that there were many different interpretations ofthe concept of sustainable development and no single path to its realization.

19. The Council believed that sustainable development was development that met theneeds of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meettheir own needs and did not in any NUy imply encroachment upon nationalsovereignty, The Council considered that the achievement of sustainabledevelopment involved co-operation within and across national boundaries. Itimplied progress towards national and international equity, including assistance tojeveloping countries in accordance with their national development plans,?riorities and objectives, It implied, further, the existence of a s~pportive

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inturnational eco~omic environment that would result in lustained economic ClJrowthand development in all countries, particularly in developing countrie., which wasof major importance for sound management of the environment. It all' imp1ied themaintenance, rational use and enhancement of the nat.ural resource t,.~l1t thatunderpinned ecological resilien~~ and economic qrowth. Sustainable ~evelopmont

further implied incorporation of environmental concerllS and ~~nsiderations indevelopment planning and policies, and did not renresent a nov form ofconditionality in aid or development financing.

20. The Governinq Council was fully conscious that countries themselves ver& andmu~t De the principal actors in reorientinq their development so as to make itsuutainable. Environmentally sound and sustainable development vas of qleatimportance to all countries, industrialized or developinq, whatever their staqe ofdevelopment. The industrialized countries commanded the resources needed to makethe necessary adjustments, and somr of their economic activities did indeed have asubstantial impact on th1 e~iironment, ~ot only nationally, but beyond theirfrontiers. Even in the case of developing countries, by far the greater proportionof rescarces for development came from the countries themselves. For developingcountries, al:~houqh maintaininq ~he natural resource ba.e for the needs of thefuture qfl~~,~",·~;'·.ions was, of course, of great importance, the needs of the presentgene~atiol.l ,t-,Jitjhed critically in the balance. Actions induced by p.:)Verty and theneed to survive eroded the resource base and thus generated more poverty, in a~piral of desperation. III all countrie., development and environme~t issues werelocked in mutual interacYion. New environmental issues today confronted theinte~national communit~ yet many long-st~nding environmental concerns remainedand, indeed, took on qxe~ter magnitude.

~l. Governments, as well as the organs, organizations and programmes of the UnitedNa~ions system, had endp~voured to take a pragmatic approach, adapted to theirspe·cific requirements. The Governinq Council noted with appreciation that, in sodc1ng, they were introducing environmental cons~derations into an increasing numbe~'

of proqrammes and projects and had, in oddiLion, made the meeting of enviro~~ental

requirements the vital component:. of their policies and actions directed towards theimplementation of General Assembly rosolutions 42/186 and 42/187. The GoverningCouncil thus appreciated that these two resolutions had already changed the clim~te

in which decisions were made at the natior.al 8nd international levels affecting thepolicies and actions of all co~ntries. However, a continuous effort vas needed toenhance and accelerate the im~lementation of resolutions 42/186 and 42/187 at thenational ~ ... vel.

22. In addition to the existence of political will to make development sufficient and SUfficiently durable - there was a need to develop and spread the knowledge ofmethods for doinq so and to generate the resou~ as that would be required.

23. The replies of Governments to requests for information on the implementationof resolutio~s 42/186 and 42/187 show that, while political will today may begreater than in the past, no Government can say with certitude that it has attainedenvironmentally sound development or, indeed, has availabla the methodology to doso. Hence, great importance must now be attached to ~eveloping ways ofincorporating ~he environmental Q~~qnsion in developmeLt planning and policies.

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The desire of the Administrative Comm 4ttee on Co-ordination to experiment in a fewcountries, at their request and with their participation, is laudable. Themethodologies must involve better ways of managing the interaction within countriesamong those responsible for specific development activitie9 in particular s~ctors,

those responsible for responding to environmental concerns and those who have theresponsibility for ~verall planning and for taking decisions that determine thedirections of the economy. National accounts must include accounting forenvironmental resources, not 1ust financial resources.

24. As noted earlier, efforts must continue on a range of issues that are now seenas critical to achieving environmentally sound and sustainable ~evelopment, suchefforts bein9 ad1usted in the light of the Environmental Perspectjve to theYear 2000 and Bey~,d and to take account, as appropriate, of the concepts andrecommendations contained in the report of the World Commission on Environment andDevelopment.

25. An additional dimensioTl of complexity arises as new envi ronmental concerAIS,such as global warming, have to be addressed, with risks 01 uncertainties of as yetunknown magnitude to be taken into account. As an example, the Governin9 Councilconsidered that climate change would have such widespread consequences that few, ifany, development activities would be unaff.ected, whether in industry, aq~lculture,

forestry or any other sector. Some activities might have to be increased, andothers reduced. Actions in any of these sectors, moreover, affected the otherssignificantly, creating an intricate web of intersctions that, if not understood ornot taken sufficiently into acco~nt, might add further to the overall problem.Thus, the prospect of climate change would incre~se tho fn~tQr o~ uncertainty indevelopment planning in all sectors and in forecasting aeY61',~nAnt benefit~.

26. The international community needs to focus IU a certaid :·..uJ'lher of key issuesthat exert leverage for accelerating the achievement of environmentally sou~ld andsustainable development to respond to the concerns of the world community and toprovide opportunities for successful action, whelner at the global level,regionally or natior-ally. Such issues are atmospher~c and climatic problems(essentially combating climate change, c~nbating the depletion of the ozone layerand acid rain); management of fresh water resourceb~ control of marine pollution inregional seas ann proper munagement of coastal areas; halting desertification anddeforestation; the conservation of biological d~versity within a broadsocio-economic context: and minimization of hazardous w~stes, through developmentof low- and non-wa~te technologies and environmentally sound management ofhazardous wastes find potentially toxic chemicals. At the same t.ime, the preventiveapproach to environmenta' problems requires overall review and appropriate change~

iu national policies in various economic and social sectors.

21. The Governing Council was aware that, while all countries supported the desireto see these issues addressed and also share a sense of the global importance ofsrveral of these problems, perceptions stemming from national circumstances mightlead individual countries to attach differ.i..lg Driorities to cHfferent issues. Thenature oC the issues might also preclude uniform approaches, as some requireregional, others global app!~aches, but all ultimately required countries to act.The Governing Council stress~d the need for formal agreements by Governments on

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specific commitments for oo-operative efforts to deal with global or regionaliS8ueb, hut stressed equally the need for the additional resource. many countrieswould require so as to play their part, balancing in their national developmentapproaches and priorities the requirements resulting from the need and addressingdifferent coneerns. The int~rnational community had yet to addresB the issue ofthe costs of environmentally Bound dev.lopme~t. Such development, which should b~

more economical in the 10n9 term and sounder for those countries practising it, aswell as better tor the qlob~l community, might well be more expenaive in the shortterm. Thus, for chose whose conce,n must be survival in the near future, the onlyhori.on available to them, the costs might be prohibitive, The Governing ~ouncil

believed that the international community must not only commit itself generally tothe proposition that such additional resource. were needed, but must specificallyidentify their possible source.. It was anticipated that a range of these issueswould be among those addressed at a United Nations conference on environment anddevelopment in 1992. The recommendations contained in the Environment Pe1'Bpe~tive

to the Year 2000 and Beyond and the report of the World Commission on Environmentand Development shoyld be duly taken into account in the preparatory process forthis conference.

IV. INFORMATION RECEIVED fROM GOVERNMENTS AND IN'l'ERGOVERNMENTALORGANIZATIONS

28. At the time the present report was prepared, only a few Governments hadroplied to the request of the Executive Director of UNEP for information on theaction they had taken to implement General Assembly resolutions 42/186 and 42/!87.The following is a summary of the information received.

Australia

29, The general thrust of the rt·commendations of the World Commission onEnvironment and Development is supported and the environment considered central toeconomic development. Action on many recommendations of the Commission has alreadybeen taken, for example, to protect rain forests, to combat dryland degradation. tocurb the use of chlorofluorocarbons, to encourage development of. renewable energyand to develop schemes for the notification and assessment of new chemicals. Asan aid donor, Australia recognizes the importance of helping deva10ping countriesto strengthen their institutions for dealing with environmental matters, a needmade more urgent by many of the trends that are highlighted in the report of theCommission.

30. A nation-wide consensus is reported for the management of the country'snatural resources and for the protection of the environment and the prevention offurther degradation. The recurring floods have made environmental i~sues a majorconcern in Bangladesh. The Government has initiated measures to strengthen theorganizational and legislative framework of the departments concerned to provideguidance and to dAal with environmental issues effectively. Policy decisionsdealing with the implementation of the recommendations made to Governments and forinternational co-operation for sustainable development ~re expected to be taken.

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31. Institutional development in the fielo of environment is given highestpriority with a view to introducing bnvironmental considerations into the policiesand programmes of various sectors and co-operation between Belgium and thedeveloping countries. Legislation on environmental 'mpact assessment exists andwill be broadened. Volur'.ary action by industry io also promoted by the Government(in respect of the dumping or incineration of waste, chlorofluorocarbons,phosphate-free detergents, mercury in batteries) and by other privateorganizations. Marine pollution has been reduced through the control of industrialwastes and improved agriCUltural practices. Surface water quality standards "avebeen established as a basis for nation-wide agreement on policies for waterpollution control. The European Community directives on transfrontier movement ofhazardous wastes have been incorporated into national law and a 50 per centreduction of chlorofluorocarbon emissions agreed upon voluntarily by industry.Belgium has proposed to host a global conference on ozone depletion in 1990 and,also in 1990, a conference on the problem oC soil depletion and soil pollution.

32. The incorporation or envirorunental considerations into the development processis one of the objectives of the Fift.lo National Development Plan and Long-Term Plal?of Land Devalopment. The legal requirements and organizational structure to manageenvironmental aspects have been delineated. Wildlife conservation has been studiedand areas for national parks, wildlife ~anctu~ries and nature reserves have beenidentified. At the regional level, the agreement of the Associ3tion oC South-E~st

Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources wasconcluded and signed 1n 1985.

Chib

33. A National Ecological Commission has been created, which comprises allagencies concerned with environmental protection and the conservation of naturalrenewable resources. The Commission operates under the chairmanship of theMinister of the Interior. It has a technical/administrative secretariat andte~hnicRl expert advisory groups. The Commission collaborates with non-governme"talorganizations, especially those concerned with the environment. Informing thepublic and raising the level of general awareness are given priority with a view to<:reatlug lhe widest possible Cramework Cor action. Legislation is beingestablished for the preservation oC nature. for the protection of the environmentagainst pollution and for the discharge of wasto. Chile has adhered tointernational t.reaties and agreements and other instrwnents on conservation, thepreseI"vi:ition oC species, deserti f icC\llnn, (lIlV 1ronmental monitol i.ng and hwnansettements.

34. Systematic ~Cf[orts are made towalds the achievement of socio-economicprogress harmonized with the protect.ion of the environment. The report of the

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World Commission on Environment and Development provides well-documented principlesand targets for achievin9 this fundamental goal.

Egypt

35. Egypt is astablishing the Egyptian Environment Affairs Agencf with brancheB inall province., as well as an Environmental Research Counr.il in the Academy ofScience. Legislation has been enacted in several fields, including the protectionof the Nile, urban planning and the conservation of natural reserves. Legislationpending at t:.e present time covers the protection of the general environment, thema~'itime environment and air pollution. E9ypt is a party to the BarcelonaConvention, an active participant in the Mediterranean Action Plan ana alBo adheresto the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention for theProtection of the Ozone Layer. The National Five-Year Plan include. environmentalpromotion and prote~tion. Population policies are A~tab1ished by the SupremeCouncil for PopUlation, who~e programme covers the ~Jhole country. Urban planningand land use policies have been adopted. A mdjor effort was made for improvingdrinking-water supply and sanitation. For air and water pollution control, theenvironmental impacts of development projects are asessed and standards for waterquality, air quality and automobile exhaust emissions have been establishedl actualpollution in the air and water and emissions from industry are monitored.Experiments are carried out on the use of renewable sources of energy. Measuresare taken to combat desertification and the erosion of fertile lands and to reclaimland and combat salinity. The use of pesticides and fertilizers is re~ulated.

Israel

36. Water conservation a~d reuse and the safe use of pesticides havt become primepriorities. The enforcement of safety standards for pesticides has been givenparticular attention. Additional emphasis has been given to environmentaleducation to bring about a new commitment to environmental improvement andprotection. Prevention is emphasized rather than cure. New requirements forenvironmental impact statements and for the planning of measures to pteventnegative impacts of development projects have been set forth. A national plan onenergy to the year 2015 is being elaborated, balancing technological, economic andenvironmental considerations and emphasizing energy conservation. Research onsolar energy continues. Systems for oollution alert and control are beingestablished, as well as administrative orders to deal with high concentrations ofsulphul 'ioxideR when these are recorded. The protection of the ozone layer hasbecome an additional objective. A major event was the signing in 1988 of theProtocol on Land-Bal;ed Sources oC Pollution, which reinforces the country'sco-operation with the Mediterranean Act!on Plan.

37. The national policy on environment is consistent with the recommendations ofthe World Commission on the Environment and Development, emphasizing the adaptationof Italian legislation to European Community directives in various sectors (water,air, soil, nature, species, waste, industrial risks), and for the evaluation of theimpact and environmental compatibility of pUblic and prIvate works. The

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Environment Protection Programmr 1988-1990 currently being final.ized aims atconsolidating public institutiGnal structure in th~ ~nvironmental field andincludes measures in various sectors for protecting the environment and nature, andfor public inforrnation and education. A special qroup has beon set up to proposepolicy guidelines and instruments, and criteria and methods for linkingenvironmental pOlicies with economic and social policies. A major effort is madefor safeguarding the Mediterranean in collaboration with other countries within theMediterranean Action Plan. The GQvernment proposed that the summit of the SAvenindustrialized countrie~ at Toronto (1987) and the European Council (1988) considerenvironmental concerns.

38. The degradation of natural ecosystems has become a matter of primary concern.A national strategy for conservation and sustainable development exists under thepatronage of the head of State and is e~inistered by the National ConservationCommission. The strategy calls for thJ establishment of an information base forthe planning of sustainable development and emphasizes the protection of ecologicalzones, the gradual transformation of truditional agriCUlture, the sustainablemanagement of marine resources and an innovative approach to the devolopme·nt oftourism in the country. A prime objective is to integrate environmental factorsinto each development project. An Environmental Action Plan is being developed forthe implementation of the strategy in co~operation with the World Bank. It aims atthe protection and management of biological diversity and foresees nation-wideprogrammes for environmental research, tl mapping vf forest resources, thecreation of an environmental data bank and its use in public information andeducation, and possibly the creation oC 8 nationAl environment fund.

39. A general law for the protection of the environment came into effect in 1988and subsequent regulations have been drawn up for the assessment of environmentalimpact as a means of supporting environmental decision-making and environmentalmanagement. Institutional mechanisms have been ~reated. T~e pollution of theenvironment and the uncontrolled exploitation of natural reSOUI'ces requireconcerted participatory action by all sectors of the society and, accordingly,programmes have been initiated to inform the public and raise the level ofawareness of the need to protect the environment in the course of the development.Scientific and technological investigation has been promoted and special effortshave been made t.o initiate programl1les for the protection of the envirorunent incoll:'\boration with thp. countries of Lat.in AmeriCA flnd t.he Ciuribpan.

40. 1\ provisional position l)f thf1 Government of the Netherlands on the report ofthe World Commission on Environment. flnd Development has been submit.ted t.oParliament, emphasiz.ing both nat.ional measures and the incorporation of sust.ainabledevelopment into tht framework of foreign policy, trade policy and developmentco-operation. In the first instance, the national measures to be taken relate tothA implemAntation of sURt.ainable development as part of th~ first national

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environmental policy plan, which has reached an advanced stage of preparation.This Plan sets out, amoJ~g other things, integrated management of life cycles,energy efficiency and conservation, and improvements in the quality of rawmaterials, products, production processes, waste flows and emissions in theenvironment. other national measures concern the conditions for sustainableconservation, restoration and development of nature and landscape in the frameworkof the rirst n~tional nature pOlicy plan, the analysis of the implications of theprinciples of sustainable development for production and consumption in theNetherlands, and the analysis and review of the proposal to create an independentinternational commission for environmental impact assessment. In the Netherlands'co-operation with developing countries, emphasis is given to the prevention ofnegative impact of development co-operation on the environment, the promotion ofpositive action for the protection and restoration of the environment andinstitutional strengthening. Following a review of the report of the WorldCommission by the Parliamentary Committees for Environment and for DevelopmentCo-operation, a number of policy fields have been identified for scrutiny in theprocess of developing the national environmental policy plan, namely, housing,physical planning, technology development, market and pricing policies, energy,transport, science, fiscal policies, agriCUlture and justice.

41. Nigeria reports that, following the pUblication of the report of the WorldCommission on Environment and De"elopment, programmes have been initiated tostrengthen public awareness of the environment in the country. A nationalenvironmental policy for Nigeria is currently being elaborated.

42. A Cabinet Committe~ has been established to co-ordinate the follow-up of therecommendations of the W",rld Commission in both national and international action.The Committee is chaired by the Ministar of the Environment. Every ministry isrequested to examine its policies, to describe environmental and resource problemsin its area of responsibility, the actions necessary to solve them and to preventnew ones, and also to describe how their budget proposals contribute to solvingenvironmental and resource management problems. Responsibilities at the communitylevel and public participation are given particular attentJon. The Government'saction plan for follow-up on the work of the World Commission is to be consideredby Parliament. A policy has been established setting out objectives and specificmeasures for multilateral and bilateral co-operation within the United Nationssystem, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation ~nd Development (OECD), theNordic Council and other intergovernmental forums, and with concerne~

non-governmental organizations, commerce and industry. It gives particularattention to the p~omotion of food security, resource management and conservation,popUlation activities and environmental initiatives through the World Bank andcalls for an increased transfer of resources to the developing countries. Aspecific budgetary allocation for environmental programmes in developing countrieshas been established. Existing national environmental activiti "'0; have beenstrengthened, among them, the forecasting and control of future large-scaleemissions into the air, the implementation of the North Sea Conference agreement

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and the Montreal Protocol on the reduction of chlorofluorocarbons. Norway aims atstabilizing its primary energy consumption by the year 2000 and, in the longerperspective, to reduce it. Norway will also host a regional conference on thereport of the World Commission in 1990, which will review progress and identifyfurther measures of particular relevance to the European re1ion.

43. Desertification, water-logging and salifiity, soil de~radation and water-bornediseases are the prime environmental problems in Pakistan. The Governmentrecognizes the need for a strategy for environmentally soun~ and sustainabledevblopment that would strike a balance between nature and industry, and human andcommunity resources, and also deal with research, legislatic;. and co-ordinationamong the parties involved in environmental management. Am~ng the determinants ofsuch a strategy are the need for increased industrial and agricultur~l productionon a sustainable basis, the conservation and development of renewable resources,the recycling of wastes, increased energy supplies with an emphasis on renewableforms of energy, population growth, human resources development, public awareness,the participation by local communities, research and the cre~t,on of a data base,efficient co-ordination of the entities responsible for envirvnmenta1 managementand broad legislation to control pollution and toxic substances, and for resourcesprotection and management. Co-ordination of efforts at all levels is considered tobe of paramount importance and focuses on the federal and provincial levels in theform of environmental protection agencies, environmental legislation, developmentplanning, environmental control standards, environmental im~act asses~ment,

training, the development of a national conservation qtrategi and environmentaleducation.

Panama

44. The National Environment Commission is in the process of p~eparing a nationalplan for environmental protection and improvement, taking into account theconcepts, ideas and recommendations contained in the report of t~e World Commissionon Environment and Development. National instit~tions promote sustainabledevelopment through various policies Rnd programmes. Increasing unemployment, theproblem of poverty and the need to provide for a growing population are umong thenational priorities to be addressed, as well as the need to assure growth. It isexpected thdt the work of the National Environment Commission will facilitatechange, the reorientation of technology and the management of risks, and willimplement environmental protection as part of the economic development plan.

45. The prevention of further degradation of the environment and of the naturalresources is given highest priority. The national nevelopment plan for the period1985-1990, in spite of current economic constraints, aims at integratingenvironmental concerns into regional developmen~. The rola of local government,non-governmental organizations and the general public in envl~onmental protectionis emphasized. Environmental impact. assessment is required for developmentprojects and is linkp1 to the work of the National Office for the Evaluation of

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Natural Resources. The scientific community and the National Council for Scienceand Technology promote environmentally sound development. Some additionalresources have become available from bilateral and multilateral funding agencies.Population activities take account of environmental variables. Priority is givento the protection of agricultural land, especially in the coastal areas, theprevention of deforestation and the protection and conservation of river basins invarious programmes, such as the National Action Plan for Reforestation and theNational Programme for the Conservation of Soil and Management of River Basins.Energy planning, conservation of fuelwood, biogas production, the use ofhydroelectric power and the protection of health against automobile exhaustemissions are emphasized. Environmental impact is assessed as part of thefeasibility studies for industrial projects, including those of transnationalcorporations. There are incentives to decentralize industrial development. In thefield of human settlements, existing programmes are being strengthened to providedrinking-water supply and sanitation, as well as pUblic information and education.

Philippines

46. A strategy for sustainable development has been proposed for adoption by thePresident c~~ the Congress of the Republic as a national mandate. The strategygives primary attention to population - environment interactions. It calls forpolicy instruments, resource analyses, environmental impact assessments, thepreparation of regional ecological profiles, environmental information andeducation, and citizens' participation. It also deals with the establishment ofintegrated protected areas and a regulatory regime for pollution control. In itspresent form, the strategy includes an action programme for the decade 1989-1999,which focuses on the sustainable development of forest and land resources, onbiological diversity, soil erosion, the protection of fresh water againstpollution, the protection of the ocean, environmentally sound development ofcoastal areas, solid waste management, the control of air and water pollution, andland use in urban areas, especially Metro Manila.

Republic of Korea

47. The implementation of resolutions 42/186 and 42/187 focuses on problemsrelated to population, food and agriculture, energy, industry, health and humansettlements and on issues of global concern. Instruments for environmental actionare developed to support these efforts. A comprehensive plan has been prepared todeal with the influx of people to metropolitan Seoul. To increase food securitywithout negative impact, the safe use of fertilizers is promoted, standardsestablished for chemical residues in crops and vegetables, the manufacture ofcertain toxic chemicals prohibited and agricultural production in polluted areaslimited. The use of low-sulphur oil, the expansion of gas supply and the controlof air pollution from the burning of coal are given priority in the field ofenergy. For the control of industrial pollution, the Environment Administration,established in 1982, levies discharge dues. Decentralization of industry isencouraged through tax and other incentives. Measures against marine pollution area high priority along the coast of the Republic; they include the construction ofwaste treatment facilities, monitoring and international co-operation. Theassessment of the environmental impact of development activities has been made

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mandatory for urban, energy, water resources and housing and tourism developmentand for airport construction. This supports the elaboration of a master plan forenvironmental protection with an emphasis on the management of air, water and solidwastes, the evaluation of alternatives and their effectiveness in reducingpollution and technology. An environmental preservation law covers basicenvironmental policy, air and water quality, noise and special regUlations forwaste management, marine pollution, toxic materials and the recycling of resources.

£ingapore

48. population growth is a major cause of environmental degradation. Acomprehensive control system in respect of other sectoral issues has beenestablished to ensure that new development will not adversely affect th~

environment. Singapore also participated in the Third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting onthe Environment, held at Jakarta in October 1987, which reviewed the report of theWo~ld Commission and the Environmental Perspective, apprec",ated the interdependenceof development and the sustainable use of the natural resources and expressed theview that environmental considerations must be built into the development process.International and regional co-operation, and the monitoring of the quality of theenvironment and of natural resources were considered essential, with particularattention to the common seas, land resources and land-based pollution, tropicalrain forests, air quality and urban and rural pollution.

Sweden

49. The Government of Sweden submitted a bill to Parliament on environmentalpolicies in the 1990~. taking into account the concepts of the World COfMnission onEnvironment and Deve~opment. The bill makes clear that, in the long term,environmental problems can be solved only by preventive action. It covers theintegration of environmental considerations l,to various sectors such as traffic,agriculture, forestry, industry, energy and culture. Long-term action is includedto deal with such major environmental problems as air pollution and acidification,marine pollution dnd the ozone layer. Within the framework of the EnvironmentalAdvisory Council, a systematic review of the re~ommendations of the WorldCommission and how they can be incorporated int~ Swedish policies is under way. Aseparate Traffic Policy Bill is pending: this aims at improving high-densitytraffic areas in the cities. An agricultural Bill deals with the problem ofagricultural leakage of nutrient salts. In August 1988, an International Institutefor Environmentally Sound Technology was established for the assessment oftechnology that is environmentally sound and economizes on resources, for thedissemination of environmentally sound technology and for initlating and promotingresearch and development. In 1988 the Swedish Parliament adopted the promotion ofsustainable development use of natural resources and the protection of theenvironment as an additional goal for Sweden's development co-operation. TheBudgetary Bill stipulates an increase in assistance in the field of environment andnatu~'al resources as an integral part of development co-operation and underlinesthe importance of sustainable development within multilateral developmentassistance and financial institutions. The Swedish Council for the Planning andCo-ordination of Research has initiated a programme to promote research in linewith various concepts of the report of the World Commission. The Royal Academy of

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Science has carried out research into the linkages between envi ,)nmentaldegradation and national and international political instability. Within theSwedish Agency for Research Co-operation with Developing Countries, environmentalresearch has become a priority. Sweden has taken an initiative for the forthcomingjoiut conference of Ministers of Transport and of the Environment within theframework of OEeD and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. Sweden is alsoprepared to support regional follow-up conferences and has giv~n its support to theproposal for a United Nations conference on environment and development in 1992.

Turkey

50. Judicial and administrati're structures have been established and developed todeal with environmental issues. A number of national commissions have been set upto carry out studies with a view to incorporating the environmental dimension intothe Sixth National Development Plan: these include commissions on naturalresources, on the management of air quality, on energy production and consumption,on settlements and the environment, on chemicals, on wa&te management policies, onenvironmental economy and administration, and on industry and environment.PopUlation policies within the Development Plan are aligned with environmentalpolicies. Draft statutes on environmental impact assessment are to be concludedsoon and give prominence to the sitinq of development projects that are expocted torelease large quantities of pollutants. In support of this work and as a tool fordecision-making, an environmental data bank is being established and the evaluationof the short- and long-term costs of development projects will enable decisionmakers to decide on alternative project proposals that will protect theenvironment. The development of reliable monitoring systems is one of the mostimportant factors in the implementation of environmental policy in the country.The influence of urbanization and uncontrolled settlements on ~ubterrancan waterand the harmfulness to human health of industrial discharges are consideredpriorities. Standards concerning the receiving environment and the "polluter pays"principle have been included in environmental legislation. The siting ofenterprises and the use of such standards have been used in the context of physicalplanning. The illegal dumping of hazardous wastes requires action at theinternational level.

European Community

51. The framework for environmental policies and the Action Programme 198/-1992are consistent with the major orientations of the Environmental Perspective to thegreatest degree possible. The Community is prepared to integrate environmentalconsiderations into the whole of its development action as a thematic concern andgives priority in the allocation of funds ~o actions directly related to theprotection of natural resources (e.g. conservation of species, protection offorests, prevention of erosion).

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V. ACTIONS FOR THE REVIEW AND CO-ORDINATION OF THE EFFORTS OF THEUNITED ~ATIONS SYSTEM TO PURSUE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

52. In paragraph 10 of its resolution 42/187, the General Assembly requested theSecretary-General, through the existing mechanisms, including the AdministrativeCommittee on Co-ordination, to review and co-ordinate on a regular basis theefforts of all the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system topursue sustainable development and to report thereon to the Assembly through theGoverning Council of UNEP and through the Economic and Social Council. Thefollowing information ls provided in accordance with that request. A similarrequest appears in paragraph 114 of the Environmental Perspective.

53. The review of general co-ordination policy issues on environmental matters,which the Administrative Committee on Co-ordination undertook during its ~8ssion inOctober 1987, was submitted to the Governing Council of UNEP at its first specialsession. This review included an initial identification of issues andco··ordination aspects raised in the Environmental Perspective and the report of theWorld Commission on Environment and Development, which had been released at thattime. It also dealt with the second System-wide Medium-Term Environment Programmefor the period 1990-1995 and its response to the major findings of theEnvironmental Perspective and the report of the World Commission. The process ofelaborating the Programme facilitates co~ordination by members of theAdministrative Committee on Co-ordination in their policies and operationalactivities. It has helped in planning and implementing a consIderable number ofprogrammes that are undertaken jointly by two or more organizations of the UnitedNations system.

54. At its second session of 1988, the Administrative Committee on Co-ordinationagreed that co-operation among the organizations of the United Nations systemshould be strengthened in order to enable them, in an action-oriented manner, toassist member States effectively in selected priority areas, inclUding theintegration of environmental consieerations into development policies and planning,potential climate warming and environmental issues of particular interest to thedeveloping countries. It also agreed that the modalities of strengthening suchco-operation should be examined carefully. The Committee envisaged the convening,at an appropriate time, of a joint meeting of the ConSUltative Committee onSubstantivp Questions (Operational Activities) and the designated officials onenvironmental matters on the question of the approaches to be followed by theorganizations of the system with regard to the environmental guidelines and theirapplication to the operational aspects of the system.

55. The Admini~trative Committee on Co-ordination is also prepared to undertakethe revision of the System-wide Medium-Term Environment Programme for the period1990-1995 for presentation to the UNEP Governing Council. Guidance from theGoverning Council of UNEP is expected [or this task at its fifteenth session(see Governing Council decision 15/21). In the view of the AdministrativeCommittee on Co-ordination, however, the value of that revision would be enhancedif it could be undertaken in 1992 [or presentation to the Governing Council in1993. Thil'l time-frame is envisaged so that the revision may benefit from theresults of the evaluation of the first System-wide Programme, from the discussions

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th~t will take place during the forty-fourth sepsion of the General Assembly withrespect to resoluti~n& 42/186 and 42/1~7 and other environmental matters, and fromthe results of the various meetir,gs and conferences held between now and 1992.

56. The Secretary-General of the United Nati~ns a1d the executive heads of22 United Nations organizations, as well as members of the World Commission onE~~ironment and Deve·lopment, met informally at Oslo in July 198t at the invitationof the Prime Minist~r of Norway, Mrs. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Chairman of theCommission, to explore how the United Nations system could promota sustainabledevelopment by enhancing global economic growth and social development asrecommended by the World Commission. The joint summary of the meeting prepared bythe Chairman and Co-chairman was made available to the General Assembly at itsforty-third session in 1988 (A/43/462).

57. At its second session of 1988, the Administrative Committee on Co-ordinationalso reviewed a nw,lber of emerging environmental iJsues that requireco-ordination. One such issue was climate change due to increases in greenhousegases, one of the most serious environmental ~loblems faced by humanity and onethat )ntroducer a new element of uncertainty into the de·relopment process. TheCommittee agreed with action undertaken at the international lev"l by concernedmambers and ~lco noted with satisfaction that further efforts to deal with climatechange were being actively discussed uy members. Because a second emergingenvironmental issile was that of hazardous wastes, the Committee reviewed theprogress made in the development of a global convention on the management andcontrol of their transboundary movements. Since biological div~rsity was alsoconsidered an emerging problem, it emph.Asized the increasing pressure on theworld's ~iolo~ical eiver~~ity as a direct reflection of such factors as populationgrowth and land-use strat\'qies. The Committee considered that a global conventionon the cunservation of bio!ugical divers~ty would be a powerfUl catalyst and coulddraw on the various ongoing and planned activities.

58. The Administrativ~ Committee on Co-ordination has decided that its membersshould assist a few countries on an~ basis, at their request, in applying andtesting existing knowledge and procedures available within the United Nationssystem, with a view to incorporating the environmental dimension into nationaleconomic planning and particularly into policy formulation. The Committee intendsto begin work phased progressively over the next two or three years to assist threecountries in this endeavour, one each in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

59. The Administrative Committee on Co-ordination considers that a co-ordinatedand cogent approar.h to the implementation of resolutions 42/186 and 42/187 would befacilitated through the designated officials on environmental matters. The lattermet three times, following the adoption of the resolutions, once formally on theoccasion of the s~ecial session of the Governing Council of UNEP in March 1988.During 1987-1988, they focused their wor!( on finalizing the r.econd System-wideMedium-Term Environment Programme for the period 1990-1995. After the s~ecial

session of the G0verning Council, at which the Council approved the Progr&rune, butrequested a revision in 1991, the denignated officials made recommendatio~~ andpl~n~ for this revision, which will further btrengthen co-operation among membersof the Administrative Committee on Co-ordination in following up on the

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recommendations of both the Environmental. Perspective and the repor", of the WorldCommission.

60. The designated officials also made proposals, which the AdministrativeCommittee on Co-ordination subsequently approved, for Rimp1iCying reporting by thegoverning bodies of Committee members in accordance with resolutions 42/186 and42/187. As the Governing Council requested in resolution SS.I/3, endorsed by theAdministrative Committee on Co-ordination, the designated officials also assistedthe Executive Director in preparing his report to the Council at its fifteenthsession on the actions taken to comply with the two resolutions of the GeneralAssembly. Moreover, the designated officials reviewed and elaborated further thep1anH to assist member States in the integration of environmental considerationsinto development planning and programmes. They have also provided an importantregular forum for the detailed exchange of views and information concerningenvironmental ~c\:ivitie&, policies and iSRues, which cover not only emergingissues, but d1so environmental matters of ongoing concern.

V1. SUMMARY OF ACTION TAKEN BY THE GOVERNING BODIES or THEORGANIZATIONS, BODIES AND PROGRAMMES OF THE UNITEDNATIONS SYSTEM AND OF ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN FORACHIEVING ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT

61. The Governing Council of UNEP, at its first special sess~on, in March 1988,considered General Assembly resolutions 42/1R6 and 42/187 and, in i~s decisionSS.I/l, resolved to exercise fully the role expected of it with respect to thefollow-up of the Envirot~ent Perspective to the Year 2000 and Beyond and the reportof the World Commission on Environment and Development. Further, it emphasizedtha .... sustainable and environmentally sound development should be one of the Mainobj1ctives of a new international development strategy and invited the ExecutiveDirector to contribute fUlly and activAly to the process of developing thisstrategy and to keep the Council and its Committee of Permanent Representativeslnfonned of progress t.o this end.

62. In the same decision, the Governing Council requested the Executive Director,using, as l\ppropriat.e, the mechnnism of the designated offirials on environrnentalmatteru to provi0~ it with the reports that the governing bodies of organizations,bodic.s cmd progrMlmes of the United Nations system would submit to the 'J ~nera1

Assembly ~t it.s forty-fourth session in accordance with resolution 42/187, a .•d withthA report ptepared by the Secretary-General on the efforts made by the UnitedN~tions system to pursue sustainable development. The Governing Council alsorequested the Executive Director to suumit to it at its fifteenth t>ession draftcomments [01' it-. to conr.ic1er on the rt1pnrtl': referred to abm,-e, and on any othermat.ters concetninq progress QlI s\lsttlinnble development that fall within theCouncil's m~ndAtp.

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63. In its decision SS.I/3, the Governing Council expressed the conviction thatthe System-wide Medium-term Environment Programme for the period 1990-l99~ shouldtake the EnviroMlental Perspective and its implications into account I and that,through their reporting in accordance with resolution 42/187, the organizations,bodies and programmes of the United Nations system would make a valuablecontribution to the further development of the System-wide Pr09ramme.

64. Given its mandate as a co-ordinating and catalysing organization, UNEP haspaid great attention to the implementation of the two General Assembly resolutionsand has been working intensively with the secretariats of the other organizations,bodies and programme. of the United Nations system in the course of preparing theSystem-wide Programme, with a vie~ to incorporating the concepts andrecommendations contained in the Environmental Perspective and in the report of theWorld Commission into the programmes of the other organizations. The System-wideProgramme also indicates in each of lts sections, at the level of each prog:ammeand subprogramme, the co-ordination role of UNEP and, in lome areas, the specificfunctional contribution of UNEP. The Governing Council approved the System-widoProgramme as su~nitted by the Administrative Committee on Co-ordination I it decidedthat, at its fifteenth session, it would provide the Committee with its views for arevision of the Syatem-wide Programme in the light of the EnviroMlental Perspectiveand the report of the World Commission.

Department of International Economk-An" Social Affoh:.L.Q.L.t.h.a.....lJ.nite" Nbtion.a.Sfi.r.e...tA.rat.

65. Pursuant to Gen~ra1 Assembly resolution 42/187, the Department ofInternational Economic and Social Affairs h~s revised its work programme to inclUdequestions involving the environment and the sustainability of development inreports on global socio-economic trends, in policy analysis and methodolo?y and insurveys of the energy situation. In particular, the Department intends to identifyaJld evaluate consistent and economically feasible strategies for environmantallysound development by means of an updated and suitably revised global input.-outplltmode! •

66. The Department has launched a global programme for gathering and compilingenvironmental. statistics in co-operation with \:he regiona.l commissions and otherinternational organizations. It is collAborating with che World Ba~k an~ othe~

organizations in the development of environmental accounting, designed to includesuch issues ~s the depletion of natural resources and the degrad8tIon ofenvironmental quality and to facIlitate the compilation of environmentally adj~sted

macroeconomic indicators. The Department will continue to support actively thepreparations for the international development strategy for the fourth UnitedNations development decade, which might include environmentally sound developmentas one of its major themes and objectives.

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United Nations Centre on lLAnAnA~l Corporationa

67. The United Nations Commission on Transnational CorporationA was due to meet inApril 1989 to discuss, among other items, transnational corporations andsustainable development.

68. To prepare for the meeting of the Commission, the Executive Director of theCentre has issued a ~eport on transnational corporations and issues related to theenvironment (E/C.I0/1989/12). In its examination of the scope and content of itswork on the mar,y complex relationships be ween transnational corporations andsustainable de':elopment, the Centre's attention is focused particularly on the waysand means by which transnational corporations can contribute to sustainabledevelopment, and on s~rengthening the capacity of host countries to monitor theenvironmental activities oC these corporations. Special emphasis is placed on therole of transnational corporations in environmental restructuring, internationalcorporAte environmental management, technology risk assessment, the disclosure ofenvironmental information and international waste disposal. The report ~nalyses

information available on these topics and sets out options for policies and",pproaches.

69. According to the report, trAnsnational corporations can makQ extensive changesat the macroeconomic level to reduce their negative effects on the "globalcommons". At the more immediate and practical level, they can adopt environmentalpolicy directives and management techniques, improve methods for examining theenvironmental consequences of high-risk technologies they use or license,disseminate information more fully on their environmental practices and revisetheir procedures for handling toxic wastes. While some general criteria may applyequally to the management of national enterprises, as well as that of transnationalcorporations, certain aspects of international investment decision-making bytransnational corporations could introduce additional dimensions. Although thedevolopment oC such criteria is in a preliminary stage, a mutually reinforcing setof pdnciples mlght, after further examination, include the following: thattransnational corpor~tions internalize the social costs of their productiveactivities; that they use natural resources in an efficient manner; that theyschedule decision-making within longer time-frames; and develop, use and transferenvironmentally appropriate technologies. SuatalnalJJe development would alsorequire that tranGnational corporations adopt an anticipatory and participatoryapproach to the envIronmental impacts of their activities and decentralize theirflctivitieR so that w~rld development bp~omes better balanced, that is, that greatershares of transnational corporate investment be ffiade in poorer nations so as tocontribute to meeting their basic h\~an nepds.

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U.ni t..ud. HAt.!Q.n.I.__ChildurLs.1.wld

70. In April 1988 the UNICEF Executive Board ~onsider.d and endorsed B report onways in which UNICEF could help fux'ther to prl)vide sustainable and environmentallysound development.

Aillvitill

71. Specific interrelated con,ponents of country programmes focus on health,nutrition, hygiene, education and women's development to assist in attaining thefull physical and mental potential of children. Within such broad categories,specific programme activities are too numerous to list fully. They includeenvironmantal components in primary and non-formal education curriculalenvironmental sanitationl drinking-water SUPplY1 domestic energy, includingfuel-efficient stoves and community fuelwooc:'l plantations I small-scale soil andwater conservation activities within the framework of communJty developmentl homegardening1 and food conservation. To the greatest extent possible, all programmeactivities are executed with community participation and with emphasis on long-termsUGtainability. In addition, UNICEF advocates the long-term congruence of humanand environmental welfare and sensitizes its parsonnel to environmental risks andopportunities as part of a concern for the future of children.

l!1l1_t..e..d.No.tiQJli Conference oD-Irade and DevelQpment

~~by the gQverning body

72. In the Final Act of the seventh session of UNCTAD, the close linkages betweenthe economy, popUlation and the natural environment were notedl there is qrowinqrecognition that environmental degradation can be halted and reversed only byecologically sustainable growth and by integrating environmental factors intodevelopment program,es.

73. The Trade and Development Board, at the second part of its thirty-sixthsession, in March 1989, had on its provisional agenda a review of UNCTAD'scontribution to the implementation of resolutions 42/186 ana 42/187.

74. At its thirty-fifth session, in July 1988, the UNDP Governing Council adopteddecision 88/57, by which the Council recognized, int~_~~, that the effects oCresource use and environmental damage nre global in nature I thnt it is in thecommon interest of all countries te ~ursue policies aimed at environmentally soundand sustainable development; and that each country should teke this into account inthe design of development strategies and programmes. The Governing Councilstressed the need for additional financial resources and strengthened technicalco-opnration for the purposes set out in paragraphs 14 and 15 of resolution

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42/187. It requested the Administrator to assist recipient countries, at theirrequest and in accordance with their national development plans, priorities andobjectives, in enhancing their capacity to integrate environmental concerns intotheir development strategies and programm6s, and to continue to review the UNDPprogramming instruments, with a view to ensuring the appropriate treatment of thesustainability issue in development programmes.

75. The Administrator was requested to report on the manner in which the relevantexecuting agencies design, implement and evaluate projects funded with UNDPresources and take environmEntal aspects ~nto account, where relevant, in thedeployment of these resources. The Administrator will again report to theGoverning Council at its thirty-sixth session, in 1989, on·the implementation ofthis decision in preparation for its report to the General Assembly throuqh theEconomic and Social Council, in accordance with resolutions 42/186 and 42/187.

Ac..UviUs.&

76. UNDP has established an Environmental Action Team within its Bureau ferProgramme Policy and Evaluation and periodically issues information notes onenvirorunent and sustainable development to its resident representatives in order tokeep field and headquarters s~aff informed of major developments on the subjectwithin and outside UNDP. Recent analysis. indicates that projects with anenvirorunental impact command an increasing share of the UNDP indicative planningfigure resources. In 1977, UNDP earmarked approximately $US 65 million forenvirorunental projects. By 1987, that figure had more than doubled, amounting toapproximately $US 152 million.

77. A number of follow-up activities to the Toronto Conference on the ChangingAtmosphere have implications for UNDPI

(a) Atmospheric pollution and its impact will henceforth be taken intoconsideration in country programming and project analysesl

(b) Research to collect basic data and improve understanding of the impact ofatmospheric po1luti0u will probably become a priority area for sharply increasedfinancing;

(c) UNDP's work in the forestry sector, including support to the TropicalForestry Action Plan and the 8ellagio Meeting on tropicnl forestry research 1

(d) Staff training ,~d sensitization to the consequences of atmosphericpollution.

78. Similarly, several recommendations of the Oslo Conference on SustainableDevelopment have been taken up in the planning of U~JDP's programme in the future.Consequently:

(a) More attention will be given in all programming and project developmentwOl'k to the impact on the environment and the sustainability of development,

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(b) Special modules on sustainable development principles for integrationinto traininq courses are planned for UNDP, aqency and qovernment repre,entativesl

(c) Collaboration will be promoted amonq the authorities responsible fordevelopment planninq, non-qovernmental organizations, the pr.ivate sector, women'sgroups, trade associations, etc., with a view to inteqratinq environmental aspectsinto economic policy-makinq and pUblic sector management.

79. Environment and related aspects are an integral part of the formulation andmonitoring of proqrammes and projects, commencing with the assessme~t of needsthrough the formulation of country programmes and the technical design of projectsand their monitoring. As an integral part of mid-term country programmeevaluations, special attention is being given to the environmental aspects ofsustainable development. UNDP is also expanding its internal technical andmanagerial capacity for providing increased technical co-opBration andpre-investment support in the area of the environment, related to theimplementation of resolutions 42/186 and 42/187.

United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office

Activities

80. In the course of 1988, the work of the Office increasingly reflected thepriority given to assistinq Governments in the planning and co-o~dination ofactivities related to desertification control and the managemen~ of naturalproductive resources. Activities included assistance in developing operational andmultisectora._ national plans to combat desertification and in establishing orhelping to operationalize co-ordinating/advisory government bodies, such asdesertification control units, scientific advisory councils and national committeeson desertification. The overall concern is to ensure thbt Governments in theSUdano-Sahelian countries receive th~ aSlis~ance needed to develop (or renderoperational) national policy frameworks and related institutional arrangements thatcontribute to a better integrated and co-ordinated approach in addressingdesertification and environmental resources management issues. Support wasextended to the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahelthrough funding or formulation of projects and to the Sahelian Programme forEnvironmental Education at the Secondary Level. Steps have been taken to initiatea similar system of co-operation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Droughtand Development, to which the Office has contributed in the development ofanti-desertification projects.

united Nations Population Fun~

Action by the governing body

81. Resolution 33/35 on popUlation, resources and environment was adopted at the35th meeting of the Governing Council of UNFPA in July 19881 it concurs with therecommendations contained in paragraph 9 of section 11 of the EnvironmentalPerspective (resolution 42/186, annex), in particular the need to give specialattention to pop~lation-relatedprogrammes aimed at improving environmental

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conditions at the local level and to the role of women in improving the environmentand in population planning. The resolution endor~es the section on an agenda forchange and the conclusion of the Executive Director's li88 SCate of Worldpopulation report, which concern the requirements for establishing a sustainablerelationship between human and other resources.

8~. In resolution 33/J5, the Governing Council requested the Executive Director toreport to the Council et its thirty-sixth session on the progress made in UNFPAprogrammes and project8 towards sustainable development, ~~ particular thoseconcerning population, environment and resourcos. The resolution further requeststhat the report be submitted through the Economic and Social Council to the GeneralAssembly at its forty-fourth session in accordance with resolutions 42/186 and421187.

Activitiu.

83. All UNFPA field offices have been instructed to pay special attention toidentifying and formUlating population-related programmA3 and projects that seekexplicitly to (a) improve understanding of linkages between popUlation andenvironment and sustainable development through research, stUdies and surveysl(b) to genYrate awareness of the important linkages among policy-makers andplannersl and (c) to create activities that will improve environmental conditionsat the local and community levels, emphasizing the special role of women asmanagers of environment and population. All UNFPA country programmes now scheduledfor renewed formulation and budgeting are to contain provisions for studies onenvironmentally sensitive activities.

84. The theme of the 1989 meeting of the Inter-Agency Committee will be thelinkages between popUlation, women and environment. UNFPA is preparing ananalytical framework for the meeting and several agencies, inclUding the WorldBank, UNESCO and ILO, are preparing substantive contributions. UNF~A's 1988 Stateof the World Population report is being updated and, in 1989, will be publishedunder the title Safeguarding the Future. A joint reaearch project is planned withthe United Nations Research Institute for Social Development to conduct count~y

case-stUdies on the many complex relationships between women, population and theenvironment.

United Nations University

85. A major programme of UNU on global life-support systems is concerned withsustainable development of highland regions and humid tropics,climatic-biotic-human interactions in the humid tropics, agroforestry systems ~nd

energy systems and policies. An institute for natural resources in Africa is beingset Upl it will be concerned largely with the sustainable development of anAfrican food and energy resource base. UNU and the International Federation ofInstitutes for Advanced Studies and the International Social Science Council areundertaking a major international progr8J1UTle entitled "Human Dimensions of GlobalChange", ~hich will present policy options and will complement the International

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Geosphere-Biosphere programme of t~e International Council of Scientific Unions.The programme will, among other things, improve the scientific understanding of thecomplex dynamics governing human interaction with the total earth system; identifybroad social strategies to prevent or mitigate undesirable impacts of globalchanges; explore the ethical, cultural and legal traditions and frameworks thatunderlie and shape the h\~an aspects ef global change; analyse policy options andpropose procedures and techniques fat th~ translation of ressarch findings int~

policy-relevant terms; and promote educational efforts in this field.

ECQnomic Commission for Africa

Activities

86. During the biennium 1988-1989, the environmental wQrk of ECA tAB beendeveloped in the following four areas:

(a) Environmental assessment and management related tQ the impact Qfdevelopment of natural resources ut.i.J izaticn, including pollution control and wastedisposal;

(b) Development of manpower ca~abilities and creation of environmentalawareness through environmental trdininq and education activities;

(c) Advisory services on drought and desertification, as well as on relatedenvironmental problems;

(d) A subregional conference on environment and development, which took placeln mid-l989 and involved ministers of environment, planning and education, as wellas youth representatives and non-governmental organizations •

.EcQnomic Commission for Europe

~tiQn by the governing body

87. The report of the World Commission on Environment and Development wasconsidered and welcomed by ECE at its forty-third session, in April 1988, and wasthe subject of decision A (43). This decision, inter alia, refers also to theRegional Strategy for Environmental Protection and Rational Use Qf NaturalResources in ECE member countries through the year 2000 and beyond. In pursuanceof this decision, the Executive Secretary undertook a review of ECE programmes andactivities (ECE/AC.18/R.l) aimed at contributing to sustainable development, takingaccount of the report of the World Commission, the Environmental Perspective andthe Regional Strategy.

88. In its decision A (43) ECE also requests the Executive Secretary to prepare aprogress report on the contribution of ECE to the international effort towardssustainable development for consideration by the Commission at its forty-fourthsession and submission through the Economic and Social Council to the GeneralAssembly at its forty-fourth session. The decision also invites the ExecutiveSecretary to bring to the attention of the Executive Secretaries of other United

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Nations regional commissions relevant ECE activities. In addition, the decisionwelcomes the initiative of the Government of Norway to hold, in 1990, inco-operation with ECE, a regional conference at the ministerial level to reviewprogress in the follow-up of selected aspects of the report of the World Commissionon Environment and Development and identify initiatives for further measures ofrelevance to the ECE region.

Activities

89. An a~ hoc meeting of experts convened at Geneva in October 1988 in accordancewith the decision considered the review and agreed on a set of conclusions ferachieving sustainable development. The meeting proposed, inter alia, that ECEextend co-operation among its principal subsidiary bodies in various sectors with aview to promoting sustainable development, especially with the senior advisers toECE Governments on environmental and water problems and the senior economicadvisers, taking into account comparative advantages of ECE in specific fields ofregional co-operation. It also recommended key areas for t.he promotion ofsustainable dovelopmentl energy, inclUding atmospheric pollution; agriculture,including soil protection; transport, inclUding urbanization; and chemicals in theenvironment, including hazardous waste management. In accordance withdecision A (43), the report of the ad hoc meeting of experts (ECE/AC.18/2) is beingsubmitted to the subsidiary bodies of t~e Commission for comment and to assist themin identifying and evaluating ongoing activities contributing to sustainabledevelopJ~ent and, as appropriate, in proposing to the Commission new sectoral andinterdisciplinary activities.

90. Th~ Commi&sion, at its twenty-second session in April 1988, considered theproposed programme of work for the period 1990-1991 (LC/1506) and a document on therestrictions on sustained development in Latin America and the Caribbean(LC/G/1488). It adopted resolution 496 (XXII), in which it considered that ECLACshould intensify and broaden its efforts in promoting sustainable development inthe Cuture. It requested the Executive Director to undertake a review of the ECLACprogramme and activities aimed at contributing to sustainable development,including the cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary aspects thereof, taking intoaccount the report of the World Commis~ion on Environment and Development.

91. It further requested the Executive Director to prepare a progress report onthe contribution of ECLAC to the international effurts to achieve sustainabledevelopment, in accordance with resolutions 42/186 and 42/187, (or Submissionthrough the Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly.

92. Short-term studies undertaken by ECLAC in the light of the exceptionalconditions of crisis in the region, such as the study on the effects of the cr1S1S,external debt and macroe~onomic policies on the environment of Latin America andthe Caribbean will constitute inputs to the proqress report.

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Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific


93. At its forty-fourth session, in April 1988, the Commission adopted resolution267 (XLIV) on the implementation of the principle of environmentally sound andsustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. It requested the ExecutiveSecretary, in co-operation with UNEP inter alia, to undertake a cross-sectoralinterdisciplinary study to identifl sues of particular relevance and mokrproposals for action by the Commission and its SUbsidiary bodies. The Com,nissionalso requested the Executive Secretary to prepare a progress report on thecontribution of ESCAP to the efforts being made towards sustainable development forconsideration by the Commission at its forty-fifth session, and for submission tothe General Assembly at its forty-fourth session. It also invited members andassociate members and concerned donors and international organizations t<> provideadditional financial resources to assist developing countries in identifying,analysing, monitoring, preventing and managing environmental problems, and decidedto convene 0 ministerial-level conference on the environment in 1990, whose Agendawould include an item to review the progress in the follow-up to the report of theWorld Commission on Environment and Development and to identify further measures tobe tak~~ in respect of the region.

Activities

94. In ESCAP environmental activities priority is given to the incorporation ofenvironmental considerations into development planning, including legislativeaspects of environmental management, the protection of marine and coastal resourcesand the management of ecosystems with particular attention to desertification anddeforestation.

95. In accordance with the resolution adopted by the Commission at itsforty-fourth session, the following studies are under way:

(a) Re-examination of the environmental implications of various sectoralactivities;

(b) Detailed analysis of the recommendations of the report of the WorldCommission on Environment and Development to identify priority recommendationswithin the regional context;

(c) Formulation of proposals for action for the promotion of environmentallysound and sustainable development within the nverall work of ESCAP.

96. General, as well as selacted sectoral environmental impact assessmentuidelines have been developed. A project profile has been formulated to soli(~t

?port from donors in respect of large-scale development plans and projects i.~elbr.tod countries of the region. In co-operation with the Asian Development Bankthe Commission has reviewed the present and future policies of the Bank in thefield of environment in order to pursue fUlly sustainable development objectives 1

the Bank's programme. On the subject of making environmental impact assessm~nts 0

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development projects, an expert group meeting in August 1988 focused on selectedsectoral environmental impact assessment guidelines and manpower development, bS

well as the exchange of information and experience. Coastal environmentalmanagement plans have been developed for selected countries of Asia and the Pecific.

Economic And Social Commission for Western Asia

Activities

97. The conservation ~f renewable sources of enerqy and energy conservation isreceiving considerable attention in ESCWA, for example, biogas technology, which isbelug introduced in a number of countries using experience available elsewhere. Aregional information network on new and renewable sources of energy has beenestablished and projects are being developed to promote these sources in rural andremote areas. Several studies on energy conservation and efficiency have beenundertaken. A detailed study on technology of en~rgy generation from urban andrural wastes has been accomplished. New and renewable sources of energy and energyconservation are among the priority areas established by ESCWA for the period ofthe next mediwn-term plan.

98. Water resources management and conservation continue to be priorities in theESCWA regular programme and advisory yervices. This involves studies on wastewater re-use and brackish water; desalination; and the use of remote sensing tostudy water basins and to draw a hydro-geological map of the region. In itsefforts to promote regional co-operation in scientific research, ESCWA has focusedon research for desertification control and the control of sand dune movement.

99. The Environment Co-ordination Unit has been restructured. Its work programmefor 1989 has been reformulated to undertake a study ~n identification ofenvironmental issues of interest to the ESCWA region. The work programme for1990-1991 will be directed to producing project proposals that could attract donorsand thus secure extrabudgetary resources to complement the work of the Unit andsupport the work of other programmes of ESCWA. The Commission, at its fifteenthsession, in May 1989, is expected to support action for the implementation ofrelevant parts of resolutions 42/186 and 42/187.

100. UNDRO is currently preparing and organizing for the 1990-1999 InternationalDecade for Natural Disaster Reduction, in response to General Assembly resolution42/169 of 11 December 1987. The Intern~tional Decade will be concerned withmitigating a wide variety of natural hazards. It will foster internationalco-operation in the field of natural disaster reduction. The obj~cLlve of theDocade will be to reduce, through con~erted international ?ctions, loss of life,property damage and social and economic disruption caused by natural dis~sters,

especially in de\"eloping countries. The goals are to improve the capacity of eachcountry to mitigate the effects of natural disasters; to devise appropriateguidelines and strategies for app~ying existing knowledge; to foster scientific and

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engineerlng endeavours aimed at closing critical gaps in knowledgel to disseminateexisting and new information related to measures for the assessment, prediction,prevention and mitigation of natural disastersl and to develop practical programmes.

101. A progress r~port of the Secretary-General on the International Decade wassubmitted to the General Assembly at its forty-third session (A/43/723).

United Nations Centre for Human SettlemeRt§


102. At its eleventh sesF-ion, in April 1988, the Commission on Human Settlementsconsidered the repolt of the World Commission on Environment and Development alongwith resolutions 42/186 and 42/187. The Commission adopted resolution 11/4. inwhich it requested the Executive Director of the Centre, inter alia, to prepare are90rt on the contribution of the Centre to the international efforts towardssu~tainable development within the field of human settlements. This report will bebased in part on the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 20001 it will besubmitted for consideration by the Commi~,ion at its twelfth session and, throughthe Economic and Social Council, to the G~'neral Assembly at its forty-fourthsession, in accordance with resolutions 42/186 and 42/187. The next session of theCommissiol on Human Settlements, which will take place in April-May 1989. willreview the report of the Executive Director on sustainable development.

Activities

103. The Centre is currently reviewing its policies, programmes and activities toascertain their contribution to sustainab.~e development. In relation to theimplementation of paragraph 14 of resolution 42/181, the Centre is committed toassisting developing countries in identifying, analysing, monitoring and managinghuman settlements in accordance with their national development plans. priorities81 d objectives, keeping in view environmental con~iderations. Specific areasincltl~a the development of small and intermediate towns I their operation,maintenance end rehabilitationl the provision of services, especially water,sanitation and solid waste disposal; the strengthening of urban and land managementsystems; community participation with a major emphasis on training; the adoption ofapprl)priate technologiesl the integration of healt' and shelter policiesl themobilization of women in human settlements; global monitoring of humun settlementsconditions; and analysis of trends and development of data management systems.

~.Qrl.d.-l.ood Counc i 1

Mti2lL by the CJoverning~

104. At its fourteenth session, in May 1988, WFC examined the link between foodseuurity and the environment. It conGidered that environmental degradationjeopardized the food security of present and future generations, and called for thepursuit of sustainable food security through production systemR that safeguardnatural resources and protect the environment. The Council considered thateffective action to prevent further environmental oamage and to achieve sustainable

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food security in the developing world could be facilitated by a concerted effort ofthe international community to improve global economic conditions.

105. The Council recommended that environmentally sound agricultural managementpractices should form an integral part of national food strategies and thatenvironmental concerns should be integrated into economic development policies andprogrammes. It tOOK note ('f the proposals for the future co-operation between UNEPand WFC, including the postiibility of convening regional meetings of agricultureand environment ministers to work towards a better integration of environmental andfood-security objectives.

World Food Programme


106. At its twenty-fifth session, in June 1988, the Committee on Food Aid Policiesand Programmes commended the Programme for its increased co-operation with UNEP onprojects with environmental aspects and suggested that such co-operation should bestrengthened further in view of the importance of the environment for the overalldevelopment of the recipient countries. It expressed concern about the world-widedeterioration of the environment and the continuing food security problems,particularly in the developing countries •.

107. The Committee requested that the Executive Director of WFP prepare a report onthe contribution of the Programme to implementation of resolutions 42/186 and42/187, to the Committee on Food Aid Policies at its twenty-seventh session, inMay 1989, and to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session through theEconomi.c and Social Council.

Activi t.:ies

108. The Programme, through project food aid, provides partial or full payment ofwages in kind or incentives for large work forces or local communities engaged inenvironmental improvement activities such as soil and water conservation, erosioncontrol, terracing and reforestation work. Operational projects contain elementsspecifically designed to preserve or rehabilitate the environment. They cover suchactivities as reforestation, dune fixation, terracing, watershed protection,grazing control and the planting of wind-breaks, and cover environmental aspectswithin aqricultural rural development, land settlement, agrarian reform and housingactivities.

International Labour Organisation


109. The ILO Governing Body, at its 239th session, in March 1988, was informed ofresolutions 42/186 and 42/187, which it reviewed. The Governing Body also examinedmatters related to international co-operation on the environment at its 241stsession, in November 1988. At its 242nd session, in February-March 1989, theGoverning Body will consider a document submitted by the Director-General on the

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ILO contribution to envlronmenta.11y Bound and sustainable development(GB.242/10/6/3). The Governing Body will also examine the programme and budgetproposal for 1990-1991, which designates environmental concerns and technology ~s

one of four priority themes.

Acti y i t.i.u

110. As outlined in the above-mentioned document, the Programme gives priority tothree a1'ea81 the working environment, environmental training; and the relationshipam~ng environment, employment, poverty and development.

Ill. The working environment, which received relativPly limlted emphasis within thereport of the World Commission on Environment and D~velopment and the Environm~ntal

Perspective, is given very high priority by lLO. In its programme of occupationalsafety and health and conditions of work and life, ILO has developed a number ofinternational labour standards concerning air pollution, noise and vibration, andsafety and health in various industrial sectors, and is now addressing safety inthe use of chemicals at work. Other ILO work aims at promoting and supportingefforts at the international, regional and national levels to redu:~ occupationalaccidents and diseases and to improve the working environment. This has involved,for example, the preparation of codes of practice on various safety and healthissues, the improvement of occupational health services at the national level (orsmall-scale enterprises, agricultural workers and the informal sector, as well 8S

work related to the prevention of major haz~rds. In addition, training and thedissemination of information is carried out through the ILO InternationalOccupational Safety and Health Information Centre, ana the InternationalOccup~tional Safetj and Health Hazard Alert System. The UNEP/WHO/ILO InternationalProgramme on Chenlical Safety addresses increasingly urgent problems at the place ofwork with respect to chemical~. Similar work in collAboration with WHO And IAEAhas been undertaken for the protection of workers exposed to radiation.

112. In the International Progr~e for the Improvement of Working Conditions andEnvirorunent, Governments are 6ssisted in the Cormu1ation of niitional politl iftB onoccupational he~lth and safety, and in improving inspection services bystrengthening national safety and health institutions. An important new subject isthe establishment and operation of major hdzard control systems in severalcountries in Asia.

113. Working environment issues are oecom~nq increasingly complex nnd, as recentindustrial accidents have demonstrl\ted. Inure closely linked to the generalenvironment. Therefore, ILO will link its activities more closely to the work ofothers dealing wi th the gener"AI eTlvi nmlnenL I rtCren5 i nq pr iod t.y will also hegiven to the working environment in rural areas and the informal sector ofdev~loping countries.

114 Environmental training is pursued within the CrMlework uf the ILO traditionalvocational training, management dev~lopment, workers' education and employer5'organizations training prograrnmeu, in the International Centre for AdvancanTachnical and Vocational Training at Turin, and in the InternAtionAl Institute [orLabour Studies. Information and training activities deGigned to make employors

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awar, of the principle~ and practices of environmentally sound management werelaunched by the Bureau for Employers' Activities. A strategy for environmen\ ,training is being developed with particular attention to programmes directed a~

anticipatory and preventive activities rather than those dealing withrehabilitationl to programmes for workers' organizations comparable to thosedevlsad for employers' organizations I and to integrating appropriate environmentaliAsues into training activities in other ILO programmes, such as those forco-operatives, rural development, labour-intensive public works projects,employment and technology projects, and activities in occupational safety andhealth and conditions of work and life.

115. The extensive ILO activities aimed at alleviating poverty, creating employmentand generating income wi 11 be reinforced by the integration of environmental andsustainable development considerations into their planning and implementation.Since rural and urban areas requiring environmental protection and rehabilitationin both developed and developing countries often face severe unemployment andpoverty as well, ILD should ass 1st Governments in ensuring both t.hat theirenvironmental policies reflect more effectively employment requirements andopportunities and that employment policies reflect environmental considerations.

116. Tho International Labour Conference in June 1989 is expected to complete itsdiRcUAsion of the partial reviRion of the Convention concerning the protection andintegration of indigenous and other tribal and semi-tribal populations inindepenr1ant countries. 'rhis may support actions responsive to the reconunend8tionof the World Commiss\on on Environment and Development concerning indigenouspopulationH And other vulnerable groups.

117. For the future development of lLD's work, a number of recommendations of theWorld CommiRRion and of the Environment81 Perspective will imply that the design,implementation and evaluat.J.vn oC programmes should reflect long-term perspectives~nd the importance of equity, i.e. that the inequitable sharIng of the social,econom.c and envirorun~ntal costs and benefits of development cannot lead to6uRtainable development, but only to continued poverty, injustice and division1that tripartite collaboration and tripartite approaches should be promoted for thebenefit of lLD' B envirorunental activities1 that inL. nasing attention should begiven to A practical environmental impnct review process and to the need forinternal staff trailling And advisory support activities in this field.

Ac.~t._ion hy the lJoverl\in(J QVC\Y

118. The FAO Con!p.rence, at. it::; twenty fourth sesE:oion, in Nuvember 1987, adoptedreHo}ut.iO}l 4/1',7, pntitled "FAO i'Ictivit-ip.n rt't}i'tt-.od to t.he World CommisRion ofEnvironment and Development.". In i'\ccordance with the request of the Conference int.his l'elwlut" ion, t.he Direct.ul _·Gf'lIfHClI I"P~HJl'led to the FAO Council in November 1988,at. it.,; nineLy-fourt.h ser,sion, on "JlspectG of FAO's Policies, Programme, Budget andAct.ivit-if~" ,dmPfl at ~ontdh\ltinq \"(1 Sust.nini\ble Df'velopment" (CL 94/6).

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119. Th~ Cou~cil noted FAO'. long inv~lvernent in actions to ~romote sustainableproduction systems, a3 well as the breadth of its current activ:ties on rationalmanagement and conservation of natural resources to increase agriculturalproduction and to improve the living conditions of rural people. It consideredthat FAO's mandate and vast experience made it the key agency within the UnitedNfttions system to promote environmentally sound and sustainable agricultur~1

development. The Council considered that FAO should give higher priority towildlife utilization, alternative pest control strategiel, the conservation of bothplant and animal genetic resources, the promotion of sustainable tropicalagriculture and land use planning, and urged FAO to translate the concept ofsustainable development progressively into practical and operational policies andprogrammes in the agriCUltural, forestry and fisheries sectors.

120. The Council als~ noted that there would be a number of opportunities in 1989to discuss environment and sustainable development issues in various meflJtings ofFAO's governing bodies, inclUding the Committee on Agriculture, duringconsideration of proposals for the progr~ne of work and bUdget 1990-1991, at theninety-fifth and ninety-sixth sessions of the Council in t.he context of theprogramme of work and budget 1990-1991 and at the twenty-fifth session of theConference, under the item, "State of food and agriculture 1989", which wouldcontain a special chapter on sustainable development.

121. FAO's activities related to sustainable development are based on the decisionsof its governing bodies and in policy instruments, such as the Programme of Actionof the World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, the World SoilCharter, the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, the Strategy forFisheries Management and Development, tha International Code of Conduc~ on theDistribution and Use of Pesticides, the Tropical Forestry Action Plan and the WorldFood Security Compact, each covering an important component of sustainabledevelopment I

(a) Natural resource management and conservation I as a follow-up of theWorld Conservation Strategy, a soil conservation strategy for Africa is bei~g

developed and guidelines and practical manuals prepared on specific subject ...Activities l~lating to genetic resources conservation are based on the objectivesof the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources and focus on theestablishment of a globally co-ordinated network of national, regional andinternational genetic resources programmes and a global information systemdeveloped in close collaboration with the International Board for Plant GeneticResources. In the fie11 of forest genetic resources, emphasis is placed on in Git~

conservation, for which a practical manual is being prepared. Fisheries geneticresource conservation protects indigenous fish species;

(b) Production systems management: FAO programmes emphasize productionsystems that reconcile growth as well as sustainability under differentagro-ecological condi~ions; traditional crops and crop diversification withinindigenous and introduced mixed-cropping systems; the introduction of fuelwoodcultivation in farming systems and village forests; and the integration ofaquacult.ure into selected farming systems,

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(c) Technology development and applicationl activities include remotesensing and agro-meteorological tachnolngies aB part of rGBOUrCe as.essment andmonitoring, the use of radio-isotope tvcnnologies jointly with IAEAI integratedpest managoment techniques for rice, cotton, coconuts and vegetable., theprevention of food lossesl and the development of technologies on new and renewablesources of energy, s~oh as improvec. stoves and technologies for charcoal making,gasification from wood and agricultural residues, biogas and the use of wind andsolar energYI

(d) Pollution control: emphasizing the implementation &nd the improvement ofthe International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides' theimpacts of pollutants on marine fisheries and aquatic organisms, and theIntern8ti~nal Food Contaminants Monitoring ProgrammeJ

(e) Socio-economic aspects: regular monitoring of rural poverty, in additionto policies and measures for its alleviationl the integration of youth and women infood, ,'ash crop, livestock and forestry production programmesl the people'sparticipation programmel and the Committee on World Food Security, .ervir.ed by FAO,which addresses many issues pertaining to food security and sustainabilitYI

(f) Information transfer and exchange: training and dissemination oftechnical information on subjects that have direct impact on sustainabledevelopment; data bases and information systems on agriCUlture, fisheries andforestry, as a basis for environmental and dev~lopment planning and conservation.

122. FAO's future activities will emphasize:

(a) Assistance to countries: environmental policies for sustainableagricultural and rural development I integration of environmental concerns into theplanning and development process; training in environmental impact assessment; andpromotion of environmental awareness at all levelsl

(b) Technical and policy analysis: preservation of biological diversity;soil and water conservation; development of environmentally sound sURtainableproduction systems in agriculture, forestry and fisheries; and climate change andits potential impact on food and agricultural production.

U.nJ.tetlN..A.t.i.Q...11S._.Hu.cational. ScientiU.c...-And Cultural Organization

AC.t..io..M.. ..b~_.thtLgoyerning body

123. Although the General Conference of UNESCO will not meet until the autumn of1989, at its 129th session, in May-June 1988, tlle o~ganization's Executive Boarddecided to submit to the General Assembly a consolidated report on the response andprogress made by UNESCO towards realizing the objectives of environmentally soundand sustainable development. The report was finalized and adopted by the ExecutiveBoa~d at its 130th session, in October-November 1988.

124. The Executive Board, while expressing its agreement with the general approachfollowed by the World Commission on Environment and Development, emphasized

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p~ragraph 5 of re~olution 42/181 and stressed the import~nce UNESCO attach~d to thecriterion ot equity and the social and cultural aspects of the ~rganization's

approach to development. The Board recalled the important contribution of UNESCO'spast and ongoing environmental programme. to environnlentally sound and sustainabledevelopment. The Board also noted that the broad debate on the meaning of theconcept of sustainabl~ development has not yet resulted in a universally acceptedapproach lo guide its practical application to development planning. It therefo~e

invited the Director-General to take appropriate action, within UNESCO's thirdmedium-term plan, to define the concept with greater clarity as it relates toUNESCO'A mandate, with special emphasis on the needs of developing countries.

125. At its tenth session, in November 1988, the Intergovernmental Council of theMan and the Biosphere Progr~ ) emphasized the increasing importance ~! thisongoing international scientific programme, whose philosophy and goals are devotedentirely to the search for environmentally sound and sustainable development. Theimplementation of the Action Plan for Biosphere Reserves, for instance, correspondsto thr concern of the World Commission about biological diversity and the need forprotected areas of a non-convyntional type. One of the new research orientationsof the Mnn and the Biosphere Programme deals with human investment and resourcesuse, focusing on environmental integrity, economic efficiency and equity.

126. The twenty-first session of the Executive Council of the IntergovernmentalOceanographic Commission, in March 1988, identified five major directions, whichrelate to environmentally sound and sustainable development, as marking theconcerted action of its member States through the end of the century and beyond;(a) global climate research programmes and associated large-scale oceanographicexperiments, (b) rosearch and monitoring of marine pollution, (c) study of themarine environment as a whole - both co~stal and open ocean - its physical andbiological parameters and processes, (d) accelerated development of ocean services Iand (e) strengthening partnership through joint commitment to research goals at theglobal and regional levels and to the development of human and technologicalresources and capabilities.

127. The Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Programme atits eighth sessio"n, in June 1988, adopted an outline plan for the fourth phase ofthe Programme (1990-1995), entitled "Hydrology and Water Resources for SustainableDevelopment". Some of the themvs of the outline plan refer to interface processesbetween atmosphere, land and water systems, the relationship between climatevariability and hydrologic systems, changes in water quality through the hydrologiccycle: evaluation of the environmental status of fresh-water systems and predictionof the impacts of human activities: integrated water resources development and theincorporation of risk-based decision-making: and eaucation, training and publicinformation.

128. During the preparation of tho third medilw-term plan, the Director-Generalconvened a panel of experts in July 1988 to advise on the implications ofresolutions 42/186 and 42/187 for UNESCO's future p4ogrammes. The panel concludedthat UNESCO should respond to the challenge of sustainable development by action at

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three levels. (u) sustainable development in its broadest meaning should becQme acentral goal permeatinq the overall pr09~amme of lNESCO in the (ields of education,natural sciences, SOCibl sciences, culture and comnl~nicat.ionl (b) a number ofon90ing activities anu ~rogrammes of U)~ESCO, such as those listed below, whichcontribute to providing a scientific and training basis for environmantally soundand sustainable development should bu developed further and reoriented aanecessary; and (c) a limited number of interdisciplinary field ?rojects in avariety of regional settings should be carried out to demonstrate practicalapproaches to sustainable de'lelopmeut.

12Q. UNESCO programmes of particUlar relevance to environmentally sound andsustainable development include.

(a) Intergovernmental Oceanog,'aphic Commission. the lead insti'.:ution in theUnited Nations system for the promotion of programmes relating to the marinesciences, the development and maintenance of ocean service' and related activitiesof training, education and material assistance in this fieldl

(b) Interregional Project on Research and Training leading to the IntegratedManagement of Coastal Marine Systems;

(c) International Hydrological Programme. aimed at the assessment of waterresources, the training of hydrologists ~nd finding solutions to the specificwbter-related problems of countries in different geographic conditions and atdifferent levels of technological and economic development;

(d) Man and the Biosphere Programme. aimed at providing the scientitic basisfor environmentally sound management of terrestrial resources and increasing thenumber of trained personnel needed for land-use planning and other t.asks esaentialto this end;

(e) International Geological Correlation Programme I with its two componentsrelated directly to environmental problems - "Ouaternary Geosciences and HumanSurvival" and "GeolC'gy for Economic Development". J:n addition, the Natural HazardsProgramme has a pioneering role in the preparations of the International Decade forNatural Disasters (1990s);

(f) UNESCO-UNEP Network of Microbiological Renources Centres: ai~ed atpreserving microbial gene pools and making them accessible to developing countries;

(g) UNESCO-UNEP International Environmental Education programme: aimed atthe development of environmental education conducted at all school levels, as wellas out of school;

(h) Protection of world cult.ure and natural herit:Flse under the War. 1 HeritageConvention.

130. Other UNESCO programmes and activities also contribute to meeting theobjectives of sustainable development in its broad sense. These are identified inthe full report that the UNESCO Executive Board is submitting to the GeneralAssembly at its forty-fourth session.

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International Civil Aviation Organization

~ction by th, governing body

131. At its twelfth session, in JUue 1988, the Council of ICAO was informed ofresolution 42/1871 it noted with satisf~ction that liaison is maintained with UNEPon questions concerned with transport, especially activities relating to aircraftnoise and aircraft engine emissions.

Ac..tivities

132. leAO has promulgated an annex to the Chicago Convention, which places limitson the noise that may be generated by aircraft in the vicinity of airportSI thisapplies to aeroplanes powered by jet, turbo-propellers and piston engin,s and tohelicopters. Another annex to the Chicago Convention places limits on theproduction of smoke and various gaseous pollutants by turbo-jet engines in thevicinity of airpor~6. Work on the ozone layer is being monitored and, if it shouldbe shown that aircraft exhaust emissions make a significant contribution to thodepletion of the ozone layer, the possibilities of reducing such emissions will bapursued.

~rld Health Organization

Action by the~overning body

133. The World Health Assembly, at its forty-first session, in May 1988 r requestedthat the Director-General take into account the recommendations of the WorldCommission on Environment and Development in preparing its programme budget for19YO-1991. It also requested the Director-General to submit a progress report tothe Executive Board at its eighty-third session, in January 1989, OD a contributionto the report to be submitted in accordance with resolution 42/187.

134. The Executive Board, at its eighty-third session, in January 1989, consideredthe progress report (EBB3/l3) and requested the Director-General to transmit thesubstance of the report to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session and tothe UNEP Governing Council. The Doard proposed that the World Health Assembly, atits forty-second session, in May 1989, adopt a resolution that would, 1.nte..r ...~U.t\,stress the idea that uncontrolled development and the indiscriminate use oftechnology have degraded the environment and that this increasingly poses threatsto human health and the sustainability of the development process itself; call fornational and international policies and strategies dealing with the interdependencebetween development, the environment and health; and request that theDirector·-General make this interdependence prominent in the WHO programme.

135. In the context of sustainable development, the WHO programme aims at ensuringthat the basic health needR of all people are met; that people are thebeneficiaries of development: that diseases related to development will notjeopardize people's development; and that people are protected against the

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environmental health risks originating from the development process itself. Itprovides support to member States in the identification and development of healthobjectives as an integral part of sectoral policies for agriculture, theenvironment, education, water and housing.

136. The programme's activities focus on:

(a) Basic health needs: the prevention and management of malnutrition; thesafety of food and the prevention of food wastage: the provision of drinking waterand sanitation; and the development of healthy housing:

(b) Population and vulnerable groupsl family health and mental health; theSpecial Programme on Human Reproduction; and the protection of specific groups,including workers and the elderly;

(c) Health protection and promotion: the control of malaria and otherparasitic diseases and the diarrhoeal diseases: the Special Programme for Researchand Training in Tropical Diseases; the Expanded Programme on Immunization; and theprogramme for the control of disease vectors, especially in the context ofirrigation and other water resources development projects;

(d) Urban health: urban primary health care: environmental health in urbanand rural dev, ~opment; and health monitoring in human settlements;

(e) Environmental health: the health riSk assessment of toxic chemicals;health-related monitoring of air, water and food; the assessment of the potentialand ~ctual health risks of modern technology; chemical safety; the safe use ofpesticides in agriculture and for public health purposes; the health aspects ofnewly emerging environmental problems, such as the depletion of the ozone layer,the greenhouse effect, the hazards arising from industrial operations, from the useof chemicals and from the production of energy.

137. The Executive Board at its eighty-third session, \n January 1989, supportednew initiatives in the following areas:

(A) Technical co-operation: in the control of diseases that impededevelopment; in food safety and proper nutrition; in population activities; inmeeting the health needs of the rapidly increasing underserved urban population: inbasic sanitation; and in the evaluation and control of environmental hazardsoriginating from irrigation and new industrial and agricultural technology:

(b) Research: especially on t.he exposure to pollution and contamination inwater, air and food; on the health aspects of food supply and proper nutrition; andon life and lifestyleR in urban and peri-urban areas;

(c) Intersectoral co-operation: placing special emphasis on the capacity ofnational health agencies to fulfil their role in working towards sustainabledevelopment: on health impact assessment; and policy analyses and institutionaldevelopment.

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~rld Bank

Action b~ the governing bod~

138. The Joint Ministerial Committee of the Board of Governors of the Bank and theFund on the Transfer of Raal Resources to Developing Countries (DevelopmentCommittee), at its meeting in April 1988, considered the Dank's policies andoperations relating to environmental matters, and especially the steps under way toimplement the new approaches set forth by the Bank itself in its policy papers andthe report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. In itssubsequent meeting in September 1988, the Development Committee reviewed a progressreport on the Bank's environmental programme appended to the President's report,which the Committee had before it. Among the issues reviewed were the volume ofthe Bank's environmental programme and projects; the possible trade-offs betweenfunding f,)r the environment and funding for other purposes; the close relationshipbetween sustainable environmental policy and the alleviation of poverty indeveloping countries; and the financing of environmental activities.

Actiyities

139. The earlier approach of the World Bank to introducing environmentalconsiderations into individual Bank projects in various sectors, especially for theprevention of adverse environmental impacts, has been expanded by the recognitionof the relationships among economic growth, the allevi·tion of poverty andenvironmental degradation. This expansion requires that environmental issues nuwbe addressed in the context of overall economic policy rather than by concern withindividual projects alone. In other words, essential work in projects must besupplemented by the integration of environmental management into economicpolicy-making at all levels. Therefore the new programme of the Bank will not onlyaddress the environmental consequences of individual projects and identify projectsaimed specifically at environmental problems, but will als0 stress the developmentof policy interventions designed to influence environmentally related behaviour ona large scale. For the implementation of the new ?rogramme the Bank has created anenvironmental unit in all four of its regional offices, as well as a CentralEnvironment Department.

140. To plan and implement its new approaches, the Bank has developed a number ofoperational instruments, including environmental issue papers, which consider thenature and importance of environmental problems; their causation; and generalstrategies for the development of policies and investment programmes designed toaddress them. These will be incorporated into the Bank's policy dialogue, incountry strategy, economic and sector work and lending activities. In addition,in-depth analysis of selected key environmental issues will be carried out in anumber of countries, in response to government requests, through specific countrystudies for which the co-operation of UNDP and bilateral donors is being sought.Rather than attempting to develop comprehensive national environmental plans,specific priority topics for concentration will be selected in most countries,among them land use, deforestation, soil erosion and air quality. The countrystudies will develop methodologies for improved environmental management, withspecial emphasis on policy and institutional reform and strengthening in the light

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of their contribution to the objectiv&s of economic growth, the alleviation ofpoverty and environmental conservation.

141. These operational instruments are intende~ to lead to the incorporation ofenvironmental concerns as an integrated part of the Bank's lending and policydialogue and lo an increase in the number of Bank sector-wide operations thatinclude 8 component to support improved natural resource management. In addition,they will facilitate the identification or projects that, while meeting economicgrowth and poverty alleviation criterin, directly address environmental issues orease the problems of environmental management. Linkages to the Bank's continuingefforts in reducing population growth rates will be established with a view topreventing further environmental degradation. Also, in its project review, theBank will ma!.e increased efforts to anticipate the complex e<.:0109ical andbehavioural consequences that may stem from large-scale developmen~ projects.Mechanisms have been established to alert operational staff to the need formeasures to avoid or remedy negative environmental consequenctis.

142. The Bank is now addressing key environmental issues in accordance with therecommendations of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Theseissues are deforestation, especially in tropical areas; the conservation ofbiological diversity; watershed degradation; salinity; dryland management; naturaldisaster prevention and mitigation; environmental health in relation tomacro-economic policy; the safe use of pesticides; industrial disasters; urbanenvironmental issues; urban air pollution; drinking-water supply and senitation;and strategic implications of global climate wa.rming. Also addressed lireagricultural pricing policy and sustainability; a number of regional environmentalproblems (such as the Environmental Programme for the Mediterranean); theincorporation of environmental issues into national accounting; and theenvironmental consequences of adjustment lending.

143. Recognizing the importance of non-governmental organizations in thedevelopment process, the ~ank is developing ope~ational collaboration withnon-governmental organizations, particularly those in developing countries,following the recommendations of the WorlG Commission on Environment andD~velopment that these organlzations can play an important role in efforts toachieve sustainable development. On the other hand, closer links with bilateraldonors, as well as with the rest of the United Nations system and with otherfinancing agencies, are being established in operational, policy and researchactivities through various mechanisms.

144. In the g~neral summary of its session in June 1988, the WHO Executive Councilnoted the incleasing importance and range of working relationships between WMO andUNEP, and urgea the Secretary-G(lneral to strengthen this collaboration further andthu~ strengthen ecologici 1 secu:ity throughout the world. The joint establh.h.ment)f the Intergov~rnmental Panel on Climate Change was seen as one excellent step in~his direction. In connection with activities related to the stratosph~ric ozone

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layer, the Executive Councll urgeO the member States aB a matter of urgency tore-evaluate their ozone recorO and improve the quality of observations anO theirtinely aSlelsments. Furthermore, it requested the Secretary-General to conclude amemorandum of understanding betwe~n WMO and UNEP, whereby WMO would addressmonitoring, research and scientific assessments, and UNEP policy analysis andde\elopment and regulating activities.

145. In reDpon~. to resolutions 42/l8e and 42/187, th~ Secretary-General of theOrganization wab requested by the Executive Council to report to the GeneralAssembly on the WMO contributions to suatalnable de~e10pment. This report wasissued on 3 December 19~8 under the title "Sustainable Development I The Role ofMeteorology and Hydrology' I The report will be coneidered by the Executive Councilat its session in June 1989.

Activities

146. WMO accepts major responsibilities and carries out programmes that relate tothe specific climat~ and environmen~al issues that, in the rsport of the WorldCommission, have been associated with the probable effects of current energypolicies on the earth's atmosphere. WHO also recognizes the g4eat importance ofits more traditional programmes in weather, climate and water resources as ascientific support for achieving susta~nable Jevelopment of all renewableresources. Among these, the World Weather Wat:h, operate{, by the 160 member Statesof WMO (includin~ its global observing system, global telecommunications anddata-processing systems) and the World Climate Programme are major contributions tothe efforts towards achieving sustainable development.

147. The WMO programme has rasponded ~p&cifically to the consequences of changesoccurring ~n the atmosphere itself, esp~cially the consequences of acid and toxicprecipitat~onb, the de~letion of the ozone layer and the looming major concerns onpossibl~ change in climate. Emphasis is given to improvinq and expandingmonitoring of essen~ial atmcspher.ic compon'Jnts (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane,nitrous oxide, chlorofluor~meth~~~~, BULfaee and total ozone, chemistry ofprecipitation and atmospheric aeLos~l). the global coverage aims at inclUdingobservations from the tropic~l zor.e, which are conRiuered essential forunderstanding atmospheric chemistry and its potential chauge3 with important airquality and climatic consequences. Among other things, the programme includesl

(a) With UNEP, the Intergovernmental Pan61 on Climate Change (whose fi~st

rngeting was held at Geneva in November 1988) to continue sc~entific assessments ofthe climatic effects of greenhouFe gaG increases and to consider the appropriatepolicy responses internationally:

(b) Co-sponsorshif of th& Changing Atmospl.e.e Conference (Toronto, June 1988)and support of thb workshop on policy and legal aRPects of global atmoophericpollution (Ottawa, February 1989):

(c) With tmEP and UNESCO, the Second World Climate Confe"nce, Gen~va,

25 ,June-3 July 1990, to review the science and poiicy implications of climatecha~ge;

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"/44/350E/1989/99El19lhhPa;e 47

(d) Strengthening the quftlity control and publication of data in the G~obal

Olone Oblerving System and Background Air Pollution NonitnrlDql

(e) Convening (late 1988) the special co-ordination meetin; of he~~. of theUnited Nations bo~ies responsible for the World Climate ~ro;r~.wel

(f) Under the relearch ,omponent of the World Climate Pro;ramme,strengthening, with th$ International Council of Scientific Unions and UNESCO,ocean-atmosphere interaction Itydies in Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere and theWorld Oce~n Circulation Experiment, Btud~8B of the atmosphere'. ener;y andhydrologic ~ycles 3nd of the role of the greenhou.e ga.esi

(g) With IAEA, undertakipq intercompar3sons of mathematical model. to predictatmospheric alld wat.er transport and dispel'lion of radioactive contaminant. fromar~idental releases anG setting up of a globally co-ordinated prediction andcommunication system for such accidentsl

(h) Developing a system for co-ordinated international meteorological data torespond effectively t~ marine pollution incidents, especially in the open ocean.

148. Furthermore, WMO has undertaken a review of current technical co-operationprojects that support environmental and sustainable development. Thele ~r~ in thefields of climatology, ftgrometeorology, hydrology and water relources allelsmentsand environment measuremrnts.

l.ntamAt.~l..Mllit.imL.QI.an.lzation

A&t~~verningbody

149. The IMO Council, at its sixtieth session, held in June 1988, and the IMOMarins Environment ?rotection C,lmmittee, which met in September 1988, considp.redresolution 42/181.

150. A number cf recommendations in the report of the World Commission are directlyrelated to the implementatioll of the London Dumping Convention. Accordingly, theEleventh Consultative Meetinr ~f Contracting Parties to the London DumpingConvention, whi~h met in Oct 1988, had been invited to consider theRerecommen~~tions. The Consultdtive Meetinq requested the Secretary-General of IMOto report the results of its considerations on the recommen~ations as followsl

(A) In chapter 10 of its .eport, the World Commission on Environment andDevelopment encouraged parties to the London Dumping Convention to reaffirm therights an~ responsibilities of States lo control and regulate dumping within the200-mile exclusive economic zone. The contracting parties to the Convention a/Jreedthat it might be applied not only in territorial waters, but also within the200-mi1e exclusive economic zone;

(b) Regatding the recommendation of the World Commission on reporting of therelea~es of toxic an~ radioactive substances from land-based sources into any bodyof waLer, the Consult.ati ve Meet. i ng confi rmed t:.hat the London Dumpi ng Convention

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required all contracting partie. to notify its secretariat, either directly orthrough re~j,unal dumping agreements, of their dumping activities, including thenature and amount. ot wa.te. dwmped at .8a, the location of dumping .ite. and themonitoring of such sites. The results of these notific~tions are summarized by thesecretariat and made available in annual reportB diBtributed by IMO. Whereas IMO,as the secretariat of the Convention, collects relevant information on dumping atBea, it would be beyond its Bcope and mandate to collect information on relea.e. oftoxic and radioactive substance. from land-based sources into the marineenvironment. However, the need to establish a central register of substances andwat'uS introduced into the Bea has blen recognized by many international bodies,includ\ng the Task Team 2000 set up under the London Dumping Convention.

Actiyities

151. IMO, as the only specialized agency vf the United Nations Wholly dedicated tomaritime affairs, has developed over the years a co-ordinated scientifically andtechnically sound strategy for the protection of the marlno environment frompollution from ships and disposal of wastes at sea. The fundamental components ofthat Ftrategy are:

(a) To provide an effective mechanism for technical, legal and scientificco-operation among Governments for the protection of the marine environment frompollution from ships, for related activities and for the mitigation of theenvironmental effects of such pollution and compensation for them;

(b) To adopt the highest pr~cticable international standards in matters~oncerning maritime safety and prevention and control of marin~ pollution fromships Bud related activit ies 1

(c) To encourage the widest possible ~cceptance and effective implementationof these standards at the global level;

(d) To strengthen the capacity for national and regional action to prevent,control, combat and mitigate marine pollution and to promote technical co-operationto this end;

(e) To co-operate fUlly with other organizations within the United Nationssystem and relevant international, regional and non-governmental organizations toensure a co-ordinated approach to the problem and avoid wasteful duplication ofefforts.

152. IMO is commissioning a study that will appraisa the Orqanization's programmeof technical assistance in the marine environment field in the light of resolutions42/186 and 42/187. The study will, ~ alia, examine technological trends inmaritime transport at the global level, changing trade patterns and evolvingtransport modes, with t~e aim of identifyL.g any negative consequences for themacine environment arising therefrom. The outcome of the study will be used inidentifying specific environmental protection topics for inclusion in IMO'stechnical assistance programme. As part of the study, all IMO member States havebeen invited to identify problems encountered in implementing IMO conventions forthe prevention of marine pollution.

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International Fund for Agricultural Develo~ment

A~tion by the governing body

153. At its 61eventh session, in January 1988, the Governing Council reviewed thesustainabi1ity of its activities in the light of resolutions 42/186 and 42/187. AnInternational Consultation on the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Roleof Small Farmers was convened in October 1988. On the basis of its recommendationsand the Fund's own perceptions and strategy of rural poverty alleviation, aprogress report was presented to the twelfth session of the Governing Council inJanuary 1989 (GC.12/L.11). The report outlines a framework within which follow-upactions will be pursued in the coming years. The Governing Council endorsed thereport and approved its submission to the General Assembly in accordance withresolutions 42/186 and 42/187.

154. Poverty is closely related to environmental degradation. If a resource baseis depleted, the economic base of the Fund's activities is automatically erodedover the longer term. Tackling the envirorunental problems faced by Ilmallholderfarmers in developing countries requires a conservation-oriented developmentstrategy that integrates the objectives of growth, alleviation of poverty andenviroMlental protection. To enhance such a strategy, IFAD has in recent yearsl

(a) Undertaken in-depth studies on a number of issues confronting sub-SaharanAfrica, such as conservation, agroforestry, small-scale irrigation and pa~toralism;

(b) Paid increasing attention to analysing the problems of environmentaldegradation and its impact on rural poverty;

(c) Underlined the importance of providing an appropriate incentive frameworkfor small farmers to promote ~he conservation of their ~roduction base;

(d) Increased the emphasis on beneficiary participation in the identificationand implementation of conservation activities;

(e) Increased the financing of off-farm income-generating activities toreduce demographic pressure on marginal lands.

155. IFAD's strategy to achieve the suotainability of its lending programme will befinalized during lQ89. The Fund, Nmong other things, will:

{a) Incrpnse the funding of environmental rehabilitation issues in itslending programme and ensure that all its projects have conservation--based farmingprof' ices as an explicit objective. The promotion of off-farm income-generatingacti~ities will be pursued when appropliate and possible:

(b) Include t.he issue oC environmentally Gound and sustainable development inits co- opnr-ation with Govenunenls dud Iitrengthell lhe ilT.pact assessment capacity oCits own sti\ff:

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Al44/350E/1989/99EnCiJlishPaCjJe 50

(c) Ensure the participation of small farmers in conservation activities andtrain local user CiJroups in the control and u.. of communal resources in order toachieve environmentally sustainable participatory development'

(d) Increasingly involve non-governmental orqanisetions as an operationaltool in identification, formulation, moaitorinCiJ, traininCiJ and research activities,

(e) Promote environmentally sound and sustainable development throuCjJhcollaboration with bilateral and multilateral inltitutionl.

United Nations Industrial Oev.lggm.nt Organization

~tion by the goyerning body

156. The UNIOO General Conference, at its second le8sion, in November 1987, adoptedd.cision GC.2/DEC 11, welcoming the report of the World C~mmis8ion on Environmentand Development and r.questing that the Director-General report to the IndustrialDevelopment Board on asp.cts of UNIDO policies, programmes, budget and activitiesaimed at contributinq to sustainable development in accordance with the conceptsand recommendations contained in the report of the Commission. The IndustrialDevelopment Board, at its fourth session, in October 1988, considered a report ofthe Director-General on UNIDO's contribution to environment and industrialdevelopment (lOB 4/16). It requesled the Director-General to prepare a report onenvironmental measures and activities of the programme undertaken by UNIDO, to besubmitted to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session in accordance withresolutions 42/186 and 42/117.

Actiyities

157. At the heart of sustainable development are the wise use of resources, prudentmanagement of the environment and rehabilitation of degraded environments. ~he

environment has been included as a priority theme in the UNIDO medium-term plan1990-1995. Although UNIDO's programme has traditionally focused on technologyapplication for pollution control activities, technology transfer relative to cleanand low-cost technologies, plant and environment safety and rAsearch anddevelopment, an expanded programme is now being planned, in close co-operation withUNEP and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well ~.: withgovernmental and non-governmental organizations and rosebrch institutes. In thiscontext, the work of UNIDO will incorporate all environmental work, as well as workin the energy sector, on conservation and the development of renewable sources ofenergy. Particular emphasis will be given to the following areas:

(a) Integration of envir~nmental considerations into industrial planning anddevelopment in developing countries 1

(b) Selection and 8cqui~ition of safer and cleaner technoloCiJies, inclUdingcontrolling, reducing andlor recy~ling waste especially hazardous waste;

(c) Development of low-cost and environmentally sound technology forrecyclinCiJ and treating solio and liquid industrial effluents, with an emphasis onsmall- and medium-sized industri~s:

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(d) Implementation of environmental planning schemes that include aS8•••me.ntsof hazards and envlronm~ntal impact;

(e) Development of industrial safety and emergency response systems,

(f) Development of the institution-building capability for regulating andoptimally us~ng environmental m.asure. and emergency respon.e syltems.

158. In the area of information services, UNIDO will also strengthen its ownIndustrial Information Services and Industrial and Technological Informntion Bank.In co-operation with other information networks and data banks, includiog INTERNI~

of UNESCO, the following measures will be takenl

(a) Development of an environmental computer software data base containingenvironmental technologies and exhaustive means for integrating computerizedenvironmental planning,

(b) Further development of a data bank on equipment manufacturers, relevanttechnologies, research and development activities related to safe, low-waste,low-energy and low-pollution technologies,

(c) Creation of an information network on hazardous materials and wast•• ,

(d) Further development of safety guidelines in the field of geneticengineering and biotechnologY1

(e) Development of a data bank on the requirements for plant safety andhazardous waste management in different countries.

159. Studies and technical reports by UNIDO will summarize the technologicalalternatives and options for policy- and decision-makers in order to create agreater environmental awareness among them.

160. The system of consultations will be used to ensure that industry andGovernment alike are aware of the benefits and costs of environment-related policymeasures, to provide an opportunity for the exchange of experience in solvingenvironmental problems.

l~rnational AtQ~~ Agency

~n by the governing body

161. The thirty-second regular session of the IAEA General Conference, inresolution GC(XXXII)/RES/494, requested the Director-General "to submit to theBoard of Governors in February 1989 information on the contribution of the Agency'sprogramme activities towards achieving the objectives of environmentally sound andsustainable development as a basis for a report to be submitted to the forty-fourthsession of the General Assembly". In addition to listing the activities of theAgency, the report (GOV/2313) also contains comments on some of the concepts andrecommendations of the World Commission on Environment and Development, notably thefollowingl


(a) The World Commission's discussion of nuclear power does not adequatelytake into account the radiation protection and nuclear safety measures alreadytaken in order to protect the environment, the pUblic and persons working atnuclear facilities from radiological hazards. The work of the InternationalCommission on Radiological Protection on principles for radiation protectionstarted in 1928. The Agency's safety standards, guidelines, recommendations, dataand procedures have all been arrived at through considerable internationalcollaboration, not only with experts from member States, but also, depending uponthe exact sUbject-matter being considered, with organizations such as FAO, theInternational Commission on Radiological Protection, ILO, IHO, the Nuclear EnergyAgency of OECD, UNEP, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects ofNuclear Radiation, WHO and WMO'

(b) One objective of efforts in the field of radiation protection is toprotect not only present but future generations from harmf·,l effects of ionizingradiation. The International Commission on Radiological Protection dose limitationsystem can be applied to all radiation exposures of individuals and of populationsat whatever time and place the exposure is received. The consideration of future,as well as c·resent exposures enters into decisions on regUlation of such activitiesas releases from nuclear power plants and management of waste disp~sal facilities.The essential characteristics of standards for radiation protection, which are thebasis for nuclear safety, are thuB compatible with the World Commission'sdefinition of sustainable development,

{c) The "low energy path" urged by the World Commission as a remedy is notdefined in its report. Present forecasts are clearly at variance with the scenariourged by the World Commission, and they would all result in increasing levels ofcarbon dioxide emissions. Also, it must be recognized that m~ny developinqcountries are at present planning to rely on coal for a major part of their futureexpanded energy supply. The inevitable emissions ~~ carbon dioxide resulting fromthe increasing use of fossil fuels constitute the main cause of the greenhouseeffect, which is predictdd to lead to global climate change,

(d) The Worln Commission does nc~ refer to the environmental advantages ofnuclear power under normal operating conditions, that is, that the use of nuclearpower has led to reductions in sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissiol's in somecountries. Nuclear power generation does not, of course, produce any &missions ofcarbon dioxide. For the world as a whole, i( the electricity at present beinggenerated by means of nuclear power were being produced by coal-fired plants,around 1.6 thousand million tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted annually to theatmosphere each year over and above the present annual total of 20 thousand milliontons due to energy production.

162. The Board took note of the report and requested the Director-General to submitit to the General Assembly.

~Uvities

163. IAEA's activities address many of the conclusions and recommendations m~de bythe World Commission. To the extent that these lie within the Agency's statutorynandate, the IAEA progr~e has been responding to them for many years. Thus:

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(a) While focusing on nuclear power as one means of providing energy foreconomic development, the Agency has developed energy planning techniques that,based on comparisons between different ways of prod~cing electricity, define aneconomically optimized expansion of electricity systemsl

(b) A significant part of the Agency's overall programme is the JointIAEA/FAO programme on nuclear techniques in food and agriculture, which is devotedalmost entirely to increasin1 food production while reducing the e~vironmental

impact of fertilizer and pesticide use;

(c) Nuclear techniques heve become routine t~ols for resour~e development forAxample, hydrological investigations for water resource assessment and developmentare now hardly ever performed without isotope techniques I

(d) The supply of energy for economic growth in a sustainable andenvironmentally acceptable manner is a central activity in the Agen~y's programme;

(e) The Agency encourages environmental monitoring and assessment usingnuclear techniques as important in the context or the urban and industrialenvironments.

164. Regarding emergency response in case of a nuclear accident, the IAEAConventions on Early Notification and on Emergency Assistance al'e both in force.By the end of 1988, 72 States had signed and 32 ratified the Convention onEmergency Assistance.

165. The IAEA programme also includes activitias related to other issueR raised bythe World Commission concerning nuclear energy, namely, the proliferation concern,nuclear energy costs and financing, health and environmental risks, nuclearaccident risks and radioactive waste disposal. In total, environment-relatedactivities arJount for about 17 per cent of the Agency's regular budget. Withinthe substantive programme areas, the percentage is much higherl 60 per cent innuclear energy and safety and 55 per cent in nuclear applications.

W.JtrltL-'ImullllLOrganiuti.Q.D

166. The WTO General ASbembly, at its seventh session in September 1987, calledupon the Organization to study the implications of the report of the WorldCommission on Environment and Development for its policy and programmes, to examinewith I1NEP the possilJility of dr 1icating R spp.cial issue of the UNEPstate-of-the-environrnent report to the SUbject of tourism and the ~nvironrnent, andlo study the possibility of financing activities in the fi~ld of tourism and theenviroIunent by means of vo}untary contributions. It called on WTO membel States topay particular attention to the envirolune:ltal aspects of t.ouriSw. in their plans andprogrammes, and to support nc.tional, rEJgional and international ini tiatives toenhance and protect the environment., not.ably the p.ffort.s of UNEP.

/ " ..

A/44/350E/1989/99English

Activities

1d7. In co-operation with UNEP, guidelines are being elaborated for the developmentof terrestrial and marine national parks for tourism, and on the subject oftourist-carrying capacity. Ongoing and planned tourism projects financed bymultilateral sources such al UNDP will i'1clude, when appropriate, an environmentalcompone:lt. Education and training courses sponsored by WTO emphasize environmentalissue~ and an &nvironmentally respectful approach to planning and managing thevarious aspects of tourism. A meeting of the Enviro)~ent Committee is planned for1989 to study further the implications of the report of the World Commission onEnvironment and Development.

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