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Environment and development
mitted to the Governing Council at its eighth session in 1980: (a) Transport and the environment; (b) The child and the environment; (c) Environmental health: heavy metal hazards; (d) Environmental effects of military activity; (e) Climatic changes, deforestation, carbon, dioxide and the carbon cycle; 2. Endorses the procedure for the preparation and subsequent publication of the state of the environment report for 1982, suggested by the Executive Director in his introductory report, and requests the Executive Director to report further to the governing Council at its eighth session on the preparation of the report.
V. Matters relating to programme implementation
1. Welcomes the progress made in regard to phasing out financial support from the Environment Fund for the administrative costs of the Mediterranean Action Plan and for secretariat services for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Fora; 2. Reiterates that in providing initial support for activities, the intention of the United Nations Environment Programme is to exercise its catalytic role and demonstrate their viability and usefulness, with a view to continuing action being taken by its partners in the activities; 3. Urges those institutions in whose spheres of competence such activities lie to establish plans which ensure the ultimate assumption by them of full responsibility for those activities on a continuing basis, and the implementation of such follow-up actions as are required; 4. Urges the Executive Director to take active steps to assist developing countries to develop and strengthen the capabilities of national and regionat institutions to tackle environmental problems which impair the quality of life in these countries; 5. Welcomes the intention of the Executive Director to exert more effort towards improvement in the following areas: (a) Consolidating and integrating activities in the field of environmental assessment; (b) Sharpening the focus of treatment of emerging problems in the annual state of the environment report; (c) Implementing the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification, especially the financial aspects (d) Halting the disastrous depletion of tropical forests and woodlands; (e) Public information [] TROPICAL WOODLANDS AND FOREST ECOSYSTEMS The Governing Council, Considering the undeniable environmental and economic importance of forest resources to the social and economic life of the populations of humid tropical regions, Recognizing the growing worldwide concern about the degradation and the rapid disappearance of the earth's forest cover resulting from the irrational exploitation of tropical forest and woodlands ecosystems, Deploring the adverse social, economic and environmental impacts which are projected to intensify in the future, Reaffir, "~ng the right of States to exercise
150
permanent sovereignty over natural resources in their territories, and their primary responsibility for environmental protection therein, and recognizing the major role of existing regional mechanisms in this field, and the role of the United Nations Environment Programme in assisting States, upon request, as appropriate, 1. Reaffirms that humid tropical forest ecosystems constitute a priority concern of the United Nations Environment Programme; 2. Appeals to United Nations bodies and other international organizations concerned by the problem to assist Governments and promote intensified international co-operation with a view to finding appropriate solu tions; 3. Decides that the United Nations Environment Programme should be involved in such efforts, in view of the many dimensions of the problem and the catalytic and co-ordinating role of the Programme in matters of worldwide environmental concern; 4. Requests the Executive Director: (a) In closeconsultation and full co-operation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, other appropriate international organizations and Governments, taking into account provisions set forth at the regional level and action derived therefrom, to develop proposals for an integrated programme of activities for conservation and the wise utilization of tropical forests; (b) For this purpose, to convene a meeting of experts, to include programme and resource managers from international, governmental and non-governmental organizations, developed and developing countries, to decide, taking into account points raised during the seventh sessiorl of the Governing Council, on the division of labour and responsibility; (c) To report on the results of the meeting to the Governing Council at its eighth session; 5. Also requests the Executive Director to ensure that the current activities on humid tropical forests and woodlands are fully reviewed and co-ordinated with a view to identifying and supporting additional complementary activities. []
operation with the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, Noting further that the first phase of this programme will be completed by the end of 1980, and that proposals for the next phase are now under preparation, Recognizing that this programme constitutes an important regional contribution to the Global Environment Monitoring System, 1. Requests the Executive Director to take appropriate measures, including financial support, to ensure the continued co-operation of the United Nations Environment Programme with the regional programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transport of air pollutants up to 1983; 2. Decides, in view of the catalytic role of the United Nations Environment Programme, to review the Programme's possible cooperation with the regional programme after 1983 at its eleventh session. []
ENVI R O N M E N T A L ASSESSMENT
The Governing Council Believing that with regard to global environmental risks, the United Nations Environment Programme, in co-operation with national Governments and relevant members of the United Nations system, should identify activities which may be environmentally harmful in order to fulfil its role in providing advice on policy options that are designed to prevent or mitigate the degradation of the environment, Aware that soundly-based environmental assessments are useful to nations in the conduct of national and multi-national environment programmes, Considering that the wise management of the environment is inextricably linked to comprehensive environmental assessments, Requests the Executive Director to convene as soon as possible an ad hoc meeting of Government experts to consult on the development of mechanisms and procedures for conducting environmental assessment within Earthwatch, and to report on the results of such consultations and any recommendations resulting therefrom to the Governing Council at its eighth session. [ ]
ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
The Governing Council, Recognizing the importance of the development taking place in the developing countries and the implications of action taken both in the urban in the rural environment, Requests the Executive Director, in co-operation with the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, to promote and contribute to the setting up of studies of the environmental impact of socio-economic activities in the context of an integrated physical planning policy. []
EARTHWATCH" MONITORING OF T R A N S B O U N D A R Y TRANSMISSION OF A I R POLLUTANTS
The Governing Council, Recalling its decision 64 (IV) of 13. April 1976,
Noting that the regional programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transport of air pollutants was launched in January 1978 under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Europe, in co-
I N T E R N A T I O N A L R E F E R R A L SYSTEM (INFOTERRA)
The Governing Council, Bearing in mind the development priorities of States and the need to make governmental decision-making bodies aware of environmental problems, Recognizing the role of information in environmental management, Recalling the conclusions of the study of the needs of users, Having considered the difficulties encountered by States in establishing their INFOTERRA national focal points, Bearing in mind the human and material resources required for the operation of the national focal points, 1. Invites Governments of States members of INFOTERRA: (a) To strengthen their support for their national focal points; (b) To intensify their efforts to promote the L~se of the System through co-ordination at the national level;
Environmental Policy and Law, 5 (1979)
V. Matters relating to programme implementation
1. Welcomes the progress made in regard to phasing out financial support from the Environment Fund for the administrative costs of the Mediterranean Action Plan and for secretariat services for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Fora; 2. Reiterates that in providing initial support for activities, the intention of the United Nations Environment Programme is to exercise its catalytic role and demonstrate their viability and usefulness, with a view to continuing action being taken by its partners in the activities; 3. Urges those institutions in whose spheres of competence such activities lie to establish plans which ensure the ultimate assumption by them of full responsibility for those activities on a continuing basis, and the implementation of such follow-up actions as are required; 4. Urges the Executive Director to take active steps to assist developing countries to develop and strengthen the capabilities of national and regionat institutions to tackle environmental problems which impair the quality of life in these countries; 5. Welcomes the intention of the Executive Director to exert more effort towards improvement in the following areas: (a) Consolidating and integrating activities in the field of environmental assessment; (b) Sharpening the focus of treatment of emerging problems in the annual state of the environment report; (c) Implementing the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification, especially the financial aspects (d) Halting the disastrous depletion of tropical forests and woodlands; (e) Public information [] TROPICAL WOODLANDS AND FOREST ECOSYSTEMS The Governing Council, Considering the undeniable environmental and economic importance of forest resources to the social and economic life of the populations of humid tropical regions, Recognizing the growing worldwide concern about the degradation and the rapid disappearance of the earth's forest cover resulting from the irrational exploitation of tropical forest and woodlands ecosystems, Deploring the adverse social, economic and environmental impacts which are projected to intensify in the future, Reaffir, "~ng the right of States to exercise
150
permanent sovereignty over natural resources in their territories, and their primary responsibility for environmental protection therein, and recognizing the major role of existing regional mechanisms in this field, and the role of the United Nations Environment Programme in assisting States, upon request, as appropriate, 1. Reaffirms that humid tropical forest ecosystems constitute a priority concern of the United Nations Environment Programme; 2. Appeals to United Nations bodies and other international organizations concerned by the problem to assist Governments and promote intensified international co-operation with a view to finding appropriate solu tions; 3. Decides that the United Nations Environment Programme should be involved in such efforts, in view of the many dimensions of the problem and the catalytic and co-ordinating role of the Programme in matters of worldwide environmental concern; 4. Requests the Executive Director: (a) In closeconsultation and full co-operation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, other appropriate international organizations and Governments, taking into account provisions set forth at the regional level and action derived therefrom, to develop proposals for an integrated programme of activities for conservation and the wise utilization of tropical forests; (b) For this purpose, to convene a meeting of experts, to include programme and resource managers from international, governmental and non-governmental organizations, developed and developing countries, to decide, taking into account points raised during the seventh sessiorl of the Governing Council, on the division of labour and responsibility; (c) To report on the results of the meeting to the Governing Council at its eighth session; 5. Also requests the Executive Director to ensure that the current activities on humid tropical forests and woodlands are fully reviewed and co-ordinated with a view to identifying and supporting additional complementary activities. []
operation with the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, Noting further that the first phase of this programme will be completed by the end of 1980, and that proposals for the next phase are now under preparation, Recognizing that this programme constitutes an important regional contribution to the Global Environment Monitoring System, 1. Requests the Executive Director to take appropriate measures, including financial support, to ensure the continued co-operation of the United Nations Environment Programme with the regional programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transport of air pollutants up to 1983; 2. Decides, in view of the catalytic role of the United Nations Environment Programme, to review the Programme's possible cooperation with the regional programme after 1983 at its eleventh session. []
ENVI R O N M E N T A L ASSESSMENT
The Governing Council Believing that with regard to global environmental risks, the United Nations Environment Programme, in co-operation with national Governments and relevant members of the United Nations system, should identify activities which may be environmentally harmful in order to fulfil its role in providing advice on policy options that are designed to prevent or mitigate the degradation of the environment, Aware that soundly-based environmental assessments are useful to nations in the conduct of national and multi-national environment programmes, Considering that the wise management of the environment is inextricably linked to comprehensive environmental assessments, Requests the Executive Director to convene as soon as possible an ad hoc meeting of Government experts to consult on the development of mechanisms and procedures for conducting environmental assessment within Earthwatch, and to report on the results of such consultations and any recommendations resulting therefrom to the Governing Council at its eighth session. [ ]
ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
The Governing Council, Recognizing the importance of the development taking place in the developing countries and the implications of action taken both in the urban in the rural environment, Requests the Executive Director, in co-operation with the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, to promote and contribute to the setting up of studies of the environmental impact of socio-economic activities in the context of an integrated physical planning policy. []
EARTHWATCH" MONITORING OF T R A N S B O U N D A R Y TRANSMISSION OF A I R POLLUTANTS
The Governing Council, Recalling its decision 64 (IV) of 13. April 1976,
Noting that the regional programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transport of air pollutants was launched in January 1978 under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Europe, in co-
I N T E R N A T I O N A L R E F E R R A L SYSTEM (INFOTERRA)
The Governing Council, Bearing in mind the development priorities of States and the need to make governmental decision-making bodies aware of environmental problems, Recognizing the role of information in environmental management, Recalling the conclusions of the study of the needs of users, Having considered the difficulties encountered by States in establishing their INFOTERRA national focal points, Bearing in mind the human and material resources required for the operation of the national focal points, 1. Invites Governments of States members of INFOTERRA: (a) To strengthen their support for their national focal points; (b) To intensify their efforts to promote the L~se of the System through co-ordination at the national level;
Environmental Policy and Law, 5 (1979)