ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

30 October 1995

Press Release
GA/EF/2690

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

19951030 Focuses on 1997 Special Assembly Session to Review Implementation of Agenda 21

The preparatory process and the possible outcome of a 1997 special session of the General Assembly to review the implementation of Agenda 21, were among the issues addressed by speakers this morning as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) began consideration of environment and sustainable development.

Agenda 21 is the programme of action adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992.

Speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, the representative of the Philippines said the fifth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development should be devoted primarily to the preparations for the special session of the Assembly on the assessment of Agenda 21's implementation, adding that the preparatory process should begin as soon as possible.

The representative of Spain, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the outcome of the 1997 special session on Agenda 21 should be a negotiated political declaration setting out future actions and priorities to promote sustainable development. A disproportionate attention should not be imposed on the session and a role should be envisaged for the Economic and Social Council in considering institutional matters.

There was a need to develop a global multifaceted strategy to address the problems hampering the implementation of Agenda 21, the representative of Sri Lanka said, adding that the importance of the 1997 special session on the implementation of UNCED programme of action could not be overemphasized. The representative of the Russian Federation said high-level involvement in the special session was necessary, and the scientific and academic community as well as the private sector should be involved in the event.

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Also this morning, the representative of Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said that the problems of desertification and drought, although serious in Africa, were beginning to increase in other parts of the world, including Latin America, and thus support in combating those problems should not be confined to one region. It would not be a good idea to wait five or ten years and then establish an emergency programme for Latin America to deal with desertification problems.

The representative of Mexico stressed that an integrated approach to environmental issues had implications for peace and security. However, three years after Rio some of the principles relating to economic and social development had still not fully come into their own.

The representative of the Marshall Islands called for the implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action on the sustainable development of small island developing States to be included as a priority theme in the agenda of the 1997 special session.

Introducing reports this morning were the Director, Division for Sustainable Development, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Joke Waller-Hunter; the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Convention to Combat Desertification, Arba Hama Diallo; the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity, Calestous Juma; the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Reuben Olembo; and the Director of the Office to Combat Desertification and Drought (UNSO), Samuel A. Nyambi.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue consideration of environment and sustainable development.

Committee Work Programme

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to begin consideration of environment and sustainable development, including implementation of decisions and recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and the questions of desertification and drought.

A report of the Secretary-General (document A/50/453) submits proposals on the format, scope and organizational aspects of the 1997 special session of the General Assembly on the overall review and appraisal of Agenda 21, the programme of action adopted by UNCED.

Since that 1992 Conference, the report states, a large number of intergovernmental processes recommended in Agenda 21 have completed their work, among them the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the Organization's Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The outcomes of all those processes, together with Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, are commonly referred to as the Rio commitments and will have to be considered by the Assembly's special session if it is to obtain a full picture of the results achieved.

The special session, the report continues, will also need to take into account the outcomes of major United Nations development-related conferences held since then. At its 1995 substantive session, the Economic and Social Council decided that, within the framework of its coordination segment, it would carry out a review each year of cross-cutting themes common to those major conferences and contribute to an overall review of the implementation of their respective programmes of action. In considering preparations for the 1997 overall review, there should be special focus on the outcome of the 1995 substantive session of the Council.

The 1997 special session will need to determine the critical areas of sustainability for the years to come, the report goes on to say. The objective should be to maintain the political momentum and give a clear sense of direction for future actions to be taken by governments, intergovernmental bodies and major groups aimed at reaching sustainable development. The Assembly will have to identify priorities for the institutional follow-up to UNCED and the role of the United Nations system, in particular the Commission on Sustainable Development. In identifying the critical constraints on the implementation of the Rio commitments the Assembly may wish to consider adopting supportive measures necessary for the achievement of sustainable development goals. It may also wish to emphasize the issue of sustainable consumption and production patterns as an umbrella concept that facilitates the integration of environmental and economic questions.

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Addressing the institutional framework for the UNCED follow-up, the report notes that since its first session the work of the Sustainable Development Commission had included the participation of major groups in its work and has managed to maintain a high political profile. The Assembly may wish to build further on those characteristics and decide on the desirable focus of the Commission's future activities.

Concerning documentation for the special session, the report suggests that the Secretary-General should be requested to prepare a comprehensive report on the overall assessment of the progress achieved since UNCED in the implementation of the Rio commitments. As for the outcome of the 1997 review exercise, one possible option would be a political declaration assessing progress achieved and setting priorities for future action on how to best reach sustainable development goals.

As for organizational aspects of the special session, it is suggested that it should be held for a period of five working days. As the Assembly has already decided that it should be a self-standing event to take place before its fifty-second session, it is proposed that it should be held in the third or fourth week of June 1997, on the understanding that the fifth session of the Sustainable Development Commission would be held earlier so it could act as a preparatory committee for the special session. The Assembly may envisage a level of representation at the special session that will maintain the high political momentum reached during UNCED, which was attended by 118 heads of State and government. In order to reach agreement on the final document to be adopted by the special session, the Assembly may wish to establish an ad hoc committee of the whole to begin drafting it.

Another report before the Committee concerns strengthening of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in particular its function as the liaison at Nairobi for the Commission on Sustainable Development (document A/50/171). It reviews measures taken to date, among them the liaison function that, since early 1995, been placed with the Division of Environmental Policy which also handles inter-agency affairs within UNEP and is the principal focal point for all matters relating to the General Assembly.

The UNEP's need for adequate financial resources if it is to exercise the functions assigned to it by Agenda 21, was stressed. There has been little change in contribution patterns, however. In 1995 they have not only fallen short of the target established by the Governing Council but may be insufficient to finance the Environment Fund's activities for the biennium 1994-1995.

Among measures taken by UNEP to increase productivity and effectiveness, the report cites efforts by the Executive Director to pursue the possibilities of holding major meetings related to the environment programme in the conference facilities at Nairobi. Also, efforts are being made to programme

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meetings back to back in order to maximize conference-servicing costs. In addition, UNEP has made special efforts to provide remote translation services via electronic means to meetings held away from Nairobi. That has meant that UNEP no longer has to send teams of translators and typists to the venues of meetings, thereby cutting on travel costs considerably.

Also before the Committee is the report of UNEP's Governing Council on its eighteenth session, held in Nairobi from 15 to 26 May (document A/50/25). Some of the 50 decisions adopted by the session require the special attention of the General Assembly.

By decision 18/2, the Governing Council decided to review at its next session the governing structures of UNEP with a view to itself taking action or, where necessary, recommending that the Assembly take action to modify and streamline those structures to produce in them greater efficiency, effectiveness and transparency.

By decision 18/10, the Governing Council requested the Assembly to adopt a resolution calling for the application, as early as possible, of good housekeeping practices by all institutions of the United Nations system on the lines indicated in the text. Measures include: expanding recycling and the use of recycling materials; conserving energy, water, wood, paper and other natural resources; phasing out ozone-depleting substances; and advising architects, builders, engineers and other professionals to take fully into account global warming, acid rain, the depletion of the ozone layer and other environmental issues in the design and maintenance of new and existing buildings for the United Nations system.

By decision 18/25, the Governing Council authorized the UNEP Executive Director to transmit her report on international environmental conventions and protocols, together with comments by delegations, to the Assembly's current session.

The Executive Director's report is before the Committee transmitted in a note by the Secretary-General (document A/C.2/50/2). It covers the period from 1 July 1992 to 30 November 1994 and contains information on conventions and protocols that have entered into force, on those newly adopted and on changes in the status of existing agreements.

By decision 18/26, the Assembly authorized the Executive Director to submit to it her report on the implementation of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification in 1993 and 1994, and by decision 18/27, to transmit her report on Earthwatch, environmental monitoring and assessment.

The report is transmitted to the Committee by a Secretary-General's note (document A/50/37), which points out that although attempts have been made in the past few years to confine the use of the term "Earthwatch" to the United

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Nations system-wide context, as in "United Nations system-wide Earthwatch", conventional usage persists in applying "Earthwatch" to UNEP's environment assessment activities, to the relevant system-wide activities, or to both. In the report being considered, the term "Earthwatch" is confined to the United Nations system-wide context.

The report states that building on the experience of the Global Environment Monitoring system, major international scientific planning and inter-agency efforts are under way to advance a set of complementary global observing systems covering the major environmental compartments. Those systems intend to go beyond time-limited research programmes towards the operational data collection and assessment needed to respond to the long-term and widespread changes which may affect the human condition. The UNEP is a co-sponsor of all those systems, whose interrelation and complementarity should be ensured as part of Earthwatch.

A realistic, long-term funding strategy must be developed, says the report. Elements that need to be part of that strategy include: ensuring sufficient core funding within UNEP to maintain a basic assessment function and to provide the forum for regional or global cooperation; and identifying national focal points to guide in harnessing existing national capacities, with capacity-building as necessary, to ensure that programmes address national needs as well as issues of international significance within cooperating international environment assessment networks.

By decision 18/47, on the Mercure satellite telecommunications system, the UNEP Governing Council decided to submit to the General Assembly for endorsement the Mercure agreement. The agreement aims to facilitate access by UNEP and its partners to services available through the emerging information highways and to allow it to better fulfil its mandate for delivery of environmental data in a more timely, cost-effective and efficient manner.

Also before the Committee is a report prepared for the fourth triennial review of the Consolidated List of Products Whose Consumption and/or Sale Have Been Banned, Withdrawn, Severely Restricted or Not Approved by Governments (document A/50/182-E/1995/66 and Corr.1). It provides an overview of major recent development regarding products harmful to health and the environment and makes proposals towards more efficient production and a wider dissemination of the List.

Reviewing development since the last triennial review, the report states that both UNEP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have elaborated guidelines for the principle of prior informed consent whereby the international shipment of a banned or severely restricted chemical, in order to protect human health or the environment, should not proceed without the explicit agreement of the designated national authority in the importing country having been provided with all the relevant information. The two

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agencies have continued collaboration on that matter; the FAO has primary responsibility for pesticides and UNEP for other chemicals.

Regarding use and dissemination, the report states that the List is the only document that presents, in a unified manner, information on restrictive regulatory decisions taken by governments on a range of pharmaceutical products and agricultural and industrial chemicals. As such, it is a valuable source of information for governments in considering the scope of eventual regulatory actions.

The fifth version of the List, for example, was sent to such groups as the Pesticide Action Network, an international coalition of over 300 citizens' groups in 60 countries, which oppose the misuse of pesticides and support reliance on safe, sustainable pest-control methods. The Network uses the List as one of its major sources of information for the "Dirty Dozen" campaign, which targets a number of particularly hazardous pesticides for strict controls, bans and ultimately elimination.

In its conclusions, the report suggests that the List should be published in two parts, one for pharmaceuticals and the other for chemicals, in order to enhance the efficiency of its production and distribution and in view of the practical limitation of having the publication in one volume. It also suggests that the List should be issued every two years with a supplement for the intervening year.

The Committee will consider, in addition, a report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (document A/50/218). The Convention was opened for signature at UNCED, in 1992. It entered into force on 29 December 1993. The first meeting of its Conference of Parties was held in Nassau, Bahamas, from 28 November to 9 December 1994.

Reviewing decisions of the Conference of Parties, the report states the Conference decision that the restructured Global Environment Facility (GEF) should continue to operate the financial mechanism under the Convention on an interim basis. The Conference also decided to establish an open-ended ad hoc group of experts to consider the need for and modalities of a protocol on the safe transfer, handling and use of any living modified organism resulting from biotechnology that might have an adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

The report recalls that the General Assembly decided to proclaim 29 December, the date of the entry into force of the Convention, International Day for Biological Diversity. It adds that the Assembly may wish at the current session to give direction to Member States on how to make such an international event a success. The second meeting of the Conference of the Parties will take place at Jakarta from 6 to 17 November, the report adds.

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Also before the Committee are reports and notes from the Secretary- General on efforts to combat desertification and drought. One report (document A/50/347) deals with action taken by the United Nations system, bilateral donors and national initiatives to implement the 1994 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa. It says the Convention represents a fundamental shift in the world community's response to desertification and notes that more than 900 million people live under the shadow of desertification and drought. Especially important was the need to support immediate actions in Africa. It calls for more contributions for multilateral funding to implement the Convention, and for active involvement of non-governmental organizations and community-based bodies in anti- desertification efforts.

A note by the Secretary-General (document A/50/227-E/1995/99) contains a report of the Executive Director of UNEP detailing action UNEP had taken in 1993-1994 on the overall implementation of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification. The report says UNEP continued to support governments to develop and implement national plans towards that end. A section of the report deals with the activities of the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office (UNSO).

Two other notes by the Secretary-General (document A/50/74 and document A/50/74/Add.1), contain an account of the sixth and seventh sessions, respectively, of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa. The seventh session, held in Nairobi from 7 to 17 August, adopted a resolution on the Committee's future meetings.

By that text, the General Assembly would have the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee hold two sessions in 1996, each of up to two weeks' duration: its eighth session in Geneva from 5 to 16 February, and ninth session in New York from 3 to 13 September. The Assembly would decide to convene a further two sessions of the Committee in 1997: its tenth to be held in New York from 6 to 17 January and its eleventh session in April, the exact dates and venue to be decided at a later stage. Also by the text, the Assembly would request a review of the financial situation of the Trust Fund and the Special Voluntary Fund established by its resolution 47/188 of 22 December 1992.

Finally the Assembly would convene the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in either June or August 1997 upon the entry into force of the Convention.

The Committee also took a number of decisions covering, among others, rules of procedure of the Conference of the Parties, organization of

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scientific and technological cooperation, and accreditation of non- governmental organizations.

A report of the Secretary-General (document A/50/515) states that as of 8 September, the Convention had been signed by 107 States and ratified by 6 others: Cape Verde, Ecuador, Egypt, Mexico, Netherlands and Senegal. It was expected, according to the report, that the 50 instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession required for entry into force of the Convention could be obtained by the first half of 1996. The Convention would enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification.

A related report of the Secretary-General on the Observance of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (document A/50/516) reviews measures taken to implement General Assembly resolution 49/115 by which it proclaimed 17 June as the day for the observance.

Introductory Remarks

JOKE WALLER-HUNTER, Director, Division for Sustainable Development, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, introduced the report on the scope and format of the 1997 special session of the General Assembly on a comprehensive review of Agenda 21. She said the report gave the overall context in which the review should take place and made proposals concerning its substantive and organizational aspects.

ARBA HAMA DIALLO, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Convention to Combat Desertification, introduced their reports. He expressed satisfaction with the preparations for the observance for the International Day to Combat Desertification. He said 115 States and organizations had signed the Convention thus far and 10 countries had ratified it. He listed regional meetings being held and planned in connection with the Convention. At the seventh session of the Negotiating Committee, work for the first Conference of the Parties had begun. Germany, Spain, Kenya and Switzerland had offered to host the secretariat of the Convention. Financial resources for the Convention had come from Japan and Ireland; Norway, Sweden and Italy had also contributed. He appealed to Member States to finalize the processes of signing and ratifying the Convention as early as possible, so that the first Conference of the Parties could be held in June 1996.

CALESTOUS JUMA, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity, introduced the report on that international instrument. He noted that the first Conference of the Parties, held last year, had adopted a medium-term programme of work for the next three years. The first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, which was established by the Conference, was held in

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Paris at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in September. So far, 131 countries had ratified the Convention. A series of regional preparatory meetings had been held in preparation for the second Conference of the Parties to be held in Jakarta next month.

REUBEN OLEMBO, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, introduced the report of its Governing Council and related reports. He highlighted the Council's decisions on the strengthening of the Programme and on giving greater assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Other decisions included one on clarifying the relationship between UNEP and the Commission on Sustainable Development as well as other agencies and non- governmental organizations. Clarification of the role of the many players in the sustainable development arena was crucial, he stressed. In addition, the Council had decided that its next session would he held early in 1997 to allow it to make a timely contribution to the special session of the General Assembly to review the implementation of Agenda 21.

Detailed work plans were being developed by UNEP and the intention was to go ahead with their implementation on 1 January 1996, he said. "The question is: does our financial situation allow for a fully fledged implementation to be started at that date?" A lack of a sufficient financial support might well frustrate UNEP's efforts to secure the environmental dimension in the debate and action following the Rio Conference. Achieving sustainable development would thus risk becoming empty rhetoric. The Governing Council had called upon all governments to contribute or to increase their contributions to the Environment Fund. He wished to stress that call.

SAMUEL A. NYAMBI, Director of the Office to Combat Desertification and Drought, introduced the report on those issues. He said arrangements had been put into place for a new Office, to serve as the central entity within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in spearheading the work of the Organization on desertification and drought in all affected regions. As decided by Economic and Social Council decision 95/24, the Office would henceforth be called Office to Combat Desertification and Drought, instead of United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office (UNSO) as in the past.

He said the Convention to Combat Desertification provided a legal framework that if complied with would lead to positive results in efforts to combat desertification and drought. Resources contributed and activities initiated to date were far below what was needed to combat land degradation. It was urgent that efforts be made to address the needs of developing countries affected by those problems. The provision for the establishment of a Global Mechanism, an innovative concept provided by the Convention, deserved full support. The UNDP and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) had expressed their preparedness to host that Mechanism.

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Statements Made

HEHERSON ALVAREZ (Philippines), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the enthusiasm that had characterized the preparatory process of UNCED and was so overwhelming at the Rio conference itself had diminished. The eagerness of the developing countries to start with environment protection related activities as called for in Agenda 21, had been stalled by lack of financial resources. The developing countries were being subjected to restrictive trade under the guise of environmental protection, although the Rio commitments on financial resources, trade and transfer of environmentally sound technologies had yet to be fulfilled.

Economic and social development as well as poverty eradication, which were overriding priorities for developing countries, could only be achieved through the provision of substantive new and additional financial resources; improved market access; resolution of the debt problem and encouragement of foreign investment. The developing countries would like to see the prompt and full implementation of the commitments made at UNCED.

He said the fifth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development should be devoted primarily to the preparations for the 1997 special session of the General Assembly. The preparatory process should begin as soon as possible, and documents made available in a timely manner. The developing countries reaffirmed the central role of UNEP as the principal body to analyse, coordinate and stimulate United Nations-system action on environment issues. They welcomed the improved arrangements for closer coordination between UNEP and the Commission and hoped that would result in the greater efficiency and effectiveness of their work. The voluminous tasks entrusted to UNEP should be supported by increased resources.

The developing countries also called for access to and transfer of appropriate biotechnologies to enable them to share in the benefits of the use of biological resources. There was need, they also said, to examine ways for the effective protection, compensation and use of traditional forest-related knowledge, innovations and practices of forest dwellers, indigenous people and other local communities. They called for the early signing and ratification of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought.

MIGUEL AGUIRRE de CARCER (Spain), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the Union would continue to work for further progress within the United Nations in support of greater international cooperation for the environment and sustainable development. It considered that the outcome of the 1997 special session of the General Assembly on Agenda 21 should be a negotiated political declaration which would set out future actions and priorities to promote sustainable development. A disproportionate attention should not be imposed on the session. A role should be envisaged for the Economic and Social Council in considering institutional matters.

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The European Union believed that discussion of the substantive issues relating to the special session should be taken up at a later stage; and that the high political profile achieved by the Commission on Sustainable Development would be reflected in the special session. The priorities identified at the eighteenth session of the Governing Council of UNEP for the agency's future work should allow for a more focused and effective delivery of its work programme. The Union reaffirmed the importance it attached to providing effective support to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

He expressed the hope that the global programme of action for the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities, to be adopted at the intergovernmental conference which was to take place in Washington, D.C., shortly, would be broadly supported and implemented as soon as possible. The Union, further supported the early entry into force of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought. It also reaffirmed its strong commitment towards the full implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

MAHINDA SARMARASINGHE (Sri Lanka) stressed his country's commitment to implement sustainable development. He supported actions by the international community in that regard, especially those relating to the implementation of Agenda 21. Sri Lanka had established institutional mechanisms to help in the implementation of the Rio commitments. Despite those commitments, developing countries' problems had not abated, particularly concerning the transfer of technology.

A system of social justice was essential to sustainable development, he said. It would be a luxury for developing countries to tackle ecological issues while they faced poverty and high unemployment. Ecological issues were more popular at times of economic prosperity. Thus, developing countries must be helped to attain such prosperity. Popular participation was actively encouraged in Sri Lanka in sustainable development projects. There was a need to develop a global multifaceted strategy to address the problems hampering the implementation of Agenda 21. The importance of the 1997 special session of the Assembly on the Agenda's implementation could not be overemphasized.

MARJORIE ULLOA (Ecuador), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela), said that desertification and drought, although serious in Africa, was beginning to increase in other parts of the world, including Latin America. That was leading to an increase in malnutrition and infant mortality, among other problems. The Rio Group had actively participated in the negotiations of the Convention to Combat Desertification. She stressed that support could not be confined to one region, particularly concerning financial resources. It would not be a good idea to wait five or 10 years and then establish an emergency programme for

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Latin America to deal with desertification problems. The Rio Group reaffirmed its willingness to participate constructively in the implementation on the Convention.

She went on to say Latin America was involved in all matters relating to the Convention on Biological Diversity. She urged the second meeting of the Conference of the parties, to be held next month, to include in its final decisions proposals relating to biodiversity adopted by regional meetings held in Latin America, including the Ninth Meeting of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean. She called for the drafting of a protocol on biological security relating to developments in biotechnology and regulation of those activities. The negotiations on that protocol should not be used as a pretext to hamper the access to and the transfer of biotechnology to developing countries, she added.

ESPEN RENNEBERG (Marshall Islands) said he associated his country with the statement of the Group of 77 and China. The Pacific Island countries had made regional cooperation their modus operandi on most environmental issues. Under biodiversity and climate change, they had begun implementing two regional programmes. They were grateful for the creation of a small island developing States unit within the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development.

He would like to see the implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action included in the priority issues of the 1997 special session of the General Assembly. That session should also take stock of the performance of the Commission on Sustainable Development and how its work could be improved.

VLADIMIR M. ZIMIANIN (Russian Federation) said his delegation agreed with the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development concerning the forthcoming special session of the General Assembly. High-level involvement in the session was necessary. He supported separate organizational meetings to prepare for the session, and also welcomed the proposal to hold the session in June 1997. He fully shared the approach to the session set out in the report of the Secretary-General. The scientific and academic community, as well as the private sector, should be involved in the session.

GERARDO LOZANO (Mexico) said the fruits of the 1992 Rio UNCED were now being seen. Never before had the United Nations activities relating to the environment been so intense. The strategies adopted at Rio should be seen as part of the broader framework for sustainable development. The integrated approach to environmental issues had implications for peace and security, he stated, adding that much still remained to be done. Three years after Rio some of the principles relating to economic and social development had still not fully come into their own.

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Concerning trade, the environment protection argument was still being used to protect economic interests, he said. In its national development plans, Mexico looked to achieve an equilibrium between economic, social and environmental protection objectives in order to avoid environmental degradation. In doing so, it took into account the different environmental situations in the various regions. Mexico also looked to achieving sustainable use of its natural resources as a basic condition for tackling its environmental problems. His country would continue to participate in international efforts to elaborate instruments and rules relating to the environment.

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