THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY PUBLIC FORUM
Press Release
UNU/165
THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY PUBLIC FORUM
19951101 Topic to be Defining and Measuring Sustainability: The Biogeophysical FoundationsThe United Nations University (UNU) will hold its next public forum on Tuesday, 7 November 1995, from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. in the Dag Hammarskjold Library auditorium. The forum's topic will be "Defining and Measuring Sustainability: The Biogeophysical Foundations". Walter Shearer, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations, will be the guest speaker. Staff of the United Nations Secretariat and permanent missions, as well as United Nations press representatives are invited to attend.
Mr. Shearer's presentation will be based upon a recent study jointly undertaken by the UNU and the World Bank with the primary aims of exploring the prospects of establishing a scientifically rigorous definition and set of measures for sustainability, and providing useful policy considerations for the international development community. The motivation for the study derives from the age-old concern about humanity's impact on the environment and the ultimate carrying capacity of the earth.
A volume emanating from the study has been published by the UNU and the World Bank. The contributions to the volume are organized into the following sections: (1) major issues that affect all ecosystems in relation to biogeophysical sustainability, including the key concepts and terminology of sustainable development, limits to the sustainable use of resources, cumulative effects, and atmosphere and climate; (2) case studies of locations where the environment and society's reactions have been examined in great depth by specialists; and (3) reports on a variety of managed ecosystems for which leading scientists had provided their expert opinion on the current status of biogeophysical indicators of sustainability.
The UNU's public forum series is intended to make available the results of UNU research on issues of relevance to the United Nations system in an effort to stimulate discussions on policy alternatives. Future sessions were expected to focus on multilateralism and the United Nations system, and matters related to An Agenda for Development and An Agenda for Peace. Dates were to be announced in the near future.
Further information on "Defining and Measuring Sustainability: The Biogeophysical Foundations" and the public forum series may be obtained from the United Nations University, Office in North America Tel: 212-963-6387; Fax: 212-371-9454; E-mail: unuona@igc.apc.org
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