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                                                            E/1998/29
                                                      E/CN.17/1998/20


                            United Nations
              

                Commission on Sustainable Development
       
       
                    Report on the Sixth Session
              (22 December 1997 and 20 April 1 May 1998)
       
       
                    Economic and Social Council
                      Official Records, 1998
                         Supplement No. 9
       
       
                 United Nations - New York, 1998


Note:  Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters
combined with figures.

                         ISSN 1020-3559

         
Contents

  Chapter                                                       Page

   I.  Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social 
       Council or brought to its attention . . . . . . . . . .    1

       A.  Draft decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    1

           I.  Consumer protection guidelines for sustainable 
               consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    1

          II.  Matters relating to the third session of the 
               Intergovernmental Forum on Forests. . . . . . .    1

         III.  Report of the Commission on Sustainable 
               Development on its sixth session and
               provisional agenda for the seventh session of 
               the Commission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2

       B.  Matters brought to the attention of the Council . .    2

           Decision 6/1.  Strategic approaches to freshwater 
                          management . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2

           Decision 6/2.  Industry and sustainable development   14

           Decision 6/3.  Transfer of environmentally sound 
                          technology, capacity-building,
                          education and public awareness and 
                          science for sustainable development    29

           Decision 6/4.  Review of the implementation of the 
                          Programme of Action for the
                          Sustainable Development of Small 
                          Island Developing States . . . . . .   40

           Decision 6/5.  Information provided by Governments 
                          and exchange of national experiences   50

           Decision 6/6.  Matters related to the 
                          inter-sessional work of the Commission 52

  II.  Chairman's summary of the industry segment of the sixth 
       session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. .   53

 III.  Chairman's summary of the high-level segment of the 
       sixth session of the Commission on Sustainable 
       Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   62

  IV.  Sectoral theme: strategic approaches to freshwater 
       management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   69

   V.  Cross-sectoral theme: transfer of technology, 
       capacity-building, education, science and
       awareness-raising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   72

  VI.  Economic sector/major group: industry . . . . . . . . .   74

 VII.  Review of progress in the implementation of the 
       Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of 
       Small Island Developing States. . . . . . . . . . . . .   75

VIII.  High-level meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   77

  IX.  Other matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   80

   X.  Provisional agenda for the seventh session of the 
       Commission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   82

  XI.  Adoption of the report of the Commission on its 
       sixth session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   83

 XII.  Organization of the session . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   84           

                                                      
       A.  Opening and duration of the session . . . . . . . .   84           

                                                      
       B.  Attendance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   84           

                                                      
       C.  Election of officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   84           

                                                      
       D.  Agenda and organization of work . . . . . . . . . .   85           

                                                      
       E.  Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   85           

                                                      
Annexes

       I.  Attendance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   86           

                                                      
      II.  List of documents before the Commission at its 
           sixth session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   93           

                                                      
Chapter I


         Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council
                        or brought to its attention


             A.    Draft decisions


         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development recommends to the
Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decisions:


                           DRAFT DECISION I
       
       Consumer protection guidelines for sustainable consumption *

             (*  For the discussion, see chap. IX below.)


            The Economic and Social Council, recalling its resolution
1997/53 of 23 July 1997 on consumer protection:

            (a)    Notes with appreciation the organization of the
Interregional Expert Group Meeting on Consumer Protection and
Sustainable Consumption, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1/ and the
specific recommendations of that meeting on new guidelines, as
requested in resolution 1997/53;

            (b)    Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;

            (c)    Invites Governments to undertake national
consultations, with appropriate stakeholder groups, including consumer
organizations and representatives of business, trade unions and
non-governmental organizations, on guidelines for sustainable
consumption, and to submit their views on the proposed new guidelines
to the Secretariat so that they can be made available to all
Governments;

            (d)    Invites the Bureau of the Commission on Sustainable
Development to organize, within existing resources, open-ended
consultations among States and to report thereon to the
Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group for its consideration, having
regard to the report of the Secretary-General; 2/

            (e)    Requests the Commission to report to the Council at
its substantive session of 1999 on guidelines for sustainable
consumption.


                        DRAFT DECISION II
       
         Matters relating to the third session of the
             Intergovernmental Forum on Forests*

         (*  For the discussion, see chap. IX below.)
      
            The Economic and Social Council approves the request of
the Commission on Sustainable Development to hold the third session of
the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests at Geneva from 3 to 14 May
1999.


                       DRAFT DECISION III
       
       Report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its
      sixth session and provisional agenda for the seventh session 
                       of the Commission *

            (* For the discussion, see chap.X below.)
            
            The Economic and Social Council takes note of the report
of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its sixth session and
approves the provisional agenda for the seventh session of the
Commission set out below.


   Provisional agenda for the seventh session of the Commission on
                      Sustainable Development


         1. Election of officers.

         2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

         3. Sectoral theme: oceans and seas.

         4. Cross-sectoral theme: consumption and production patterns,
            including recommendations for sustainable consumption for
            inclusion in the United Nations guidelines for consumer
            protection as requested by the Economic and Social Council
            in its resolution 1997/53.

         5. Economic sector/major group: tourism.

         6. Comprehensive review of the Programme of Action for the
            Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

         7. Initiation of preparations for the ninth session of the
            Commission on issues related to the sectoral theme:
            energy.

         8. High-level meeting.

         9. Other matters.

        10. Provisional agenda for the eighth session of the
            Commission.

        11. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its seventh
            session.


         B.   Matters brought to the attention of the Council

         2. The attention of the Council is drawn to the following
decisions adopted by the Commission:


      Decision 6/1. Strategic approaches to freshwater management **

            (** For the discussion, see chap.IV below.)

         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development, having
considered the reports of the Secretary-General on strategic
approaches to freshwater management 3/ and on the activities
of the organizations of the United Nations system in the field of 
freshwater resources, 4/ welcomes the report of the Inter-sessional Ad
Hoc Working Group on Strategic Approaches to Freshwater Management 5/
and the report of the Expert Group Meeting on Strategic
Approaches to Freshwater Management, held at Harare from 27 to 30
January 1998, 6/ and takes note of the outcome of the International
Dialogue Forum on Global Water Politics, Cooperation for Transboundary
Water Management, convened by the Government of Germany at Petersberg,
near Bonn, from 3 to 5 March 1998 7/ and of the International Conference on
Water and Sustainable Development, convened by the Government of France in
Paris from 19 to 21 March 1998. 8/

         2. The objectives of sustainable development and the links
among its three components -- economic and social development and
environmental protection -- were clearly articulated in Agenda 21 9/ and
the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. 10/ The specific
decisions and policy recommendations concerning the application of
integrated approaches to the development, management, use and
protection of freshwater resources as elaborated in chapter 18 of
Agenda 21 and the seven key areas contained in that chapter continue
to be a fundamental basis for action and shall be implemented in
accordance with the specific characteristics of each country.

         3. In this regard, the Commission reaffirms that water
resources are essential for satisfying basic human needs, health and food
production, energy, and the restoration and maintenance of ecosystems, and for
social and economic development in general. Agriculture accounts for a major
part of global freshwater use. It is imperative that freshwater resources
development, use, management and protection be planned in an integrated
manner, taking into account both short- and long-term needs. Consequently, the
priority to be accorded to the social dimension of freshwater management is of
fundamental importance. This should be reflected in an integrated approach to
freshwater in order to be coherent, aimed at achieving truly people-centred
sustainable development in accordance with their local conditions. It is
important that consideration of equitable and responsible use of water become
an integral part in the formulation of strategic approaches to integrated
water management at all levels, in particular in addressing the problems of
people living in poverty. The development, management, protection and use
of water so as to contribute to the eradication of poverty and the promotion
of food security is an exceptionally important goal. The role of groundwater;
rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands; estuaries and the sea; and forests, other
vegetation and other parts of their ecosystems in the water cycle and their
importance to water quality and quantity should be acknowledged and protected.
Another set of crucial issues relates to the links between water quality,
sanitation and protection of human health.

         4. Since 1992, marked improvements in water quality have
occurred in a number of river basins and groundwater aquifers where pressures
for action have been strong. However, overall progress has been neither
sufficient nor comprehensive enough to reduce general trends of increasing
water shortages, deteriorating water quality and growing stress on
freshwater ecosystems and on the natural hydrological cycle. Water must not
become a limiting factor for sustainable development and human welfare. A
series of potential water-related problems can be averted if appropriate
action is taken now towards an integrated approach to the efficient use,
development, management, protection and use of freshwater resources.

         5. Competition for limited freshwater increasingly occurs
between agricultural, rural, urban, industrial and environmental uses. In
adopting the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, 11/ in
particular its paragraph 34, the General Assembly recognized the importance of
taking into account, while dealing with freshwater development and management,
the differing level of socio-economic development prevalent in developing
countries. The Assembly recognized, inter alia, the urgent need to formulate
and implement national policies of integrated watershed management in a fully
participatory manner aimed at achieving and integrating economic, social
and environmental objectives of sustainable development. In addition to
agreeing to those strategic principles, the Assembly also recognized the
urgent need to strengthen international cooperation to support local, national
and regional action, in particular in the fields of environment and
development, safe water supply and sanitation, food security and agricultural
production, energy, flood and drought management, and recycling, through
efforts in such areas as information exchange, capacity-building, technology
transfer and financing.

         6. The process called for in the Programme for the Further
Implementation of Agenda 21 should focus on fostering and supporting national,
regional and international action in those areas where goals and objectives
have been defined; on the identification of existing gaps and emerging issues;
on the development of education and learning systems and also on building
global consensus where further understanding is required; and on promoting
greater coordination in approaches by the United Nations and relevant
international institutions, particularly in support of national implementation
policies and development.

         7. The implementation of integrated water resources development,
management, protection and use requires action at all levels, with the
technical and financial support of the international community. Those actions
should be closely related to other areas of natural resources management,
including biodiversity, the coastal zone, agriculture, land, forestry and
mountain development. Effective integrated water resources management
should incorporate approaches dealing with river basins, watershed management
and ecosystem maintenance, where decision-making needs to be supported by
education.

         8. There is a need to put in place local and national
management plans to bring about productive and sustainable interactions
between human activities and the ecological functioning of freshwater systems
based on the natural hydrological cycle, with the technical and financial
support of the international community. Such plans need to minimize the
adverse impacts of human activities on wetlands and coastal areas, estuarine
and marine environments, and in mountainous areas, and to reduce
potential losses from droughts and floods, erosion, desertification and
natural disasters. Furthermore, sanitation, pollution prevention,
proliferation of aquatic weeds, especially water hyacinth, and the treatment
and recycling of waste water need to be addressed.

         9. Local integrated water management plans require detailed
assessment of water resources requirements, including the exact nature of the
demands and an estimate of the catchment yield. In this regard, there is a
need to reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and
consumption and to promote appropriate demographic policies.

         10.   The Commission therefore:

            (a)    Urges Governments, with the technical and financial
support of the international community, where appropriate, to address the
numerous gaps identified in the path towards integrated water resources
development management, protection and use. Areas that require further
attention include (i) meeting basic health education needs and raising
awareness of the scope and function of surface and groundwater
resources; (ii) the need for human resources development and participatory
approaches, notably including women and local communities and integrating
freshwater issues into local Agenda 21 processes; (iii) the role of ecosystems
in the provision of goods and services; (iv) balancing structural and
non-structural approaches; (v) explicit linkages with socio-economic
development, for equitable utilization and efficient freshwater allocation and
use; (vi) improved sanitation and waste-water treatment and recycling; (vii)
conserving the biological diversity of freshwater ecosystems; (viii)
conservation and sustainable use of wetlands; (ix) the understanding of
hydrology and the capacity to assess the availability and variability of
water resources; (x) mobilization of financial resources and mainstreaming of
gender issues into all aspects of water resources management; and (xi)
wasteful water usage. Strategic and integrated actions are still needed in
order to adapt to ever-changing social and environmental circumstances and to
address fundamental concerns for combating poverty, ensuring adequate
provision of public health, food security and energy, and to protect the
environment better. International cooperation and action needs to address
effectively the above issues, building on existing consensus for the
successful implementation of integrated water resources development,
management, protection and use;

            (b)    Encourages riparian States to cooperate on matters
related to international watercourses, whether transboundary or boundary,
taking into account appropriate arrangements and/or mechanisms and the
interests of all riparian States concerned, relevant to effective development,
management, protection and use of water resources;

            (c)    Encourages riparian States, on the basis of mutual
agreement and the common interest of all riparian States concerned, to
establish, where appropriate, organizations at the river basin level for the
implementation of water management programmes. Within its existing guidelines,
the Global Environment Facility is invited to consider supporting such
developments as part of its international water portfolio. All these actions
should be complemented by activities to support effective national water
policies and strategies in the developing countries affected by
desertification and drought, particularly those in Africa;

            (d)    Encourages Governments, at the appropriate level,
in accordance with the specific characteristics of each country, to formulate
and publish the main goals, long- and short-term objectives and general
principles of water policies and implement them by means of comprehensive
programmes. The implementation of local or national programmes should
form an important part of the local Agenda 21 approach;

            (e)    Encourages Governments, at the appropriate level,
while formulating integrated water resources management policies and
programmes to implement relevant conventions in force. In particular, the
relevant conventions on biological diversity, desertification, climate change,
and wetlands and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora need to be considered. In addition, consideration
should be given, as appropriate, to relevant recommendations and/or
programmes of action emanating from a number of major international
conferences and events. 12/ Furthermore, in formulating such policies, the
Commission invites Governments to address the need for achieving universal
access to water supply and sanitation, with poverty eradication being
one of the objectives, taking into account, in particular, chapter 18 of
Agenda 21 and relevant recommendations of conferences and events;

            (f)    Recognizes that expert meetings as well as
international conferences provided useful information and valuable inputs for
intergovernmental deliberations and negotiations at the sixth session of the
Commission, and the importance of more such meetings being held in developing
countries. Invites Governments to consider, as appropriate, the key
recommendations stemming from the report of the Expert Group Meeting on
Strategic Approaches to Freshwater Management, held at Harare, and the
outcome of the International Conference on Water and Sustainable Development,
held in Paris.


              A.   Information and data for decision-making


         11.   Information and data are key elements for assisting in
the management and use of water resources and in the protection of the
environment. All States, according to their capacity and available resources,
are encouraged to collect, store, process and analyse water-related data in a
transparent manner and to make such data and forecasts publicly available in
the framework of a participatory approach. Because women have a particular
role in utilizing and conserving water resources on a daily basis, their
knowledge and experience should be considered as a component of any
sustainable water management programme.

         12.   The Commission therefore:

            (a)    Encourages Governments to establish and maintain
effective information and monitoring networks and further promote the exchange
and dissemination of information relevant for policy formulation, planning,
investment and operational decisions, including data collected based on gender
differences, where appropriate, regarding both surface water and groundwater,
and quantity, quality and uses, as well as related ecosystems, and to
harmonize data collection at the local catchment and the basin/aquifer levels.
Information concerning all relevant factors affecting demand is also
essential;

            (b)    Stresses that effective management of water
resources demands that attention be paid to essential activities, all of which
require fundamental knowledge about water resources as well as information
about water quality, quantity and uses, including (i) water resources planning
and watershed management at local and national levels; (ii) regulatory
activities; (iii) investments in infrastructure and technologies for remedying
and preventing pollution; and (iv) education and training;

            (c)    Encourages Governments to facilitate the collection
and dissemination of water data and documentation that enhances public
awareness of important water-related issues, to improve the understanding of
meteorology and processes related to water quantity and quality and the
functioning of ecosystems, and to strengthen relevant information systems
for forecasting and managing uncertainty regarding water resources. Such
efforts on the part of developing countries, particularly the least
developed countries, require support from the international community;

            (d)    Encourages Governments to design programmes aimed
at increasing public awareness on the need to conserve, protect and use water
sustainably and allow local communities to participate in monitoring of
water-related indicators. This information should then be made available for
community participation in decision-making;

            (e)    Also encourages Governments, taking into account
their financial and human resources, to develop and implement national and
local water-related indicators of progress in achieving integrated water
resources management, including water quality and quantity objectives, taking
into account ongoing work of the Commission on indicators of sustainable
development. In addition, in accordance with their policies, priorities and
resources, Governments may find it useful to carry out national water quality
and quantity inventories for surface water and groundwater, including the
identification of gaps in available information;

            (f)    Invites Governments to establish or strengthen
mechanisms for consultations on drought and flood preparedness and early
warning systems and mitigation plans at all appropriate levels. Governments
are encouraged to consider the establishment of rapid intervention systems to
ensure that individuals and communities can be assisted in recovering from
damage that they suffer from such extreme events. At the international
level, in particular, there is the need to maintain support of these
activities at the conclusion of the International Decade for Natural Disaster
Reduction;

            (g)    Calls upon the international community, including
the United Nations system, to support national efforts in information and data
collection and dissemination through coordinated and differentiated action. In
particular in their respective fields, United Nations agencies and programmes
and other international bodies should support Governments in the development
and coordination of relevant data and information networks at the
appropriate level, carry out periodic global assessments and analyses of water
resources availability (both quality and quantity) and changes in demand,
assist in identifying water-related problems and environmental issues, and
promote the broadest exchange and dissemination of relevant information, in
particular to developing countries. Encourages access to, and exchange of,
information in user-friendly formats based on terminology easily understood.


           B.   Institutions, capacity-building and participation


         13.   The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Urges Governments to establish national
coordination mechanisms across all sectors, as already envisaged in the Mar
del Plata Action Plan, 13/ providing for contributions from government and
public authorities and the participation of civil society, including
communities affected, in the formulation and implementation of integrated
water resources development and management plans and policies. Such
mechanisms should also provide for participation by communities and water
users. This involves the participation at the appropriate levels, of water
users and the public in planning, implementing and evaluating water resources
activities. It is particularly important to broaden women's participation
and integrate gender analysis in water planning;

            (b)    Invites Governments to take the necessary steps to
establish legislative and regulatory frameworks -- and to improve such
frameworks where they exist -- to facilitate integrated water resources
management and strategies, including both demand and supply management as well
as the links with the management of land use, taking into account the
need to build capacity to apply and enforce such frameworks. Each Government
needs to define its relevant functions and distinguish between those
related to standards, regulation-setting and control, on the one hand,
and the direct management and provision of services, on the other;

            (c)    Encourages Governments to consider how best to
devolve responsibilities to the lowest appropriate level for the organization
and management of public water supply, sanitation services and irrigation
systems, as well as water resources management within the framework of
national water policies;

            (d)    Urges Governments to strengthen institutional and
human capacities at the national, subnational and local levels, in view of the
complexity of implementing integrated water resources development and
management strategies, particularly in large urban settlements. This could be
done through local Agenda 21 processes, where they exist. Effective water
resources development, management and protection requires appropriate
tools for educating and training water management staff and water users at all
levels and for ensuring that women, youth, indigenous people and local
communities have equal access to education and training programmes. Design of
these programmes should be done in cooperation with stakeholders;

            (e)    Encourages Governments to establish an enabling
environment to facilitate partnerships between the public and private sectors
and non-governmental organizations, aiming towards improved local capacity to
protect water resources, through educational programmes and public access to
information. At the global level, appropriate existing mechanisms can provide
a universal forum for debate and the development of ideas. The pivotal role of
women should be reflected in institutional arrangements for the development,
management, protection and use of water resources. There is a need to
strengthen the role of women, who should have an equal voice with regard to
water resources development, management, protection and use and in the sharing
of benefits;

            (f)    Encourages public authorities, public and private
companies and non-governmental organizations dealing with the
formulation, arrangement and financing of water resources programmes to engage
in a dialogue with users. This dialogue requires the sharing of information
with interested parties regarding the sustainable use of water and
relationships with land use, public access to information and data, and
discussions on objectives and implementation modalities, in accordance with
the national legislation of each country;

            (g)    Calls upon the international community, in particular the
organizations of the United Nations system, especially the United Nations
Development Programme, to strengthen capacity-building programmes, taking into
account the special needs of developing countries, in particular the least
developed countries, and the specific circumstances of small island developing
States, in areas such as training, institutional development and the
participation of women, youth, indigenous people and local communities in
support of national efforts in this field.


              C.   Technology transfer and research cooperation


         14.   The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Encourages Governments to remove impediments to and
stimulate research and development cooperation, together with the development
of technologies for sustainable water management and use, and to increase
efficiency, reduce pollution and proliferation of aquatic weeds, especially
water hyacinths, and promote sustainable agriculture and food production
systems. This also applies in the areas of desalination, brackish water
treatment, waste-water treatment, management of wetlands, drainage water
reuse, improving the chemical quality of groundwater, including the treatment
of arsenic and other harmful heavy metals, and desert dew catchment, and in
the use of remote sensing techniques and other relevant modern technologies in
order to help increase the supplies of freshwater. All this involves the
adaptation and diffusion of new and innovative techniques and technologies,
both private and public, and the transfer of technologies to developing
countries. In this context, the Commission urges developed countries to
strengthen research cooperation and to promote, facilitate and finance, as
appropriate, the access to and transfer of environmentally sound technologies
and the corresponding know-how to developing countries on favourable terms,
including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking
into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, as well as the
special needs of developing countries for the implementation of Agenda 21;

            (b)    Urges Governments, industry and international
organizations to promote technology transfer and research cooperation to
foster sustainable agricultural practices that promote efficient water use and
reduce pollution of surface water and groundwater. These technologies should
include the improvement of crops grown on marginal sites, erosion control
practices and the adaptation of farming systems. They should also improve
water use efficiency in irrigated areas and improve the adaptation and
productivity of drought-tolerant crop species. Farmer participation in farm
research, irrigation projects and watershed management should be encouraged.
Research results and technologies should be available to both small and large
producers; 

            (c)    Urges Governments to promote innovative approaches
to technology cooperation projects involving partnerships between the
public and private sectors within an effective framework of regulation and
supervision;

            (d)    Calls upon all relevant parties to develop and
implement best practices and appropriate technologies, taking into account the
local conditions, in the area of water development, management, protection and
use. Codes of conduct, guidelines and other voluntary agreements can enhance
the positive role that industry and agriculture can play and should cover the
activities of companies operating and investing outside their home countries;

            (e)    Encourages Governments to make the best use of
national, regional and international environmentally appropriate technology
centres. The use of local and traditional technology and knowledge should be
promoted and South/South cooperation encouraged;

            (f)    Encourages Governments to develop programmes linked
to education, especially those relating to water and land management. Water
and land users and managers alike need to become more aware of the need to
control wastage and factors affecting demand and supply, to realize the
scarcity value of water, water-borne diseases and pollution, soil
erosion and deterioration, sedimentation and environmental protection;

            (g)    Urges donor countries and international
organizations to intensify their efforts and to accelerate their technical
assistance programmes to developing countries, aimed at facilitating the
transfer and diffusion of appropriate technologies. The United Nations
system, as well as regional groupings, have an important role to play in
facilitating the contact between those in need of assistance and those able to
provide it. Less formal arrangements may also have a role to play.


              D.   Financial resources and mechanisms


         15.   The Commission reaffirms that, as stated in the
Programme of Action for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the current
intergovernmental process on freshwater resources can only be fully fruitful
if there is a proved commitment by the international community for the
provision of new and additional financial resources to developing
countries, in particular to the least developed countries, for the goals of
this initiative. Such financial resources, from all sources, need to be
mobilized for the development, management, protection and use of freshwater
resources if the broader aims of sustainable development are to be realized,
particularly in relation to poverty eradication. The effective and efficient
use of resources currently allocated to the freshwater sector is also
important and could contribute in helping to increase financial flows
from both the public and the private sector.

         16.   Official development assistance should be provided for
and complement, inter alia, programmes and frameworks for promoting integrated
water resources development, management, protection and use that (a) meet
basic needs; (b) safeguard public health; (c) promote sustainable development
and conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems; and (d) build capacity.
Donors, including multilateral donor institutions, should be ready
to continue, or even reinforce, the support for programmes and projects in the
water sector that will contribute to eradicating poverty. In this context,
the Commission recalls that all financial commitments of Agenda 21,
particularly those contained in chapter 33, and the provisions with regard to
new and additional resources that are both adequate and predictable need to be
urgently fulfilled. Projects supported by donors should, where appropriate and
possible, become financially self-sustaining. Donors should also continue
to support the freshwater issues that are related to desertification, loss of
biodiversity, loss of wetlands, drought, floods and climate change.

         17.   The private sector represents one of the growing sources of
investment in the water sector. Local and national water management systems
should be designed in ways that encourage public and private partnerships. It
is important to ensure that water management systems are organized so that
they will be sustainable and, once established, can support themselves. It is
important to encourage the participation of the private sector within the
framework of appropriate national policies. The adoption of enabling financial
frameworks contributes to promoting the mobilization of private sector
finance. Official development assistance has an important role in assisting
developing countries to adopt appropriate policy frameworks for water
resources management.

         18.   For developing countries, the role of government
regulation in the allocation of freshwater resources remains important.
Resources should be allocated and costs met in an accountable and transparent
manner. Costs should be covered either through cost recovery or from public
sector budgets. Cost recovery could be gradually phased in by water utilities
or the public authorities, taking into account the specific conditions of each
country. Transparent subsidies for specific groups, particularly people living
in poverty, are required in some countries. Governments could benefit
from sharing experience in this regard. Incentives may be necessary to promote
land use practices appropriate to local conditions in order to protect or
rehabilitate freshwater resources of particularly sensitive areas, such as
mountainous regions and other fragile ecosystems.

         19.   The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Invites Governments to strengthen consultative
mechanisms between bilateral and multilateral donors and recipient States
aimed at improving or preparing schemes for the mobilization of financial
resources in a predictable manner, for meeting the need of priority areas
based on local and national programmes of action, with a special focus on
integrated water resources development, management, protection and use, while
recognizing the needs of vulnerable groups and people living in poverty;

            (b)    Calls for initiatives to be undertaken to help
identify and mobilize more resources -- human, technical (know-how) and
financial -- and take into account the 20/20 initiative, especially in the
programme of poverty eradication, in accordance with national policies and in
the light of specific provisions and commitments on resources related to
water issues made at recent United Nations conferences. 14/ A fundamental aim
must be to promote the generation of the resources needed for economically and
environmentally sound water supply and recycling, irrigation, energy,
sanitation and water management systems, including the control of aquatic
weeds, especially water hyacinths, and their efficient and effective
deployment;

            (c)    Invites Governments to allocate sufficient public
financial resources for the provision of safe and sustainable water supply and
sanitation to meet basic human needs and for waste-water treatment. These
resources should be complementary to the technical and financial support of
the international community;

            (d)    Urges Governments, when using economic instruments
for guiding the allocation of water, to take into particular account the needs
of vulnerable groups, children, local communities and people living in
poverty, as well as environmental requirements, efficiency, transparency,
equity and, in the light of the specific conditions of each country,
at the national and local levels, the polluter-pays principle. Such
instruments need to recognize the special role of women in relation to water
in many societies;

            (e)    Urges Governments to initiate a review of existing
financial support arrangements in order to enhance their efficiency and
effectiveness. Such a review should aim at the mobilization of financial
resources from all sources, particularly international financial resources, in
a predictable manner, based on local and national action plans, with
a specific focus on integrated water resources development, management, use
and protection programmes and policies. In this context, both formal and
informal arrangements could have a role to play. International financial
support will continue to be important to the development of local and national
water management systems. Governments, with the technical and financial
support of the international community, need to promote the economic, social
and environmental values provided by ecosystems and examine the short-
and long-term cost of their degradation;

            (f)    Calls upon the international community to intensify
its efforts and to consider new initiatives, within appropriate existing
mechanisms, for mobilizing financial resources to promote efforts of
developing countries in the integrated management, development, distribution,
protection and use of water resources. Particular attention should be given
to the following aspects:

                      (i)    Promoting more effective donor
coordination and more effective and creative use of existing resources;

                      (ii)   Generation of new and additional financial
resources from all sources;

                      (iii)  Identification of appropriate sources of
direct grants and loans on concessional terms;

                      (iv)   Quantification of the resources required
to meet the needs of developing countries;

                      (v)    Resources contributions by industrialized
countries and international financial institutions, including regional
institutions;

                      (vi)   Formulation of financial strategies that
include possible partnerships with non-governmental organizations and
the private sector and the promotion of conditions for increased private
financial flows;

                      (vii)  Strengthening of consultative mechanisms,
especially at the subregional and regional levels, by Governments and the
international community aimed at making freshwater a development priority and
at improving dialogue between industrialized and developing countries in a
well-targeted and predictable manner, based on national action plans, with a
special focus on sustainable and integrated water resources management that
recognizes the needs of all stakeholders, especially vulnerable groups and
people living in poverty. This could include exploring the potential of
new financial arrangements.


         Follow-up and assessment


         20.   The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Invites Governments to continue to provide
voluntary national communication or reports on actions they have taken towards
the development and implementation of national strategies and programmes in
integrated water resources development, management and protection. Requests
the Secretariat to continue collecting, analysing and disseminating
national information on this implementation and to ensure that data is
gender-differentiated whenever possible. Also requests the Secretariat, in
reporting to the Commission, to make a more comprehensive use of the
information already provided by Governments through their national reports and
to promote exchanges of such information and further develop relevant
databases;

            (b)    Encourages Governments to work together at
appropriate levels to improve integrated water resources management. The
overall aim should be to ensure effective arrangements for cooperation between
Governments to promote the implementation of policies and strategies at the
local and national levels. Possibilities should also be identified for joint
projects and missions;

            (c)    Recognizes the important tasks for United Nations
agencies and programmes and other international bodies in helping developing
countries to implement their integrated water resources development,
management and protection programmes and policies. It invites the Subcommittee
on Water Resources of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, as task
manager for chapter 18 of Agenda 21, to make its work more transparent
through, inter alia, regular briefings to Governments, to enhance coordination
within the United Nations system and to accelerate the implementation of
chapter 18 by considering action to, inter alia:

            (i)    Identify gaps or inconsistencies in the
implementation of programmes of its constituent organizations by assessing the
main features and effectiveness of the implementation of those activities and
ensure that the mainstreaming of gender perspectives is appropriately
included;

            (ii)   Increase efficiency in programme delivery and
possibilities for joint programming;

            (iii)  Explore the potential of cooperation arrangements
and, where appropriate, take into account the experience gained in existing
programmes in the United Nations system;

            (d)    Invites the Secretary-General to submit a report to
the Commission, prior to its eighth session, on progress of the Subcommittee
on Water Resources of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, as task
manager of chapter 18 of Agenda 21, on the activities mentioned in the above
paragraph;

            (e)    Stresses the importance of coordination of policies
and activities of the specialized agencies and other bodies of the United
Nations system related to freshwater, including clean and safe water supply
and sanitation, and, given the seriousness of the situation, emphasizes the
need to provide close attention to the effects of disposal of toxic
substances, including arsenic contamination of drinking water supplies, and
persistent organic pollutants upon water resources, as recommended by
the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1997;

            (f)    Invites the United Nations Environment Programme,
in collaboration with other relevant United Nations bodies, to play a vital
role in providing inputs through the provision of technical and scientific
advice on environmental aspects of the sustainable development of freshwater
resources. In the field of freshwater, the Programme could focus on assisting
countries, especially developing countries, in strengthening their ability in
this regard, in technology transfer and environmental institutional
strengthening and in responding to requests for assistance in strengthening
integrated river basin management. The potential of the Global Environment
Monitoring System and other relevant global monitoring networks should be
fully utilized. Such activities would provide an effective contribution
to the work of the Commission;

            (g)    Encourages Governments, in cooperation with
relevant organizations, to organize meetings aimed at identifying problems to
be resolved, articulating priorities for action and exchanging experience and
best practices and to facilitate progress in implementing the present
decision. Such meetings are invited to inform the Commission of their
conclusions in order to contribute to its work;

            (h)    Recognizes the need for periodic assessments of the
success of strategic approaches to the sustainable development, management,
protection and use of freshwater resources in achieving the goals described in
chapter 18 of Agenda 21 and for a global picture of the state of freshwater
resources and potential problems;

            (i)    Invites the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the
Administrative Committee on Coordination, as task manager for chapter 18 of
Agenda 21, to arrange the compilation and publication of such assessments.


           Decision 6/2. Industry and sustainable development *

               (* For the discussion, see chap. VI below.)


         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development reaffirmed that
in order to achieve sustainable development, Governments, in cooperation with
non-State actors, need to undertake greater efforts to integrate economic,
social and environmental goals into industrial policy and decision-making.
Towards this end, Governments need to expand and intensify cooperation with
industry, trade unions and other groups of civil society. The Commission took
note of the Chairman's summary of the industry segment of its sixth
session. The following recommendations of the Commission are based on the
report of the Secretary-General on industry and sustainable development 15/
and the report of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Industry and
Sustainable Development (see annex).


              A.   Industry and economic development


                   2. The Commission recognized that industrial policy
and responsible entrepreneurship are vital to sustainable development
strategies and should encompass a variety of interrelated economic, social and
environmental objectives, such as the encouragement of an open, competitive
economy, the creation of productive employment and the protection of the
environment.

         3. The Commission emphasized that in order to achieve the
objectives of sustainable development, Governments need to integrate economic,
social and environmental concerns in their policy-making and to promote
economic growth and international competitiveness of industry through
macroeconomic policies. The Commission agreed that, in order to
stimulate domestic private enterprise, boost economy-wide competitiveness and
attract foreign direct investment, policy reforms should aim at creating an
enabling policy environment, inter alia, through improvements in
infrastructure and education, encouragement of research and development,
facilitation of exports and liberalization of domestic markets. In this
regard, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises should receive
special attention.

                   4. The Commission stressed that for developing
countries and economies in transition, foreign direct investment is often an
important source of capital, new technologies, organization and management
methods, and access to markets. The Commission also stressed that to promote
foreign direct investment flows to developing countries, in particular to the
least developed among them, greater emphasis should be placed by the
United Nations system on promotional and information-dissemination activities
relating to investment opportunities in the developing countries. In this
respect, the programme of the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization on investment promotion has proved to be an effective instrument
for facilitating investment in developing countries and therefore should be
strengthened.

         5. The Commission emphasized that official development
assistance remains a main source of external funding, particularly for
countries in Africa and the least developed countries, and plays a significant
role, inter alia, in capacity-building, infrastructure, poverty eradication
and environmental protection in developing countries, and a crucial
role in the least developed countries.

                   6. The Commission recognized that industry plays a
critical role in technological innovations and research and development
activities, which are crucial for the economic and social development of any
country, as well as in the development, diffusion and transfer of
environmentally sound technologies and management techniques, which constitute
a key element of sustainable development.

                   7. The Commission emphasized that it was important
for the achievement of sustainable development for Governments to develop and
maintain an enabling policy framework based on a sound regulatory foundation
complemented with a judicious mix of economic instruments, voluntary
initiatives and agreements and public-private partnerships.


              B.   Industry and social development


         8. The Commission recognized that there is a mutually
reinforcing relationship between social and industrial development, and that
industrialization has the potential to promote, directly and indirectly, a
variety of social objectives such as employment creation, poverty
eradication, gender equality, labour standards, and greater access to
education and health care. In this regard, the overriding policy challenge is
to promote the positive impacts while limiting or eliminating the negative
impacts of industrial activities on social development. The Commission noted
that improved access to education and health care has, in general, been
associated with the pace of industrialization and recommended that Governments
continue to give them priority.

         9. The Commission recognized that industry contributes to
social development objectives through, inter alia, the creation of productive
employment, compliance with labour standards, corporate social initiatives and
attention to human resources development and worker welfare. Industry
continues to face such challenges, which can be addressed through better
dialogue with trade unions and Governments.

                   10.   The Commission acknowledged that, in dealing
with the problems of industrialization, social policy has not always been
gender neutral. In view of persistent gender disparities in areas such as
income, employment, education and health, Governments, industry, trade
unions, women's organizations and other organizations of civil society should
work together towards the elimination of discrimination against women.

         11.   The Commission emphasized that among the central
concerns of the international community should be the growing international
income disparities among and within countries and the risk that some countries
and groups might fall deeper into poverty and exclusion. The World Summit for
Social Development provided a strong basis for international cooperation,
including with the business community. In this regard, policies should build
on the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development. 16/


              C.   Industry and environmental protection


         12.   The Commission noted that, as the world has become more
industrialized, there have been increasing environmental pressures such as
harmful emissions and waste, which have had global, regional or local impacts.
These include, at the local level, urban air pollution, contamination of soils
and rivers and land degradation; regionally, acid rain and water and
coastal zone contamination; and globally, climate change, ozone layer
depletion, loss of biodiversity, increased movement of hazardous waste and
increased land-based marine pollution.

         13.   The Commission acknowledged that environmental
sustainability and industrial development are mutually supportive, given
appropriate technology, institutions, policies and systems of incentives.

         14.   The Commission stressed that the overriding task facing
Governments is to maximize the positive influence of industrial activities on
economic and social development, while minimizing the negative impact of
production and consumption on the environment. To this end, Governments should
review their regulatory policies and systems of economic incentives and
disincentives and undertake other actions such as capacity-building,
environmental data collection and enforcement that support the environmental
protection efforts of industry and civil society. Governments should
encourage the wider dispersion and implementation of industry's voluntary
initiatives and agreements and sharing of best practices.

         15.   The Commission called upon industry to increase its
efforts, as appropriate, in the areas of responsible entrepreneurship and
employment of various corporate management tools, including environmental
management systems and environmental reporting, to improve its environmental
performance. Governments and industry must work together to develop policies
to ensure that conformance with standards is not too costly or difficult
to achieve for companies in developing countries and for small and
medium-sized enterprises.

         16.   The Commission recognized that eco-efficiency, cost
internalization and product policies are also important tools for making
consumption and production patterns more sustainable. In this regard,
attention should be given to studies that propose to improve the efficiency of
resource use, including consideration of a tenfold improvement in resource
productivity in industrialized countries in the long term and a possible
factor of four increase in industrialized countries in the next two or three
decades. United Nations Environment Programme/United Nations Industrial
Development Organization Cleaner Production Centres have demonstrated the
compatibility between environmental protection and increased resource
productivity, and the lessons learned in these activities should be
implemented as broadly as possible.



              D.   Future work


         17.   The Commission recognized the value of the interactive
dialogue between representatives of Governments, industry, trade unions,
non-governmental organizations and international organizations in the industry
segment of its sixth session, which focused on four themes: responsible
entrepreneurship, corporate management tools, technology cooperation and
assessment, and industry and freshwater. Similar dialogues should be held
in the future, taking into account that their preparation must take place in
the intergovernmental process and with balanced representation of all major
groups from developed and developing countries.

         18.   The Commission noted the potential value of a review of
voluntary initiatives and agreements to give content and direction to the
dialogue between Governments and the representatives of industry, trade
unions, non-governmental organizations and international organizations. As a
first step, representatives of industry, trade unions and non-governmental
organizations should examine voluntary initiatives and agreements to identify
those elements that can be considered for this review. The Department of
Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat could provide
assistance in this process. Special attention should be given to the balanced
involvement in the process of representatives from all major groups from
developed and developing countries. The Secretariat should make the results of
this review available to Governments. The Commission invited the Department,
in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Agency and the United
Nations Industrial Development Organization to examine how voluntary
initiatives and agreements could contribute to the future work of the
Commission and to report on the result of this work to the
Commission at its seventh session.

                   19.   The United Nations Environment Programme is
currently undertaking work on the voluntary commitments and initiatives taken
by the financial sector that promote sustainable development. The work of the
financial sector should be further developed. The Commission underlined the
importance of such voluntary commitments and initiatives and invited the
United Nations Environment Programme to report on its work in this area.


                                 Annex

         Report of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on
                   Industry and Sustainable Development


              I.   Introduction


         1. The Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group on Industry and
Sustainable Development met in New York from 2 to 6 March 1998 in preparation
for consideration of the issue of industry and sustainable development by the
Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixth session (New York, 20 April
1 May 1998). Its discussions were based on the recommendations and proposals
for action contained in the relevant reports of the Secretary-General. 15/

         2. The outcome of the Working Group meeting is not a
negotiated text, although its contents were thoroughly discussed. In
accordance with the expert nature of the Working Group and the functions
assigned to it, the present report focuses on key issues and conclusions and
suggests elements and policy options for further consideration and
negotiation during the sixth session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development.



             II.   Industry and sustainable development


              A.   Background


         3. Agenda 21 17/ and the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development 18/ provide the fundamental framework for further policy
discussion and action on matters related to industry and sustainable
development. Although the role of business and industry, as a major group, is
specifically addressed in chapter 30, issues related to industry and economic
development, consumption and production patterns, social development and
environmental protection cut across the entirety of Agenda 21, including
its section 4, Means of implementation.

         4. Poverty eradication is central to sustainable development
strategies, and industry has a key role to play in this respect. Sustainable
industrial policy encompasses a variety of interrelated economic, social and
environmental objectives, including the encouragement of an open, competitive
economy, the creation of productive employment in order to provide sustained
increases in household income and social development, and the protection
of the natural environment through the efficient use of resources. In order to
achieve the objectives of sustainable development, Governments need to
integrate economic, social and environmental concerns into their policy and
regulatory frameworks, and industry needs to promote sustainable development
through sustainable consumption and production and responsible
entrepreneurship, in accordance with country-specific conditions.

         5. Increasing industrialization and per capita levels of
production have led to a corresponding increase in the impact of industrial
activities on the environment and health. At the local level, industrial
emissions contribute to urban air pollution and the contamination of soil and
water. At the regional level, the impact of such emissions includes
acid rain, water contamination and the contamination of coastal zones. The
major impact at the global level includes climate change, depletion of the
ozone layer and the loss of biological diversity. These environmental
challenges will be more and more shaped by growing resource and energy
demands, and the issues (like climate change) cannot be dealt with by
end-of-pipe regulation alone. Hence, the promotion of cleaner production and
improvements in environmental performance and environmentally sound
technologies and products are becoming increasingly important. Some businesses
and industries have taken significant first steps to develop, implement and
improve their policies and practices to promote sustainable development. The
implementation of environmental management systems and practices in industry
are, therefore, important. The way in which companies are able to respond
efficiently and effectively to these challenges is seen as a cornerstone
in the necessary innovation process.


              B.   General recommendations


         6. Further action is needed to adjust policy approaches that
have unintended adverse environmental or social effects and to establish a
policy framework that fosters sustainability, including encouragement to
companies of all sizes and in all sectors to integrate sustainable development
into their business strategies, planning and operations. At the macroeconomic
level environmental protection and "eco-management" can contribute to the
modernization of the economy and to creating and securing jobs in industry.

         7. Governments are encouraged to develop enabling policy
environments and undertake reforms that provide more consistent economic and
other incentives and disincentives to make markets work better and encourage
business and industry to move faster towards sustainable development. Some
policy instruments used in developed countries might be useful for the more
advanced developing countries. For others at the early stages of
industrialization, there are opportunities to integrate sustainability from
the outset. For developing countries, particularly the least developed
countries, further efforts, supported by international cooperation, will need
to be made in order to encourage capacity-building and investment in
sustainable industrial development.

         8. Since the role of the private sector has expanded in most
economies, effective sustainable development policies require constructive
dialogue and partnerships between Government at all levels, industry, trade
unions and civil society, including women's organizations. There is a need to
build and extend this dialogue. There are many good examples of the new
partnerships that are required. They include partnerships between
Government and industry to tackle global challenges like climate change,
partnerships between companies in developed and developing countries to
create and spread cleaner technologies and improved environmental management,
partnerships at national and local levels between companies and all of their
stakeholders, and increased dialogue between industry and the United Nations
system.

         9. Consistent with Agenda 21, the development and further
elaboration of national policies and strategies and integrated approaches,
particularly in industrialized countries, are needed to encourage changes in
unsustainable consumption and production patterns, while strengthening, as
appropriate, international approaches and policies that promote sustainable
consumption patterns on the basis of the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities, applying the "polluter pays" principle and
encouraging producer responsibility and greater consumer awareness.

         10.   Governments, industry and organizations of civil
society should, as appropriate, use the media, advertising, marketing and
other means to promote greater producer and consumer awareness of sustainable
development in order to encourage a shift to more sustainable consumption and
production patterns. Industrialized countries should take the lead in this
process.

         11.   Sustainable development should be encouraged with
continuous innovation and the adoption of environmentally sound technologies
to change current production and consumption patterns. The challenge is to
implement measures that will have a significant long-term impact on preventing
and mitigating pollution and resource consumption alongside continued growth
in gross domestic product. Eco-efficiency, cost internalization and policies
for products and services are important tools for making consumption and
production patterns more sustainable.

         12.   Foreign investment can play a significant and positive
role in achieving sustainable development -- for example, through the
diffusion of environmentally sound technologies, including environmental
management techniques and tools, and in capacity-building and poverty
alleviation through employment generation. It can, however, contribute to
environmental problems when undertaken with inadequate regard
to environmental, economic and social consequences. Consideration should be
given to an assessment of the implications for sustainable development of
foreign investment.

         13.   Business and industry should be encouraged to develop
and implement voluntary guidelines and codes of conduct which can help to
promote and disseminate best practices in environmentally and socially
responsible entrepreneurship, and to develop further those that already exist.
To be effective, business and industry need to develop and implement
such codes by themselves, for that will ensure their commitment to the
process. Equally important, their credibility with stakeholders requires that
the codes stimulate positive action that goes well beyond "business as usual".
Therefore, an essential element is transparency in monitoring and public
reporting of progress.

         14.   Governments at all levels, industry, trade unions and
other organizations of civil society, in particular women's organizations,
should work together towards the elimination of discrimination against women
in employment, education, property ownership and access to credit and to
ensure that women have effective equal access to economic opportunities
and social participation. Governments should ensure that their social and
industrial policies are gender-sensitive.

         15.   Particular efforts are needed to promote small and
medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurial potential, in, inter alia, the
informal sector in developing countries. Sustainable development requirements
need to be translated into concrete action for small and medium-sized
enterprises. Governments, with the support of the international
community, as appropriate, can develop policy frameworks to support
investment, including the provision of micro-credit, and access to technology
know-how and training. Large companies and transnational corporations can
provide support by working through the supply chain, including local
suppliers.

         16.   Training should be utilized by all sectors and
societies to promote cleaner production. The training should stress the
integration of economic, social and environmental matters as Government,
industry and civil society implement the policies and programmes.


              C.   Recommendations for Governments


         17.   Within a supportive international environment,
Governments should create an enabling policy environment in order to encourage
domestic private enterprise and economy-wide competitiveness through
improvements in infrastructure and educational, financial and legal
institutions; encourage research and development; and facilitate exports
and the liberalization of domestic markets. These reforms can encourage
investment, innovation, diffusion of technology and more efficient use of
resources.

         18.   Governments should continue to promote the integration
of environmental and industrial policies, with emphasis on the preventive
approach. Governments need to adopt policies and regulations that set clear
environmental goals and objectives for industry through strategic
environmental policies at the national and subnational levels. They also
need to develop and promote appropriate policy frameworks to help mobilize the
full range of domestic and foreign resources from all sectors, including
industry, in support of sustainable development.

         19.   Since not all developing countries can attract adequate
levels of foreign direct investment for their industrial development, official
development assistance remains a main source of external funding for them,
particularly in Africa and in the least developed countries. Official
development assistance plays a significant role, inter alia, in
capacity-building, infrastructure, poverty alleviation and environmental
protection in developing countries, and a crucial role in the least developed
countries. 

         20.   Development strategies should encompass official
development assistance and should include the effective use of all possible
means of promoting sustainable development and the facilitation of private
investment, trade, technology transfer, and utilization of science
and technology, tailored to the specific conditions and needs of each country.
It is urgent that measures be taken to foster and improve capacity-building
over the long term.

         21.   While not replacing official development assistance,
foreign direct investment offers developing countries and economies in
transition access to additional capital, new technologies, organization and
management methods, and markets, as well as opportunities to exploit
complementarities between domestic and foreign investment. A stable policy
environment is necessary to attract foreign direct investment and to ensure
confidence among domestic entrepreneurs and foreign investors. Ways and
means of encouraging foreign direct investment flows between developing
countries should be explored.

         22.   Governments in developed countries should encourage
foreign direct investment to assist developing countries and economies in
transition in their development in a way friendly to the environment and
supportive of sustainable development. The commitment of foreign investors to
sustainable development is required while they pursue their commercial
interests.

         23.   To ensure that such investments are supportive of
sustainable development objectives, it is essential that the national
Governments of recipient countries provide appropriate regulatory frameworks
and incentives for private investment, including those that promote
the availability of micro-credit. Therefore, further work should be undertaken
on the design of appropriate policies and measures aimed at promoting
long-term investment flows to developing countries for activities that
increase their productive capability and at reducing the volatility of those
flows.

         24.   When devising and implementing environmental regulatory
frameworks, Governments should seek to ensure that such frameworks encourage,
as appropriate, private sector activities that promote sustainable
development. The traditional method of command and control, based on effluent
and emission standards, should be developed or modified, as appropriate, with
ample participation of industry and civil society, to become an enabling
factor and the basis for a judicious mix of economic instruments, voluntary
industry initiatives and public and private partnerships.

         25.   There is a need for making existing subsidies more
transparent in order to increase public awareness of their actual economic,
social and environmental impacts, and for reforming or, where appropriate,
removing them. Further national and international research in this area should
be promoted in order to assist Governments in identifying and considering
phasing out subsidies that are market-distorting and have socially and
environmentally damaging impacts. Subsidy reductions should take full account
of the specific conditions and the different levels of development of
individual countries and should consider potentially regressive impacts,
particularly on developing countries. In addition, it would be desirable to
use international cooperation and coordination to promote the reduction of
subsidies where they have important implications for competitiveness.

         26.   Governments should encourage the implementation of
environmental management systems. In order to widely disseminate environmental
management concepts in small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in
developing countries, the instruments and methods of environmental management
have to be adapted to their specific capacities and needs, making them easier
to apply and less costly. Networks of intermediaries that can assist small
and medium-sized enterprises in improving their environmental performance
should be encouraged.

         27.   Governments, at the national level, are encouraged to
address the issue of occupational health and safety standards in small and
medium-sized enterprises and in industry.

         28.   Increased efforts are needed by Governments, in
cooperation with industry, trade unions and civil society, to ensure universal
compliance by industry, including informal enterprises, of core labour
standards as contained in the Conventions of the International Labour
Organization. Such standards include freedom of association, the right of
collective bargaining, prohibition of forced and child labour, and
non-discrimination in employment.

         29.   Governments can set a good example and create a market
for more environmentally friendly products and services by providing, as
appropriate, adequate infrastructure, establishing goals on procurement that
take account of environmental factors and encouraging all relevant
governmental bodies to introduce environmental management systems. Governments
can improve the quality of information on the environmental impact of products
and services and, to that end, encourage the voluntary and transparent use of
eco-labelling.

         30.   Social objectives should be an integral part of
sustainable development, and the overriding social policy challenge for
Government and industry is to promote the positive impacts of industrial
activities on social development, while limiting or eliminating the
negative impacts. This can be achieved by various means, in particular through
improved access to education and health care. Governments should give
priority to ensuring universal access to basic education and to expanding
access to secondary education. Tax incentives, for example, may be useful to
encourage companies to invest in training and education for their workers.
Governments and civil society should also address the problem of rapidly
expanding labour forces, especially youth labour.

         31.   Since the creation of employment plays a pivotal role
in the alleviation of poverty, industrial policies should promote linkages
between enterprises in the formal and informal sectors, including
transnational corporations.

         32.   Governments, where appropriate, should cooperate with
industry, trade unions and other concerned organizations of civil society in
expanding, strengthening and ensuring the sustainability of social security
schemes. Governments should also ensure that the benefits of pension systems
are secure and transferable between employers. Moreover, Governments, in
cooperation with industry, should ensure that such coverage is as broad
as possible and, where feasible, based on mandatory worker and employer
participation.

         33.   The fulfilment of greenhouse gas emission reduction
targets agreed upon in the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change 19/ needs to be achieved within set time-frames
in developed countries. The fulfilment of commitments assumed by different
countries, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities, is important.

         34.   Attention should be given to studies that propose to
improve the efficiency of resource use, including consideration of a tenfold
improvement in resource productivity in industrialized countries in the long
term and a possible fourfold increase in resource productivity in
industrialized countries in the next two or three decades. Further research
is required to study the feasibility of these goals and the practical measures
needed for their implementation. Industrialized countries will have a special
responsibility and must take the lead. 

         35.   The concept of eco-efficiency should not be a
substitute for changes in unsustainable lifestyles of consumers, and the
pursuit of eco-efficiency also requires enhanced efforts to assist developing
countries in their efforts to promote sustainable consumption and
production patterns, by improving access to financial resources and
environmentally sound technologies. 

         36.   Voluntary initiatives by all subsectors of industry
have been a valuable tool in protecting the environment. Governments should
continue to encourage voluntary initiatives by industry, in both the formal
and informal sectors, including voluntary and transparent codes of conduct,
charters and codes of good practice, and the conclusion of voluntary
agreements. Effective monitoring and follow-up programmes with stakeholder
participation are needed, and industry should provide better and more
complete dissemination of information of their voluntary initiatives. In
addition, the assessment of progress made throughout a sector or country needs
to be facilitated by developing a set of relevant indicators and metrics.

         37.   In order to strengthen domestic technological capabilities, it
is useful for Governments to develop a national science and technology
strategy and to support capacity-building to promote partnerships with
industry. Greater cooperation between industry and public research and
development bodies is needed to develop the skill and knowledge base
necessary for a successful domestic technology strategy and the absorption of
imported technologies.

         38.   Technology transfer and cooperation and the development
of the human and institutional capacities to adapt, absorb and disseminate
technologies and to generate technical knowledge and innovations are part of
the same process and must be given equal importance. Governments have an
important role to play in providing, inter alia, research and development
institutions with incentives to promote and contribute to the development
of institutional and human capacities.

         39.   Control and influence over the technological knowledge
produced in publicly funded research opens up the potential for the generation
of publicly owned technologies that could be made accessible to the developing
countries and could be an important means for Governments to catalyse
private-sector technology transfers. Proposals for the further study
of the options with respect to those technologies and publicly funded research
and development activities are welcomed.

         40.   The Governments of developed countries are invited to
encourage private-sector companies in their countries to transfer
environmentally sound technologies to developing countries. Such transfers
should be underpinned by matching technical assistance and the transfer of
education and skills, taking into account the unique circumstances and
characteristics of small and medium-sized enterprises.

         41.   The ongoing process of globalization may bring with it
a higher rate of technological progress and diffusion. Innovations in industry
and their diffusion will no doubt be among the most important mechanisms for
progressively delinking economic growth from environmental degradation. The
dynamics of innovation in industry thus deserve careful study so as to
determine what triggers innovation and how innovations are taken up by
society. Studies are also needed on the possible environmental and social
effects of innovation. Policies, including incentives, are needed which
can steer innovation and investment in directions conducive to sustainable
development.


              D.   Recommendations for industry


         42.   Companies can enable consumers to make more informed
choices by providing reliable and accurate information on the impacts, and
where possible, conditions of production and qualities of products and
services, through their marketing and advertising activities, environmental
reporting and improved stakeholder dialogue.

         43.   Industry and civil society should work with Governments
to strengthen secondary, vocational and advanced education and to ensure that
it meets the developmental needs of society and the economy. This includes
fair treatment of employees and constructive training programmes.

         44.   Environmentally oriented management should aim at both
preventing environmental damage and encouraging sustainable use of natural
resources through, for example, more efficient use of energy, water and raw
materials; the reduction of emissions into the air, water and soil; the
reduction of noise impacts; the reduction of waste; and the development
of environmentally sound products and services. Environmental
management systems and practices suitable to particular circumstances can
enable business to control its environmental impacts and stimulate awareness
of sustainability as a key business issue. To maintain and enhance
competitiveness over the longer term, companies need to integrate
environmental and social sustainability into their strategic planning. This
includes developing cleaner products and processes that use resources
more efficiently and minimize environmental impacts.

         45.   Industry should act to improve its environmental
performance through appropriate implementation of environmental management
systems. For example, transnational corporations should consider setting a
time-frame within which to fully implement such systems. At the same time,
Governments and industry must also work together to develop policies to ensure
that compliance with standards is not too costly or difficult to achieve
for companies in developing countries. National certification schemes should
be based upon the principles of transparency and non-discrimination and
should not be used as non-tariff trade barriers.

         46.   Large corporations should apply best practice in their
own branches, both domestically and abroad. Companies are encouraged to
provide environmentally sound technologies, supported by appropriate
management techniques and training, inter alia, so as to help companies in
other countries, particularly developing countries, to develop and implement
environmentally sound policies. Those companies and corporations should
also be proactive in promoting the implementation of core labour standards of
the International Labour Organization.

         47.   Chambers of commerce and business organizations in
developed and developing countries should be encouraged to cooperate in the
transfer of technology and in the development of management tools and
institutional frameworks for sustainable development.

         48.   There is a growing trend among a variety of
stakeholders to hold industry accountable and responsible for the
environmental impact of its operations and products throughout
their entire life cycle. The industry and business sectors
should respond positively to these demands by continuing to develop voluntary
codes of conduct, charters and codes of practices. Industry and business
should observe these codes when operating in developing countries and in
economies in transition, in particular where environmental enforcement
is still being developed.

         49.   The financial sector has an important role to play in
promoting sustainable development. Voluntary commitments and initiatives taken
by the financial sector (banks, savings and micro-credit institutions, and
insurance companies) which promote sustainable development should be further
developed and implemented, and strategies for monitoring progress should be
developed. Since financial institutions play an important role in
sustainable development in developing countries, their policies may include
requirements and incentives to stimulate sustainable development and to
report on their progress.


          E.   Recommendations for the international community


         50.   The principles of transparency, mutual recognition and
non-discrimination, which serve as building blocks for the multilateral
trading system, should also serve as basic principles in other areas, such as
sustainable development. The development of environmental standards, voluntary
codes of conduct and eco-labelling should be viewed as facilitating tools to
ensure the fulfilment of environmental objectives, rather than as
necessary elements to be checked for the achievement and measurement of
sustainability.

         51.   The international community needs to assist developing
countries and economies in transition in their efforts to facilitate their
adoption of production technologies that reduce environmental pressures while,
at the same time, allowing them to be more competitive in international
markets. Therefore, there is a real need to disseminate information about
environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on a broader
scale. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United
Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development and other relevant bodies should be invited to focus their
programmes in order to promote the transfer of environmentally sound
technologies, particularly to small and medium-sized enterprises in developing
countries.

         52.   The international community, working notably through
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations
Environment Programme, other United Nations bodies active in the
implementation of chapters 30 and 36 of Agenda 21, and non-governmental
organization partners, should strengthen the links between education and
industry leading to sustainable development by assisting developing countries
in their national efforts to strengthen secondary, vocational and
advanced education.

         53.   When promoting measures favouring eco-efficiency,
developed countries should pay special attention to the needs of developing
countries, in particular by encouraging positive impacts, and to the
importance of avoiding negative impacts on export opportunities and
on market access for developing countries and, as appropriate, for countries
with economies in transition. Implementation of environmental measures
should not result in disguised barriers to trade.

         54.   Industrialization is a key element in promoting
sustainable development in developing countries, particularly in Africa, and
the least developed countries. It plays an important role in the efforts of
those countries to eradicate poverty, create productive employment
and integrate women into the development process. The business community,
especially the small and medium-sized enterprises, have a particularly
important role in enhancing industrialization. There is a need for the United
Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Environment
Programme and other relevant United Nations bodies to enhance their activities
in developing and implementing sustainable industrial development strategies,
including taking into account the implementation of the Second Industrial
Decade for Africa.

         55.   The international community, the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization and other relevant United Nations bodies
are encouraged to provide appropriate financial and technical support to
enable industries in developing countries to comply with national
environmental goals and objectives through strategic environmental
policies at the national and subnational levels.

         56.   Foreign direct investment can contribute to the
achievement of sustainable development. To promote foreign direct investment
flows to developing countries, in particular to the least developed among
them, greater emphasis should be placed by the United Nations system on
promotional and information-dissemination activities relating to investment
opportunities in the developing countries.

         57.   There is a need for a further assessment of the
implications of foreign investment for sustainable development, building on
past work and taking into account relevant current activities. Such an
assessment should take into account all existing relevant activities and
processes and build on work undertaken in preparation for the
fifth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. The United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development should be invited to investigate the issue
and report the results to the Commission at its seventh session. Furthermore,
the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Trade
Organization should report on their relevant activities.

         58.   Multilateral financial institutions, through their
investment agreements, programmes and projects, should contribute to
sustainable development and the use of environmentally sound technologies.

         59.   Any negotiations on multilateral investment agreements
should be participatory, transparent and non-discriminatory. The negotiations
of these agreements should include the specific social, economic and
environmental needs of developing countries. A multilateral agreement on
investments is currently being negotiated in the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development. Without prejudice to the clear understanding
in the World Trade Organization that future negotiations, if any, regarding a
multilateral agreement on investments will take place only after an
explicit consensus decision, future agreements on investments should take into
account the objectives of sustainable development, and when developing
countries are parties to those agreements, special attention should be given
to their needs for investment.

         60.   Full implementation of the recommendations of the World
Summit for Social Development 20/ would effectively address growing
international income disparities among and within countries and the risk that
some countries and groups might fall deeper into poverty and exclusion.
Policies are needed to implement the commitments expressed in the Copenhagen
Declaration on Social Development 21/ to, inter alia, expand productive
employment, reduce unemployment, enhance social protection and reduce the
vulnerability of the poorest groups. The International Labour Organization
has a central role in monitoring the implementation of relevant labour
standards and in stimulating patterns of economic growth that provide job
opportunities. Concerted action by interested countries for the implementation
of the 20/20 initiative is making a significant contribution to some
developing countries, particularly the least developed.

         61.   Development of policies to implement the outcome of the
Fourth World Conference on Women, which reaffirmed the advances made at the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and emphasized the
need to mainstream a gender perspective into the development agenda, is of
great importance.

         62.   Further work should be undertaken at the international
level to develop criteria to improve corporate environmental reporting. The
United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development could take the lead in that respect, in cooperation with
other organizations, as appropriate.

         63.   Reflecting the sectoral focus on freshwater, the United
Nations Environment Programme, working jointly with other relevant United
Nations bodies, should be invited to cooperate with the relevant industry
sectors to develop a voluntary statement of business-led commitment on the
protection and sustainable management of water resources.

         64.   The secretariats of international conventions on the
environment should consider the need to include technology and other technical
information in a "clearinghouse" to facilitate fulfilling the commitments of
the conventions.

         65.   Concern was expressed regarding the impact of the
current intellectual property regime and the need for protection of
intellectual property rights in the transfer of environmentally sound
technologies. The international community should promote, facilitate and
finance, as appropriate, access to and transfer of environmentally sound
technologies and the corresponding know-how, in particular to
developing countries, on favourable terms, including concessional and
preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to
protect intellectual property rights as well as the special needs of
developing countries for the implementation of Agenda 21. Current forms of
cooperation involving the public and private sectors of developing and
developed countries should be built upon and expanded. It is important to
identify barriers and restrictions to the transfer of publicly and privately
owned environmentally sound technologies with a view to reducing such
constraints, while creating specific incentives, fiscal and otherwise, for the
transfer of such technologies.

         66.   South-South cooperation is an important instrument for
facilitating the diffusion of technology and industry and as a complement to
North-South relations. South-South cooperation could be further strengthened
through such innovative mechanisms as trilateral arrangements. Such mechanisms
should be supported as an important means of achieving sustainable development
and the alleviation of poverty. The United Nations Environment Programme, the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization and other relevant
United Nations bodies should be invited to sustain and strengthen their
programmes that promote the transfer of environmentally sound technologies,
particularly to small and medium-sized industries in developing countries.
Regional cooperation should also be encouraged and strengthened.


              F.   Future work


         67.   Relevant international organizations should study the
different voluntary schemes that have been formulated with regard to industry,
the effects of the technologies used to cope with problems and the prospects
for introducing them elsewhere. It is important that, where necessary, they
should create a framework to support the strengthening of efforts by the
industry side.

         68.   The Commission should consider, with industry, how
follow-up to the dialogue established with industry might be maintained and
developed to ensure effective and continuing contributions from industry to
the Commission's work programme. In so doing, the Commission should also
consider how industry, through its international and sectoral organizations,
should be consulted and associated with the follow-up to that dialogue. The
Commission should, in cooperation with other relevant intergovernmental
bodies, industry, trade unions, non-governmental organizations and other major
groups, establish a process to review the effectiveness of voluntary
initiatives intended to promote sustainable and equitable business practices.
It is also important that the Commission continue to address the role of
industry in sustainable development in the context of different sectoral and
cross-sectoral themes allocated for its future sessions. The result of the
work undertaken in the follow-up to the Joint Statement on Common Interests by
the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the International Chambers of
Commerce could be taken into account in further dialogue with industry in the
Commission.

         69.   Governments and industry should be encouraged to
improve, in general, their reporting of progress in voluntary initiatives and
environmental protection and, in particular, as a follow-up to the industry
segment at the sixth session of the Commission. Such reporting and follow-up
activities should have the active involvement of the Commission, the United
Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and
others -- for example, the International Chambers of Commerce and the World
Business Council on Sustainable Development, at the international
level, and trade associations at the subsectoral level. The involvement of
trade associations at the subsectoral level may be useful for ensuring better
reporting in key subsectors such as energy and transport, mining, cement,
paper and pulp, iron and steel, and chemicals. Discussion of changing
consumption and production patterns at the seventh session could provide the
first opportunity for such enhanced voluntary reporting.


         Decision 6/3. Transfer of environmentally sound technology,
         capacity-building, education and public awareness and science 
         for sustainable development *

                 (* For the discussion, see chap. V below)


         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General 22/
and related background documents dealing with the transfer of environmentally
sound technology, capacity-building, education and public awareness, and
science for sustainable development;

            (b)    Recognizes that the transfer of
environmentally sound technology, capacity-building, education and
public awareness, and science for sustainable development are
critical elements of a national enabling environment necessary to achieve
sustainable development, which includes economic and social
development and environmental protection;

            (c)    Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the two
overarching themes, eradication of poverty and sustainable consumption and
production patterns, for the programme of work of the Commission, adopted at
the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly;

            (d)    Recalls that the Rio Declaration on Environment 23/ and
Development and the General Assembly, at its nineteenth special session,
recognized that poverty eradication is essential for sustainable development;
reaffirms the urgent need for the timely and full implementation of all the
relevant commitments, agreements and targets already agreed upon since the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development by the
international community, including the United Nations system
and international financial institutions; and, in this context, notes the
efforts to achieve the above targets as well as the target to reduce by one
half by 2015 the proportion of people in extreme poverty; 24/

            (e)    Reaffirms that renewed commitment and political
will for mobilizing national and international financial sources of public
funds, including official development assistance, and encouraging private
investment in all these areas is urgently required, particularly for
developing countries, if they are to meet their needs for the transfer of
environmentally sound technology, capacity-building, education development and
public awareness and scientific capabilities;

            (f)    Encourages the greater use of public and
market-based policy instruments and incentives to promote better management of
human and natural resources and the development of national capacities to more
effectively develop, adapt, integrate and use new technologies;

            (g)    Welcomes the trend demonstrated in each of the
areas towards greater public participation and decentralization, including
broader civil society consultations, citizen empowerment and increasing
public/private partnership and networks, resulting in more demand-driven
efforts at capacity-building, education and public awareness, science
development and transfer of environmentally sound technology;

            (h)    Recognizes the special needs, skills and experience
of girls and women, youth, indigenous people and local communities, as well as
vulnerable and marginalized groups, in all areas of capacity-building,
education and training, science and the use of environmentally sound
technology and stresses the need to ensure their equal access to
educational and capacity-building opportunities and greater involvement in
decision-making at all levels;

            (i)    Encourages Governments that have not already done
so to elaborate appropriate policies and plans related to the transfer of
environmentally sound technology, capacity-building, education and public
awareness and science for sustainable development and ensure that they are
fully integrated into national sustainable development strategies and
programmes of regional and subregional cooperation.


              A.   Transfer of environmentally sound technology


         2. The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Recalls that Agenda 21 25/ and the Rio Declaration 23/
provide a fundamental framework for actions on matters related to the transfer
of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building;

            (b)    Welcomes the initiatives of the Governments of the
Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
to organize inter-sessional meetings on issues relevant to technology
transfer, cooperation and capacity-building;

            (c)    Recognizes that the objectives of sustainable
development require continuous technological innovation and the widespread
adoption, transfer and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies,
including know-how and organizational and managerial procedures, as well as
equipment, and that the development of human and institutional capacities to
adapt, absorb and upgrade technologies, as well as to generate
technological knowledge, is essential for technology transfer, management and
diffusion;

            (d)    Notes that public-private partnerships offer a
means of increasing access to, and transfer of, environmentally sound
technologies;

            (e)    Recognizes that the creation of enabling
environments at all levels provides a platform to support the development and
use of environmentally sound technologies, and in this regard:

                      (i)    The design of legal and policy frameworks
                      that are conducive to long-term
                      sustainable development objectives is a key
                      element of this environment;

                      (ii)   Governments should try to facilitate the
                      transfer of environmentally sound
                      technologies by creating a policy environment
                      that is conducive to technology-related
                      private sector investments and long-term
                      sustainable development objectives;

            (f)    Encourages Governments and industry to work
together to build capacity in the developing countries for using and
maintaining environmentally sound technologies, taking into account that:

            (i)    Financing programmes for small and medium-sized
            enterprises, including micro-credit initiatives, are very
            important;

            (ii)   Education and training must also be key priorities
            in national efforts to develop operating and maintenance skills 
            in the use of environmentally sound technologies;

            (g)    Calls for the urgent fulfilment of all the
commitments of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
concerning concrete measures for the transfer of environmentally sound
technologies to developing countries. The international community should
promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, access to and transfer
of environmentally sound technologies and the corresponding know-how, in
particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including
concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account
the need to protect intellectual property rights as well as the special needs
of developing countries for the implementation of Agenda 21;

            (h)    Emphasizes that technology cooperation between and
among economic actors of developed and developing countries and countries with
economies in transition remains a key element in achieving sustainable
development objectives. Efforts at enhancing technology cooperation should
recognize the critical role of business and industry in technology
development, transfer and diffusion, while recognizing the responsibility of
Governments to develop policy, legal and institutional frameworks, consistent
with sustainable development, in order to promote technology development,
transfer and cooperation.

         3. The Commission, therefore, decides to include in its
future work consideration of policies to promote sustainable production
patterns, and, in this context, to consider the concept of eco-efficiency and
examples of its application in developed and developing countries, and the
transfer of environmentally sound technologies for these purposes. Policy
measures should, in particular, focus on the following areas:

            (a)    National technology strategies and international
technology cooperation. In defining policy measures in this area, it is
important to identify the potential actors, including Governments, business
and industry, research and development institutions and technology
intermediaries, and to examine their respective roles, specific interests,
capacities and priorities. It is also important to identify barriers and
restrictions to the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, in
particular to developing countries, and to seek to reduce such constraints,
while creating incentives for such transfer, taking into consideration the
promotion of cleaner production;

            (b)    Technology integration, economic competitiveness
and environmental management at the enterprise level, including international
technology cooperation, at the enterprise level. In defining policy measures
in this area, a thorough understanding of the factors that influence
companies' environmental and economic performance is needed, including their
adoption of best practices in environmental management and the use of
environmentally sound technologies in production processes;.

            (c)    In the context of technology transfer and
adaptation, it is important that environmentally sound technologies be
transferred to developing countries, with support, including, as appropriate,
financial support, from developed countries and relevant international
institutions, in cooperation with the private sector. In this regard, the
experience of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the
United Nations Environment Programme and other relevant bodies of the United
Nations system in establishing cleaner production centres can help facilitate
this process.

         4. The Commission:

            (a)    Invites Governments with the assistance of relevant
United Nations bodies such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization and the Department of Economic and Social
Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, and in consultation with
development assistance agencies, to undertake work on the development
of voluntary guidelines on technology partnerships involving economic actors
of developed and developing countries and countries with economies in
transition, in the context of creating and maintaining an enabling environment
for the purpose of maximizing the complementary roles of the public and
private sectors in the transfer of environmentally sound technologies. Based
on experience and emerging opportunities, such guidelines could assist
Governments:

            (i)    In developing policy approaches and implementation
            strategies for technology cooperation and partnership initiatives;

            (ii)   In adopting incentives and economic instruments to
            provide a favourable legal and policy environment for private 
            sector companies from developed countries to participate in     
            technology partnership initiatives with developing countries,
            supported through an enabling international environment that
            facilitates access to, and transfer of, environmentally sound
            technologies and corresponding know-how;

            (iii)  In applying mechanisms and tools for the assessment
            of the effectiveness of the transfer of environmentally sound
            technologies and of technology partnership initiatives with regard
            to their contribution to achieving economic, social and
            environmental goals and targets;

            (b)    Urges Governments, the private sector and research
and development institutions of developed countries to identify barriers and
restrictions to the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and provide
opportunities for technology cooperation, including in research and
development, and partnership initiatives involving economic actors from
developing countries, particularly African countries and the least developed
countries, taking into account conditions and needs of these countries for the
transfer of environmentally sound technologies and related capacity-building
activities aimed at creating an enabling environment; and welcomes studies in
this area;

            (c)    Encourages Governments of developing countries and
countries with economies in  transition, with the support of the United
Nations system, to develop national strategies for technology innovation,
commercialization and diffusion, with a focus on economic or industrial
sectors that are particularly important with respect to economic growth,
natural resources consumption, efficiency in the use of energy and
natural resources in consumption and production patterns and pollution
control, taking fully into account the need to create an enabling environment
for private sector activities. Regional expert group meetings,
jointly organized by Governments and United Nations bodies, including the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations
Secretariat, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations
Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme, can be a
useful mechanism to develop guidelines or manuals to assist Governments, upon
request, in developing national technology strategies and initiating various
forms of partnerships for the implementation of these strategies. The
guidance document on national needs assessment for the improved utilization of
environmentally sound technologies, adopted by the Commission in 1996, may be
useful in developing such guidelines or manuals;

            (d)    Requests the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, in cooperation with
the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, to consider undertaking a study
on the effectiveness of incentives to encourage industry to adopt cleaner
production technologies. The study should evaluate existing practices and
experiences of countries and organizations. The results of the evaluation
could be useful to Governments in developing national technology strategies
and in ensuring that these strategies are fully integrated into national
sustainable development strategies and programmes;

            (e)    Calls on all Governments, with the support of
international organizations and financial institutions, to assist small and
medium-sized enterprises, including through funding of feasibility studies on
market opportunities and commercial viability of environmentally sound
technologies, use of economic instruments, including fiscal incentives, export
promotion programmes, trade initiatives, including economically sound
technologies-related issues, and assistance in the development of business
plans;

            (f)    Invites interested Governments of developed and
developing countries and countries with economies in transition to undertake,
in particular in the context of promoting regional cooperation and
implementing international environmental conventions and agreements, in
cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Environment
Programme and other relevant international bodies, a pilot project on
opportunities for sector-specific applications of the recommendations on
transfer and commercialization of publicly funded environmentally
sound technologies made by the International Expert Meeting on the Role of
Publicly Funded Research and Publicly Owned Technologies in the
Transfer and Diffusion of Environmentally Sound Technologies, hosted by the
Government of the Republic of Korea. 26/ The results of this project could be
presented to the Commission in 2002. Issues to be considered might include:

            (i)    Reviewing national legal, institutional,
            development cooperation and other relevant policies, with a view
            to removing obstacles to, and providing research and development
            institutions and the private sector with incentives for, the
            transfer and commercialization of publicly funded and publicly
            owned environmentally sound technologies, in particular to
            developing countries and, as appropriate, countries with
            economies in transition;

            (ii)   Assessing existing as well as new technology
            transfer mechanisms, for example bilateral and multilateral
            memoranda of understanding and environmentally sound technology
            pooling or banks, with regard to their potential and use for the
            transfer and commercialization of publicly funded and publicly
            owned environmentally sound technologies to developing countries
            and, as appropriate, countries with economies in transition;

            (iii)  Considering the creation of additional centres for
            the transfer of environmentally sound technologies at various
            levels, including the regional level, which could greatly
            contribute to achieving the objectives of the transfer of
            environmentally sound technologies to developing countries;

            (iv)   Examining various policy approaches to commercialize
            non-patented or uncommercialized technologies that result from
            publicly funded research activities, including through the
            promotion of strategic alliances between research and
            development institutions, development cooperation
            agencies, enterprises, technology centres and other
            intermediaries, and to facilitate access to these technologies by
            developing countries.


              B.   Capacity-building


         5. The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Encourages Governments to review, where necessary,
existing planning processes and policies to assess their capacity-building
requirements;

            (b)    Urges funding agencies to give support to national
capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, including
in the areas of the design of programmes and projects, and their
implementation and evaluation, through demand-driven approaches,
emphasizing facilitation and stressing a programmatic rather than a
project-oriented framework for capacity-building;

            (c)    Recommends that capacity-building efforts be
intensified where necessary, based on participatory approaches, with the aim,
as called for by the General Assembly, at its nineteenth special session, of
having national sustainable development strategies, or their equivalent, fully
in place by 2002 for implementation and taking into account the
environmental, social and economic needs of developing countries, and urges
financial institutions and operational agencies, particularly through
the United Nations Development Programme's Capacity 21 programme, to enhance
their assistance in this regard;

            (d)    Encourages Governments at all levels to share
experiences with and support innovative capacity-building programmes that
feature greater public access to information, and broad participation,
including by the private sector, at national and local levels. Full
use should be made of existing information-sharing facilities such as the
United Nations Development Programme Subregional Resource Facilities and the
World Bank's Knowledge Network System;

            (e)    Urges that more resources be devoted to training
and information-sharing activities such as case studies for practitioners,
more action-oriented research and electronic
         and other networking;

            (f)    Encourages countries to increase their national
capacity through South-South and subregional cooperation focused on common
programmatic themes, and self-help efforts and by assessing ways in which
capacities can be shared appropriately at the regional and subregional level.
South-South cooperation in this regard should be further strengthened and
supported through triangular arrangements;

            (g)    Requests that systematic attention be paid by the
corresponding task managers to the capacity-building-related issues of the
sectoral themes for future sessions of the Commission;

            (h)    Invites the United Nations Development Programme,
in cooperation with other relevant bodies, to promote the exchange and
dissemination of information on successful capacity-building efforts and to
make information available, as appropriate, to future sessions of the
Commission.


              C.   Education, public awareness and training


         6. The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Recognizes education, public awareness and training
as underpinning all the cross-sectoral themes of Agenda 21;

            (b)    Reiterates that a fundamental prerequisite for
sustainable development is an adequately financed and effective educational
system, at all levels, that augments human capacity and well-being and is
relevant to the implementation of all chapters of Agenda 21. Education is a
lifelong process and should be fully accessible to all;

            (c)    Recalls that education, public awareness and
training includes, inter alia, non-formal and informal modes of
teaching and learning, for example, within the family and community, and
maintains that education for sustainable development should take an
interdisciplinary approach incorporating social, economic and environmental
issues;

            (d)    Notes that public awareness is a prerequisite for
public participation in decision-making for sustainable development
and is closely linked to access to information;

            (e)    Recognizes that educating women has a crucial
impact on sustainable development and on changing the attitudes and behaviour
of families, society and nations;

            (f)    Expresses its appreciation to the Government of
Greece and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization for organizing an inter-sessional conference on "Environment and
Society: Education and Public Awareness for Sustainability", which was held at
Thessaloniki from 8 to 12 December 1997;

            (g)    Welcomes the contributions of major groups in
sharing case studies of innovative practices in promoting, in particular,
education, public awareness and training within their respective contexts,
including youth-sponsored initiatives, encourages their continued action
through such activities, and requests that the Commission continue to be
informed of such work at future sessions;

            (h)    Recognizes the important role of schools and
universities in the further implementation of Agenda 21, especially at the
local level;

            (i)    Notes that the World Conference on Higher
Education, to be held in Paris in October 1998, provides a good opportunity to
address the challenge of how to promote and strengthen an interdisciplinary
approach in university curricula and research agendas for a sustainable future
and to consider the further adaptation of higher education systems,
as appropriate, in this regard;

            (j)    Takes note of the International Registry of
Innovative Practices Promoting Education, Public Awareness and Training for
Sustainability being developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization and encourages its further development.

         7. Taking into account the work programme on education,
public awareness and training initiated at its fourth session, the Commission:

            (a)    With regard to clarifying and communicating the
concept and key messages of education for sustainable development:

            (i)    Urges the United Nations Educational, Scientific
            and Cultural Organization and other United Nations organizations,
            Governments and major groups to pursue the implementation of
            chapter 36 of Agenda 21, and the work programme on education
            approved by the Commission at its fourth session, as part of the
            integrated follow-up to the major United Nations conferences and
            conventions related to sustainable development, taking into
            account the work of the Economic and Social Council in this
            regard;

            (ii)   Calls on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
            Cultural Organization to continue its efforts to clarify and
            communicate the concept and key messages of education for
            sustainable development, with emphasis on assisting in the
            interpretation and adaptation of these messages at the regional
            and national levels;

            (b)    With regard to reviewing national education
policies and formal educational systems:

            (i)    Calls on Governments at all levels, with the
            assistance and participation, as appropriate, of international
            organizations, the educational and scientific communities,
            non-governmental organizations and local authorities, to develop
            policies and strategies for reorienting education towards
            sustainable development, including roles and responsibilities of
            actors at the local, national and regional levels;

            (ii)   In this context, Governments may wish to
            include the establishment of national centres of excellence in
            such strategies;

            (iii)  Calls on Governments at all levels to
            include sustainable development objectives into curricula or
            equivalent instruments corresponding to the level of education,
            and encourages them, where appropriate, to consider the
            effectiveness of education for sustainable development;

            (iv)   Invites the United Nations Educational,
            Scientific and Cultural Organization, working closely with
            relevant educational institutions and international organizations,
            to develop guidelines for the reorientation of teacher training
            towards sustainable development;

            (v)    Calls on Governments to take appropriate steps, in
            consultation with international, national and subnational
            representatives of teachers, including unions,
            as well as specialists in higher education and youth, to
            reorient teacher training in formal education systems towards
            sustainable development;

            (vi)   Urges institutions of higher education, with the
            support of Governments and the academic community, to adapt their
            teaching and research to introducing an interdisciplinary approach
            conducive to addressing sustainable development issues;

            (vii)  Invites the World Conference on Higher Education to
            give due consideration to ways in which the reform of higher
            education systems may support sustainable development;

                      (c)    With regard to incorporating education
into national strategies and action plans for sustainable development:

            (i)    Urges Governments to make education and public
            awareness significant components in regional, national and local
            strategies and action plans for sustainable development;

            (ii)   Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific
            and Cultural Organization, working with the United Nations
            Development Programme, the Department of Economic and Social
            Affairs and other relevant bodies, to complete the survey of
            existing regional and national strategies and action plans
            for sustainable development to determine the extent to which
            education has been adequately addressed to date
            to develop recommendations resulting therefrom and to make
            such information available to the Commission;

            (iii)  Encourages Governments at all levels to integrate
            education, as appropriate, into national and local strategies for
            sustainable development, and calls upon the international
            community and the United Nations system to assist developing
            countries, as needed, in this regard;

            (iv)   Urges Governments to integrate the aspect of gender
            balance and the empowerment of women into national education
            strategies;

            (d)    With regard to educating to promote sustainable
consumption and production patterns in all countries:

            (i)    Requests the task managers for chapters 4 and 36 of
            Agenda 21 (the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the
            United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization),
            working together with other relevant bodies, including the
            United Nations Environment Programme, the Organisation for
            Economic Cooperation and Development and representatives of
            business and industry, trade unions and non-governmental
            organizations, to continue their efforts to raise awareness of the
            implications for sustainability of current patterns of
            consumption and production, in particular in the developed
            countries, making better use of educational tools and
            consumer feedback mechanisms to facilitate policy-making,
            and developing and promoting social instruments through education
            and training intended to change consumption and production
            patterns, with industrialized countries taking the lead,
            and in this context, to continue the work on indicators
            for sustainable consumption and production patterns;

            (ii)   Calls upon the media as well as the business
            community, including the World Business Council for Sustainable
            Development, the International Chamber of Commerce and other
            business institutions, trade unions and civil society, to work
            with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
            Cultural Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme,
            the Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
            the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and
            other key bodies, to collect best practices in media and
            advertising that address concerns related to
            promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns,
            particularly in the developed countries;

            (iii)  Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with
            the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
            Organization, to report on progress made and
            actions taken in this area, including those identified by
            the General Assembly at its nineteenth special session, to the
            Commission at its seventh session, when consumption and production
            patterns will be the cross-sectoral theme;

            (e)    With regard to promoting investments for education:

               Calls upon the United Nations Development Programme,
            the World Bank and other international financing institutions to
            consider the current levels of financing for education for
            sustainable development, with a view to developing a strategy or
            policies for mobilizing new and additional resources from
            all sources for ensuring greater financial support for education
            for sustainable development;

            (f)    With regard to identifying and sharing innovative
practices:

            (i)    Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific
            and Cultural Organization to continue to work on the international
            electronic registry and knowledge management system for chapter 36
            and requests that this information be made available in both
            electronic and conventional formats to all countries, in
            particular the developing countries. Innovative programme and
            projects from all sources, such as various major groups, including
            industry, women, youth and non-governmental organizations, should
            be encouraged and included in this inventory;

            (ii)   Encourages the development and strengthening of
            international and regional alliances, associations and networks
            among universities and other educational and
            training institutions and professional bodies in all
            countries, in particular among those in developing and developed
            countries. These alliances should include distance
            learning, training for trainers, exchanges and mentoring;

            (iii)  Calls on Governments to encourage and strengthen
            networks and partnerships for education for sustainable
            development, including, inter alia, schools, parents,
            private and public institutions and organizations, as well
            as private firms;

            (iv)   Encourages the recognition and use of traditional
            knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous people and
            local communities for the management of natural
            resources in education for sustainable development;

            (g)    With regard to raising public awareness:

            (i)    Calls on Governments to facilitate the development
            of capacities for raising public awareness and access to
            information on sustainable development and on social,
            economic and environmental impacts of unsustainable
            production and consumption patterns at the global, regional and
            national levels;

            (ii)   Calls on Governments at all levels, the media and
            advertising agencies to undertake information campaigns to
            communicate to the public the key messages of sustainable
            development;

            (iii)  Calls on Governments to take fully into account the
            provisions of relevant international conventions when providing
            information in order to raise public awareness.

         8. The Commission:

            (a)    Calls upon the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization as task manager, to further strengthen
and accelerate the implementation of the work programme on education for
sustainable development in cooperation with, inter alia, the United Nations
Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and
non-governmental organizations;

            (b)    Requests the Secretary-General to include in his
report to the Commission at its seventh session information on progress made
in implementing the work programme.


              D.   Science for sustainable development


         9. The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Recognizes the serious gaps in scientific
capacities, especially in developing countries, and stresses the need for
strong and concerted action at the national and international levels to
urgently build up and strengthen the national scientific infrastructure
and research management capabilities of these countries, to formulate national
strategies, policies and plans for that purpose and to strengthen their
science education programmes at all levels;

            (b)    Stresses the need to improve the processes of
generating, sharing and utilizing science for sustainable development and for
more action-oriented interdisciplinary research, with greater focus on the
prevention and early identification of emerging problems and opportunities;

            (c)    Notes that the World Science Conference, to be
organized jointly by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization and the International Council of Scientific Unions in Budapest in
June 1999, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies and international
scientific organizations, provides a good opportunity to address key issues of
science for sustainable development;

            (d)    Urges the scientific community to work with
government authorities, the education community, major groups and
international organizations to strengthen science education at all levels and
to overcome the communication gaps within the scientific community and between
scientists, policy makers and the general public;

            (e)    Invites Governments, the United Nations system and
major groups to provide information on best practices and other illustrative
examples related to the future sectoral themes of the Commission where science
has been effectively employed to support the development and implementation of
policies in these sectors;

            (f)    Invites relevant international scientific advisory
bodies and programmes to contribute, as appropriate, to the consideration of
the sectoral themes of the Commission sessions in 1999, 2000 and 2001 on
issues relevant to their interest;

            (g)    Calls on multilateral and bilateral donor agencies
and Governments, as well as specific funding mechanisms, to continue to
enhance their support to strengthen higher education and scientific research
capacities related to sustainable development in developing countries,
particularly in Africa and the least developed countries. Such efforts
should aim at:

            (i)    Strengthening research and teaching infrastructures
            in universities and their proper re-equipping as a critical
            precondition for the development of capacity in
            science and technology;

            (ii)   Linking technical assistance programmes to
            education and research in the broad
            field of environment and sustainable development;

            (iii)  Fostering university/business/civil society
            partnerships within and among countries;

            (iv)   Promoting regional and subregional cooperative
            training and research programmes and networks;

            (v)    Acquiring modern information technologies so as to
            ensure easy access to information sources around the world, as
            well as to be part of existing global and regional scientific and
            technological information networks to address the scientific
            needs of developing countries;

            (h)    Encourages Governments of all countries to join
forces with international organizations and the scientific community to
strengthen the global environmental observing systems;

            (i)    Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific
            and Cultural Organization and the International Council of
            Scientific Unions, in planning the World Science
            Conference in 1999, to take fully into account the
            interdisciplinary nature of sustainable
            development issues, with a view to strengthening the role of
            natural and social science in sustainable development and to
            mobilizing increased investment in research and
            development of scientific themes of sustainable development.


         Decision 6/4. Review of the implementation of the Programme
         of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island 
         Developing States *

               (* For the discussion, see chap. VII below)


              A.   Overall considerations


         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development takes note of
the reports of the Secretary-General on progress in the implementation of the
Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States 27/ and on development of a vulnerability index for small island
developing States. 28/

         2. The Commission recalls the decision of the General
Assembly at its nineteenth special session on the modalities for the full and
comprehensive review of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States. 29/ In particular, the
Commission notes the importance of the two-day special session to be convened
immediately preceding the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly, in
1999, for an in-depth assessment and appraisal of the implementation of
the Programme of Action, as reaffirmed in General Assembly resolution 52/202
of 18 December 1997.

         3. The Commission urges small island developing States to
continue and enhance their preparations for the seventh session of the
Commission and the 1999 special session, and calls upon the international
community, United Nations agencies and intergovernmental bodies to provide
assistance to small island developing States for practical and concrete
actions. Noting the work already begun by the small island developing States
and regional organizations and institutions in that regard, the Commission
invites the international community, United Nations agencies and
intergovernmental bodies to support regional initiatives and to collaborate in
partnership with the regional organizations and institutions to speed up
preparations for the review.

         4. In the light of paragraph 24 of the Programme for the
Further Implementation of Agenda 21, 30/ the Commission encourages all small
island developing States to put in place national sustainable development
strategies that take into account the links between economic, social and
environmental indicators and policies on an ongoing basis, and invites
bilateral donors and United Nations agencies and organizations, as well as the
United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, to join in
the promotion of coordinated capacity-building programmes to support the
development and implementation of national, subregional and regional
strategies. The implementation of strategies for sustainable development will
be primarily the responsibility of small island developing States, with the
essential support of the international community. The Commission urges
proper consideration of the need for capacity-building to develop and
implement strategies for sustainable development at the proposed donors'
conference.

         5. The Commission reaffirms the important coordinating role
played by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations
Secretariat and its efforts to assist small island developing States with the
review process, and calls on the Department to remain actively involved in the
preparatory process leading up to the special session, including effective
coordination with all relevant sectors of the international community
in taking any necessary measures to provide support and assistance to small
island developing States.

         6. The donors' conference on small island developing States
to be held in early 1999 is welcomed as a useful forum for assistance in the
pursuit of small island States' sustainable development objectives, and the
Commission encourages all small island States to fully utilize the donors'
conference to that end. The Commission recommends that the envisaged donors'
conference consider proposed project portfolios that reflect progress
to implement the relevant components of the Programme of Action. The
international donor community is urged to engage actively with small island
developing States during the conference to achieve realistic and positive
outcomes and concrete assistance for all small island developing States,
including the sharing of updated information on current donor activities in
support of the sustainable development of small island developing States. The
Secretary-General's preparations for the donors' conference will also need to
take account of and work with ongoing national and regional round-table
and consultative groups.

         7. The Programme of Action recognizes that small island
developing States are a special case for both environment and development
because they are ecologically fragile and vulnerable, and because they face
particular constraints in their efforts to achieve sustainable development. In
that regard, the Commission recalls that the international community
reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of the Programme of Action
at the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly. 29/ It was also
noted at the special session that the considerable efforts being made at the
national and regional levels need to be supplemented by effective financial
support from the international community, and by facilitating the transfer of
environmentally sound technologies in accordance with paragraph 34.14 (b) of
Agenda 21. 31/ The Commission notes that the support of the international
community is vital. The 1999 overall review of the implementation of the
Programme of Action should include an assessment of changes in the financial
resource flows to small island developing States, both overall and by
sector, including private as well as public resources. That review will help
to determine whether the international community is providing effective means,
including adequate, predictable, new and additional resources for the
implementation of the Programme of Action in accordance with chapter 33 of
Agenda 21. 32/

         8. The Commission calls upon national Governments, or
regional intergovernmental organizations, as appropriate, to help ensure
effective coordination of donor and recipient government efforts, which is a
basic prerequisite for successful development assistance.


              B.   Climate change and sea level rise


         9. The Commission recalls the well-recognized vulnerability
of small island developing States to global climate change, and the likelihood
that accompanying sea level rise will have severe and negative effects on the
environment, biological diversity, economy and infrastructures of small island
developing States and on the health and welfare of their peoples. It
recognizes that the ability of small island developing States to respond to
the threat of climate change is hampered by the lack of institutional,
scientific and technical capacity, as well as by the lack of financial
resources.

         10.   The Commission recognizes the need to strengthen the
response capability of small island developing States by education, training
and public awareness-raising, and through regional and international
cooperation. The Commission urges the international community
to commit adequate financial and technical resources and assistance to help
small island developing States in their ongoing efforts at the national
and regional levels to build effective response measures, and to strengthen
their institutional and human resources capacity to cope with the effects of
climate change and sea level rise. The Commission calls on the international
community to commit appropriate and additional support for the regional
organizations and institutions to strengthen their effectiveness, in
particular in support for ongoing regional assessments of probable
environmental changes and impacts, mitigation and adaptation strategies;
development and dissemination of guidelines for coastal protection and
management as well as in other relevant areas; use and substitution
of new and renewable sources of energy; and in the capacity-building
programmes of the regional organizations and institutions.

         11.   The Commission notes that climate change will also have
socio-economic consequences for small island developing States, and
encourages them, in collaboration with regional organizations and
institutions, to undertake integrated assessment studies of the effects of
global warming and sea level rise on socio-economic issues, including
population concentration and location infrastructure, food security, and
effects on human health and culture.

         12.   The Commission notes that there is a critical need to
further scientific and technical studies and research on the climate change
phenomenon and its impacts in relation to small island developing States, and
calls on the international community to continue to undertake and to assist
small island developing States in such studies and research. 

         13.   The Commission welcomes the adoption and the opening
for signature of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, and urges the international community, and in particular
Annex 1 Parties to the Convention, to become Parties to the Kyoto Protocol as
soon as possible in order to facilitate its early entry into force.


              C.   Management of wastes


         14.   The Commission notes the difficulties and constraints
confronting small island developing States in the management of wastes and in
their efforts to minimize and prevent pollution. The Commission is concerned
that significant work is needed at all levels to strengthen the capacities of
small island developing States and to implement the actions, policies and
measures identified in the Programme of Action. Since current waste disposal
problems and issues present immediate challenges to island communities, the
Commission calls on the international community to support the efforts
of small island developing States in the development of effective
institutional capacity to cope with those issues.

         15.   The Commission takes note that one of the main
obstacles for small island developing States is the lack of an integrated or
comprehensive approach to waste management strategies, and encourages
Governments of small island developing States to focus appropriate priority on
building integrated and environmentally sound waste management strategies and
policies that involve all sectors and industries.

         16.   The Commission recognizes the ongoing work that is
being undertaken by the United Nations system and by regional organizations
and institutions in this process, and supports the continuation of such work
in an integrated manner across small island developing States regions. Noting
the important role played by the regional bodies in developing and
coordinating regional waste management programmes, which often provide the
framework for national action, the Commission encourages regional
cooperation within respective small island developing States regions for the
establishment of regional coordinating mechanisms for waste management in
those regions where none currently exist, and calls on the international
community and the United Nations system to continue to provide appropriate
support for those efforts. 

         17.   Noting that waste and pollution from ships, in
particular the potential for major oil spills, represent an important concern
for small island developing States in view of their consequences for the
marine and coastal environment and biological diversity, the Commission
proposes that the international community, in collaboration with regional
organizations and institutions, provide effective support for international
and regional initiatives to protect small island developing States regions
from ship-borne wastes and pollution, including the development of facilities
for receiving ship-borne waste in ports. The Commission calls upon all
countries to adhere to and enforce existing International Maritime
Organization regulations.

         18.   The Commission urges small island developing States to
give early consideration to becoming Parties to important international
agreements that cover waste management and disposal, such as the Basel
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and
Their Disposal, as well as relevant regional agreements, such as
the Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation of Hazardous and Radioactive
Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes in
the South Pacific Region.

         19.   The Commission calls on the international community, in
particular the United Nations system and the donor community, to continue to
support small island developing States' efforts in this area, in particular in
the development of sound waste management infrastructure, including through
financial resources and transfer of environmentally sound technologies;
building adequate legislative frameworks; and the strengthening of
institutional capacity.



              D.   Freshwater resources


         20.   The Commission notes that for small island developing
States, the conservation and sustainable management of freshwater resources is
fundamentally dependent on sound knowledge and understanding of the water
resources potential, and that there is a vital link to the management of
coastal and marine resources and waste.

         21.   The lack of an adequate knowledge base and ongoing
monitoring programmes, often compounded by the small size, remoteness,
physical structure and rapid urbanization of small island developing States,
exacerbates difficulties in management and adequate supply of freshwater
resources, particularly in the smaller islands and coral atoll communities.
The Commission encourages small island developing States, with the vital
support of the international community, to establish and strengthen, as
appropriate, geographic information system (GIS)-based data collection,
storage, analysis and retrieval systems, including monitoring programmes, and
appropriate institutional frameworks, including legislation and national
coordinating mechanisms for the management of freshwater and groundwater
resources, and to give high priority to the immediate development and
implementation of appropriate national water action plans. The Commission
notes the importance of the World Meteorological Organization's World
Hydrological Cycle Observing System, in particular the Caribbean Hydrological
Cycle Observing System.

         22.   The Commission encourages small island developing
States to develop an effective integrated approach to freshwater management,
involving the full collaboration of all interested stakeholders, in particular
women, to ensure the sustainable utilization of water resources, through
appropriate demand management policies, including pricing. This should
include cross-sectoral planning and cooperation between relevant sectors and
industries, such as land and waste management, tourism, and industrial
and other sectors, as well as the active participation of the private sector
and local communities. The Commission encourages Governments of small island
developing States to prioritize public awareness programmes in efforts to
promote environmentally sustainable use of freshwater and coastal waters. 

         23.   The Commission notes the importance of regional and
interregional cooperation on freshwater issues, and recommends greater
cooperation and exchange of technical information, monitoring and modelling
methodologies, and expertise within and among small island developing States
regions in further efforts to promote sound water management programmes for
the benefit of small island developing States. The international community is
urged to support the efforts of small island developing States, including the
implementation of GIS-based information and data systems and training
programmes for key personnel.

         24.   Noting the ongoing work of United Nations agencies, in
particular the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations
Development Programme and the World Bank, in their assistance programmes to
small island developing States within the context of implementation of the
Programme of Action, the Commission encourages the continuation of those
efforts in conjunction with the regional organizations and institutions.
The Commission calls on the international community to continue to provide
support for regional and national efforts to promote sound water resources
assessment and monitoring procedures, demand management and policy frameworks,
including the transfer and development of appropriate and cleaner production
technologies for small island developing States.


              E.   Land resources


         25.   Small island developing States face special constraints
in the management of land resources, particularly of agricultural, forestry
and mineral resources. The Commission notes the efforts made so far at all
levels in addressing the key issues identified in the Programme of Action, and
notes in particular the significant gaps that remain in many areas,
including in the knowledge base and understanding of the various land-based
resources potential. Recognizing the environmental and cost impacts of
land use on other sectors, such as water and forest resources, the Commission
encourages small island developing States to implement a comprehensive and
integrated approach to land-use management, involving all sectors, especially
those at the community level and relevant stakeholders, in the process.

         26.   The Commission encourages small island developing
States to prioritize institutional strengthening and capacity-building
measures at the national and regional levels, including the development of
national and regional legislative frameworks and sustainable long-term
land management plans. It is essential that those be developed from the basis
of sound knowledge and proper understanding of resources. In that
respect, the Commission calls on the international community to continue to
support the efforts of small island developing States, including through the
provision of technical assistance and transfer of appropriate technologies for
sustainable agriculture, forestry and mineral development practices and
environmental impact assessments. Small island developing States are
encouraged to create appropriate environment and resource databases, including
GIS, which would be an invaluable basis for all aspects of land-use planning
and management, including soil erosion control, to minimize environmental
degradation, and to continue their efforts for public awareness programmes at
all levels of society on the benefits of a sustainable approach to land-use
practices. The international community is urged to support the efforts of
small island developing States, including the implementation of GIS-based
information and data systems and training programmes for key personnel.

         27.   The Commission notes the important role played by
United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations in promoting
an improved approach to land-use management in small island developing States.
The Commission calls on the international community to help to strengthen the
ability of existing regional institutions to assist small island developing
States in improving their land-use management. Where effective regional
institutions do not exist, consideration should be given to establishing such
institutions with the assistance of the international community.


              F.   Biodiversity resources


         28.   The Commission takes note of the uniqueness and extreme
fragility of biological diversity, both terrestrial and marine, in small
island developing States, and in the light of their capacity constraints, of
the disproportionate responsibility facing small island developing States in
the conservation of those biological resources. It acknowledges the
necessity for further action at all levels to realize the full implementation
of the relevant parts of the Programme of Action and the Convention on
Biological Diversity. 

         29.   Noting that a lack of appropriately qualified and
trained personnel is a significant obstacle to the vital management of those
natural resources, the Commission encourages small island developing States to
set a high priority on national technological and human capacity-building
within strong institutional frameworks to address that imbalance. Small
island developing States are encouraged to put in place effective conservation
measures for the protection of biological diversity, with particular
emphasis on management and effective monitoring and control of existing
activities that may have serious environmental consequences, such as
deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices and overfishing. 

         30.   The Commission notes the importance of regional
cooperation in the conservation of biological diversity, and encourages small
island developing States to develop strong national, regional and
interregional networks for cooperation at all levels of biodiversity
conservation, including the exchange of data and expertise. Noting ongoing
regional programmes in some small island developing States for the
designation of conservation areas, the Commission urges those small island
developing States that have not done so to designate and develop terrestrial
and marine protected areas at an early stage for the conservation of
biological diversity with the goal of long-term ecological sustainability. 

         31.   The Commission notes ongoing work and programmes
currently being implemented by small island developing States and by the
international and regional organizations, and urges the international
community to continue to provide support to small island developing
States for national and regional capacity-building in their efforts for the
conservation and sustainable use of those important natural resources. In
particular, the Commission recommends that international support include
technical assistance in the development of legislative and regulatory
frameworks, technology transfer and appropriate training programmes.
International support should also include technical assistance in the
development of measures to establish intellectual property rights within the
context of protection of biodiversity resources, and the Commission
notes the development of programmes to assist developing countries in this
area.

         32.   Given the important role of small island developing
States as custodians of a significant proportion of the world's biological
diversity, the Commission stresses the importance of enabling small island
developing States to participate in the global negotiation processes on
biological diversity. In that regard, the Commission notes the significance of
the Trust Fund under the Convention on Biological Diversity in supporting
the participation of developing countries, including small island developing
States.


              G.   National institutions and administrative capacity


         33.   The Commission notes that the process of building institutional
and administrative capacity for the effective achievement of sustainable
development is a complex process, and that for small island developing States,
efforts have been hampered by a severe lack of financial and technical
resources and skills. The Commission urges the international community to
assist small island developing States in strengthening their national
institutional frameworks, including -- where they do not exist --
the establishment, with adequate staff and resources, of national coordinating
mechanisms for the coordination of sustainable development policies and action
plans. 

         34.   The Commission encourages small island developing
States that have not done so to enact the necessary legislative and
administrative frameworks that will provide the basis of their national
strategies and activities for sustainable development, including enhanced
inter-agency cooperation and effective integration of environmental
considerations in economic decision-making, and calls on the international
community to assist their efforts in building national capacity through
effective institutional and administrative reforms. 

         35.   The Commission recognizes that small island developing
States suffer from a lack of adequately skilled human resources. It also notes
the importance of a highly skilled and effectively trained human resources
base in the effective implementation and enforcement of sustainable
development policies and measures. The Commission therefore calls on the
international community and the United Nations system to continue to provide
concrete assistance to small island developing States by providing
appropriate training opportunities for both men and women and
capacity-building programmes at all levels, such as the United Nations
Development Programme Capacity 21 programme, to enable effective national
implementation of sustainable development strategies, especially in the
context of the Programme of Action.

         36.   The Commission encourages regional and subregional
cooperation in this area, in particular in the sharing of information and
expertise on national institutional and administrative capacity-building for
the benefit of small island developing States. The Commission calls on the
international community to continue their support for the activities
of the regional organizations and institutions, including through the
provision of adequate financial resources.

         37.   The Commission expresses concern at current trends in
the levels of external assistance for small island developing States in
national institutions and administrative capacity, and appeals to the
international donor community to provide assistance to small island developing
States at levels necessary to support the implementation of the Programme of
Action.


              H.   Regional institutions and technical cooperation


         38.   The Commission recognizes the necessity for regional
organizations and institutions to play a strong and effective role in the
implementation of the Programme of Action in small island developing States
regions. Small island developing States are encouraged to increase their
cooperation and support for regional organizations and institutions. The
Commission notes that effective programme delivery will be enhanced through
the continued clear identification of national priorities. The Commission
notes that the work of existing regional organizations and institutions may
need to be strengthened or supplemented where gaps are identified.

         39.   The Commission encourages existing regional
organizations and institutions to continue their efforts to enhance their own
effectiveness and delivery of services, including through focused and
sustainable outcomes, increased regional and subregional cooperation
and joint sharing of activities, and calls on the international community to
support those efforts. The Commission calls on the regional organizations
and institutions to enact appropriate screening measures before programme
delivery to ensure that their work programmes and activities realistically
target the needs and priorities of small island developing States. The
Commission also invites regional organizations to monitor programme
effectiveness.

         40.   The Commission views with concern the absence of
permanent regional coordinating mechanisms in some regions of small island
developing States, and invites States concerned to identify the most
appropriate and effective means for addressing that situation.


              I.   Science and technology


         41.   The Commission recognizes the lack of skilled and
qualified scientific and technical personnel in small island developing States
owing to small populations and lack of adequate educational and training
facilities, and encourages small island developing States to accord
high priority to science and technical education opportunities and programmes
at all levels of development, including the strengthening of support for
national and regional educational institutions. It would be desirable for
small island developing States to collaborate at the regional and subregional
levels to share resources and information, including traditional and
indigenous knowledge, in the development of sound networks among scientific
personnel. Small island developing States are also encouraged to promote
a comprehensive approach and to support the strengthened linkages between
educational and research institutions and all other sectors, and to
actively engage the private sector in support for science development. 

         42.   The Commission urges the international community to
enhance international cooperation in the development and promotion of relevant
environmentally sound technologies applicable to small island developing
States, and -- where appropriate -- to make that a component of regional and
international projects. The international community is encouraged to take
necessary steps to facilitate the transfer of appropriate technologies
to small island developing States, wherever appropriate, and to actively
assist small island developing States in establishing regional centres for
capacity-building and training. Noting the measures undertaken by the United
Nations agencies in assisting small island developing States with the
development of scientific resources, the international community and regional
organizations and institutions are urged to take necessary measures for
supporting small island developing States to implement active and effective
science educational programmes.

         43.   The regional organizations and institutions are
encouraged to better promote appropriate science and technology training
programmes at the community level in small island developing States, and to
share information, including the establishment and maintenance of information
and databases on new and innovative technologies appropriate to small island
developing States. Furthermore, regional organizations and institutions are
encouraged to develop and deploy information systems using appropriate
technologies, such as remotely sensed data, GIS and the Internet/Intranet,
as the delivery mechanism.


              J.   Human resources development


         44.   The limited human resources and other constraints
facing small island developing States and the difficulties that those
constraints exert on their sustainable development objectives are recognized.
The Commission acknowledges the efforts by small island developing States and
the progress made, and encourages them to continue to accord high priority to
the comprehensive development of a strong and effective human resources base
in all fields and across all sectors, giving particular attention to building
health standards and care, development of education with specific
environmental components and awareness-raising, the empowerment of women, and
the provision of adequate training opportunities for all sectors. The
establishment of incentive measures would help to retain key personnel in the
public sector. Human resources development is an essential component in
building the institutional capacity of small island developing States for
delivering sustainable development. 

         45.   The Commission calls on regional organizations and
institutions to enhance their support for small island developing States in
the area of human resources development by specifically targeting the human
resources needs of small island developing States in regional development
programmes, including through the provision of practical, effective
and specific training opportunities. The regional organizations and
institutions are urged to assist small island developing States in
systematically identifying their needs and priorities and to give adequate
effect to those needs in project planning for development. Greater regional
and subregional cooperation is encouraged for the joint sharing of
resources, technologies and expertise, as well as at bilateral and
multilateral levels. 

         46.   The Commission notes the work undertaken by United
Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations and donors to address human
resources needs of small island developing States in their funds and
programmes, and invites them to continue to give priority to human resources
development.

         47.   The Commission expresses concern at current trends in
the levels of external assistance for small island developing States in human
resources development, and appeals to the international donor community to
provide assistance to small island developing States at levels necessary to
support implementation of the Programme of Action.

         48.   The Commission recognizes the importance of the Small
Island Developing States Technical Assistance Programme and the Small Island
Developing States Information Network in the overall implementation of the
Programme of Action, and noting the ongoing efforts of the United Nations
Development Programme to operationalize the two programmes, encourages the
continuation of those efforts, in cooperation with Governments of small island
developing States. The Commission further notes that the unavailability
or insufficiency of financial resources is a main obstacle to the full and
early operationalization of those programmes, especially of the Information
Network, and invites the relevant organizations and the international
community to provide support for their proper development. 


              K.   Vulnerability index


         49.   The Commission recalls that a vulnerability index that
takes account of the constraints arising from small size and environmental
fragility, as well as the incidence of natural disasters on a national scale,
and the consequent relationship of those constraints to economic
vulnerability, would assist in defining the vulnerability of small island
developing States and in identifying the challenges to their sustainable
development. The Commission notes the progress made on the index to date. 

         50.   The Commission takes note of the report of the ad hoc
expert group meeting on vulnerability indices for small island developing
States, 33/ and of its conclusion that as a group, small island developing
States are more vulnerable than other groups of developing countries.

         51.   The Commission recalls General Assembly resolutions
52/202 and 52/210 of 18 December 1997, as well as resolution 51/183 of 16
December 1996, in which the Assembly requested the Committee for Development
Planning, 34/ at its thirty-second session, to formulate its views and
recommendations on the report to be prepared by the Secretary-General on the
vulnerability index for small island developing States, and to submit those
views to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session, through the Economic
and Social Council, and to make the information available to the Commission.
The Commission looks forward to the report of the Committee. 

         52.   The Commission calls on the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development, the United Nations Environment Programme, the
regional commissions, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and other
relevant bodies of the United Nations system, as well as other relevant
actors, to accord priority to the continuation of the quantitative
and analytical work on the vulnerability of small island developing States, in
keeping with the provisions of the Programme of Action and General
Assembly resolutions 52/202 and 52/210. 


         Decision 6/5. Information provided by Governments and
         exchange of national experiences *

               (* For the discussion, see chap. IX below.)


         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development:

            (a)    Recognizes the efforts made by all countries that
have provided voluntary national communications or reports on the
implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level and that have been made
available by the Secretariat through the Web site;

            (b)    Notes that voluntary national reporting has
increased and that, to date, 106 countries have provided information to the
Commission;

            (c)    Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by
the Secretariat in compiling and updating the information so provided. In this
respect, the Commission emphasizes the importance of processing the contents
of the national reports in order to take full advantage of the information
therein;

            (d)    Takes note of the concern expressed in the report
of the Secretary-General on national reporting to the Commission 35/ regarding
the timeliness with which these reports are requested and submitted;

            (e)    Takes note of and welcomes the presentations of
national experiences on sustainable water management made during the sixth
session of the Commission and its inter-sessional ad hoc working group by the
representatives of China, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Venezuela
and Zimbabwe;

            (f)    Recalls the recommendation made on the exchange of
national experiences at the regional level as contained in paragraphs 133 (b)
and (c) of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, 36/ and
expresses its appreciation for the work carried out by the Secretariat in this
field. 

         2. The Commission:

            (a)    Encourages Governments to continue providing
voluntary national communications or reports on the implementation of Agenda
21 at the national level, with the broad involvement of all sectors of
society, and invites those Governments that have not yet done so to submit
their national reports;

            (b)    Also encourages Governments to continue making
voluntary national presentations within the framework of the sessions of the
Commission;

            (c)    Requests the Secretariat to process and compile, on
a sectoral basis, the information provided by Governments and requests the
task managers of the sectoral areas to make more comprehensive use of this
information in the preparations of the reports to the Commission at its future
sessions, in accordance with the issues contained in the multi-year programme
of work of the Commission, 1998-2002; 37/

            (d)    Decides that a similar sectoral review will be made
on freshwater for the comprehensive review to be carried out by the General
Assembly in the year 2002;

            (e)    Requests the task managers of the sectoral areas to
provide relevant information on the global progress made in the implementation
of Agenda 21 as part of the preparations for the comprehensive review to be
carried out by the General Assembly in the year 2002;

            (f)    Takes note of the proposal under consideration
within the Economic Commission for Europe to undertake an exchange of national
experiences of the countries within the region and invites the Economic
Commission for Europe to share the results of any such exercise with the
Commission on Sustainable Development;

            (g)    Takes note of the important ongoing work aimed at
streamlining requests for national information and reporting, of the results
of the pilot phase relating to indicators of sustainable development, and of
the importance of identifying data gaps based on the information already
provided by Governments.


         Decision 6/6. Matters related to the inter-sessional work of
         the Commission *

                 (* For the discussion, see chap. IX below.)


         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development decides,
pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1997/63 of 25 July 1997 on
the programme of work of the Commission for the period 1998 2002 and future
methods of work of the Commission, that in order to assist the Commission in
its deliberations at its seventh session, the 1999 sessions of its
inter-sessional ad hoc working groups will be devoted to the following issues:

            (a)    Oceans and seas, and comprehensive review of the
Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States; 38/

            (b)    Consumption and production patterns, including
recommendations for sustainable consumption for inclusion in the United
Nations guidelines for consumer protection, 39/ as requested by the Economic
and Social Council in its resolution 1997/53 of 23 July 1997 entitled
"Consumer protection", and tourism.

         2. The Commission, in accordance with paragraph 133 of the
Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, 40/ adopted by the
General Assembly at its nineteenth special session held from 23 to 28 June
1997, also decides that, at its seventh session, the Bureau shall conduct
transparent and open-ended consultations in a timely manner to ensure greater
involvement of member States on matters related to preparations for the
seventh session of the Commission and the sessions of its inter-sessional ad
hoc working groups, including on ways to improve the organization of work
during the high-level segment of the Commission.

         3. The Commission urges that, in order to enable the Bureau
to carry out its functions effectively, consideration should be given to
providing appropriate financial support, through extrabudgetary contributions,
to members of the Bureau, particularly those from the developing countries, to
enable them to participate in the meetings of the Bureau, in the
inter-sessional meetings of the Commission and in the sessions of the
Commission itself. 


Chapter II

         Chairman's summary of the industry segment of the sixth
         session of the Commission on Sustainable Development


         1. The new programme of work of the Commission on Sustainable
Development for the period 1998 2002, recommended by the General Assembly at
its nineteenth special session and approved by the Economic and Social Council
in its resolution 1997/63, provides for policy discussion, exchanges of
experiences and elaboration of common approaches within specific economic
sectors having strong linkages to environmental and natural resources issues.
The Bureau of the Commission at its fifth session at the meeting
held on 2 and 3 October 1997, suggested that the sixth session of the
Commission include a separate "industry segment" to provide an interactive
dialogue on industry and sustainable development between the representatives
of Governments, industry, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, other
major groups and international organizations.

         2. During the industry segment, held on 21 and 22 April 1998,
four themes were identified for discussion: responsible entrepreneurship;
corporate management tools; technology cooperation and assessment; and
industry and freshwater.

         3. Participants agreed that the interactive dialogue was a
constructive innovation in the work of the Commission in response to the
outcome of the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly and
contributed to the Commission's intergovernmental process. It was also a
learning experience, the results of which would need to be taken fully into
         account by the Commission in preparing for similar events
during future sessions. At such future events, it would be important to secure
a better balance with respect to the participation of representatives from
developed and developing countries as well as in the delegations of major
groups.

         4. The summary set out below was prepared by the Chairman of
the Commission. While the format of the summary does not allow all the views
expressed to be reflected in detail, an attempt is made to highlight some
general conclusions which met with broad agreement among the participants,
those which require more dialogue and better understanding, and specific
initiatives suggested by participants.

         5. It is expected that the dialogue launched during the
industry segment will stimulate further action and collaboration, both within
and beyond the aegis of the Commission, to foster stronger partnerships among
Governments, as well as between Governments and all other partners concerned,
aimed at achieving sustainable development worldwide.


              A.   Responsible entrepreneurship


         6. Participants recognized the important role of responsible
entrepreneurship and voluntary initiatives in support of sustainable
development, but noted that, although much progress had been achieved by
industry, more needed to be done to build upon those achievements. In this
regard, it was important to promote the practice of responsible
entrepreneurship within more sectors, particularly among small and
medium-sized enterprises. It was suggested that more work was necessary to
clearly define terms and concepts related to voluntary initiatives and to
develop appropriate mechanisms for evaluating the effectiveness and successful
characteristics of those initiatives.

         7. Representatives of trade unions stressed that responsible
entrepreneurship should incorporate democratic principles of participation to
promote the participation of workers, trade unions and other major groups in
decision-making and implementation. Industry was also urged to recognize the
need for universal compliance by industry with core labour standards, as
contained in International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, and to
expand productive employment, reduce unemployment, enhance social protection
and reduce the vulnerability of the poorest groups.

         8. Representatives of industry were of the opinion that they
demonstrated a strong commitment to improving environmental performance
through voluntary initiatives such as the chemical industry's Responsible Care
programme in many countries, as well as initiatives built on the concept of
continuous improvement. Representatives of industry suggested that voluntary
initiatives should be sector, industry and country specific because no "one
size fits all".

         9. Participants generally agreed that there should be an
integrated approach to promoting responsible entrepreneurship and voluntary
initiatives and, in addition to the regulatory framework and incentives
provided by Governments to encourage voluntary compliance, there should also
be active participation by all stakeholders in the process. It was also
important to develop new partnerships between industry, government and other
stakeholders.

         10.   Many participants stressed that, with the spreading
practice of responsible entrepreneurship and increasing use of voluntary
initiatives, it was important to continue to improve the quality of the
reporting of such practices. Concerns were expressed that one of the
weaknesses of current corporate reporting was the absence of information that
would permit an assessment of the contribution of voluntary initiatives
towards achieving sustainability.

         11.   Representatives of trade unions, supported by
non-governmental organizations, presented the view that, in general, voluntary
initiatives should have the following features: transparency, accountability
and workplace mechanisms to ensure the participation of workers and trade
unions; allow monitoring and assessment of corporate practice, beginning
with the workplace; ensure access to information for workers, community
members and Governments to evaluate the effect of corporate decisions and
practices; set quantifiable objectives and comply with environmental law;
reflect indicators of sustainable development promoted by ILO; and incorporate
the principles of the "right to know", "whistle-blower protection" and the
"right to refuse" work where workplace activities were shown to be harmful to
the environment.

         12.   With regard to government policies, many participants
emphasized that Governments had an important role to play in promoting
responsible entrepreneurship because voluntary initiatives by industry
complemented rather than replaced government intervention. In order
to promote responsible entrepreneurship, Governments should provide the
necessary regulatory framework and use appropriate market mechanisms,
including incentives, to encourage actions and behaviour on the part of
industry that supported the goal of sustainable development. The use of
incentives, for example, could encourage industry to achieve improvements
beyond minimum standards. As employment was a cornerstone of sustainable
development, education and training policies should be designed to
incorporate key elements of sustainable development.

         13.   A number of speakers stressed that Governments had a
crucial role to play in promoting the integration of the social and
environmental objectives of sustainable development within industry.
Particular attention should be given to developing support programmes to
promote responsible entrepreneurship among small and medium-sized
enterprises. Particular attention should be given to developing appropriate
partnerships with non-governmental organizations, trade unions and small
and medium-sized enterprises by providing financial support, technical
training and other capacity-building resources to foster responsible
entrepreneurship.

         14.   Participants recommended that Governments develop an
effective dialogue with industry and stakeholders to promote the development
of voluntary initiatives and programmes to reach well-defined and time-bound
objectives. In partnership with business and industry and international
organizations, Governments should promote the development of performance
indicators to facilitate the quantification and comparison of the
environmental and social performance of companies.

         15.   In addressing the role of industry, several speakers
noted the progress achieved in promoting responsible entrepreneurship since
the Rio summit but stressed that more needed to be done to extend and improve
the contribution of industry in that area. They considered it important that
industry continue to promote best practices. Representatives of industry
noted that it was in their own interests to promote sustainable development
for the long-term viability of industry.

         16.   Participants acknowledged that some progress had been
made in the reporting on voluntary initiatives and agreements by industry.
However, it was noted that in order to improve the quality and scope of
reporting, more work was needed to quantify the environmental and social
progress achieved by industry. In particular, reporting on social
progress was in its infancy. 

         17.   In particular, representatives of non-governmental
organizations urged industry to improve its reporting on voluntary initiatives
by addressing adequately the issues of transparency, independent verification,
standardization and stakeholder involvement. Representatives of trade unions
added that the assessment of progress made in a sector or country needed to be
facilitated through the development of a set of relevant indicators
and metrics.

         18.   Turning to the role of the industry associations,
participants urged those associations to continue and expand proactive
servicing of the sustainable development needs of their members and emphasized
that they could play key roles, for example, in developing substantive
voluntary codes of conduct and building the commitment of the membership
to those codes.

         19.   In view of the fact that foreign direct investment
(FDI) was an important vehicle for promoting responsible entrepreneurship,
industry was invited to direct more FDI to the least developed countries. Such
FDI could complement official development assistance (ODA) and help to spread
better business practices into developing countries. Representatives of
industry suggested that donors consider an increased share of ODA for
capacity-building aimed at creating conditions favourable to the flow of FDI,
particularly in least developed countries.

         20.   The participants highlighted the role of the
international community in promoting responsible entrepreneurship, and
representatives of non-governmental organizations and trade unions recommended
that the sustainable development dimension should be incorporated into
international agreements, including agreements in the World Trade
Organization and the Multilateral Agreement on Investment currently being
negotiated by countries members of the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development.

         21.   In this context, participants emphasized that a global
approach was necessary to ensure that environmental and social goals were
clearly identified and pursued. The international community should continue to
develop, assess and disseminate best practices.

         22.   Representatives of non-governmental organizations, with
support from trade unions, proposed a review by all major groups of voluntary
initiatives undertaken by industry. The major groups planned to meet to
consider the elements and goals of such a review. Representatives of industry
proposed organizing such a meeting in the third quarter of 1998.


         B.   Corporate management tools for sustainable development


         23.   The merits of various corporate management tools for
sustainable development were discussed, and it was generally agreed that the
use of corporate management tools had benefits for industry and other
stakeholders. However, it was stressed that no one tool could solve all
problems and that each tool had specific strengths and limitations. What was
necessary was "tool boxes", on the understanding that companies would need the
flexibility to choose the methods best suited to their particular
organizational characteristics.

         24.   There was a large measure of agreement that education,
training, technical assistance and information collection and dissemination
were crucial for corporate management tools to be successfully implemented.
There was also widespread agreement that the special situation and role of
small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in developing countries,
warranted particular attention. With regard to the implementation of voluntary
environmental management systems, it was noted that the involvement of all
stakeholders would ensure the best results. Some participants felt that
environmental management systems should incorporate independent third-party
verification, monitoring of implementation and public reporting of results. On
that issue, representatives of trade unions felt that workplaces should be
seen as a major focus of action to implement sustainable development goals,
and urged that training be utilized by all sectors to promote the knowledge
and attitudinal changes necessary for cleaner production, waste reduction,
pollution control and energy conservation.

         25.   Participants stressed that good environmental
management should be seen as a long-term process of continual learning
and improvement. It entailed an internal transformation that increased
awareness, involved employees and changed organizational behaviour.
Environmental protection, health and safety systems were fundamental,
providing the structure that supported the integration of sustainable
development into the day-to-day operation of business, and should be
encouraged in companies of all sizes and sectors. Essential elements of an
environmental management system included environmental reporting, auditing,
objectives, accounting and indicators. Other tools included the
precautionary principle, cleaner production, eco-efficiency, life-cycle
assessment, durability and design for the environment.

         26.   With regard to government policies, participants noted
that Governments had an important role to play in promoting the use of
corporate management tools that improved the performance of industry in
meeting the objectives of sustainable development. To this end, Governments
should provide regulatory frameworks and incentives to encourage industry to
more widely employ corporate management tools such as environmental
management systems in order to improve their environmental performance.

         27.   The view was expressed that Governments should promote
fair and rigorous certification and accreditation in order to safeguard the
credibility of national, regional and international standards of management
systems.

         28.   Regarding the role of industry in promoting corporate
management tools, participants noted that the implementation of tools such as
environmental management systems was increasing. Participants urged industry
to continue to improve its environmental performance and to increase its
collection and dissemination of data in order to demonstrate that progress,
and to keep stakeholders informed of its policies and practices. Business and
industry should continue to explore possibilities for verifying adherence to
voluntary initiatives such as ISO-14001 and the Eco-Management and
Audit Scheme (EMAS).

         29.   Industry should also develop strategies for bringing
small and medium-sized enterprises into the mainstream of good environmental
management and for using investment, trade and markets to disseminate good
practices, technologies and expertise to developing countries and countries
with economies in transition. Multinational companies could play an important
role by increasing their cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises.
Partnerships with government and other stakeholders would be crucial to
supporting that effort.

         30.   Furthermore, companies should work with suppliers to
spread best practices and support efforts to implement ILO core labour
standards and international environmental standards.

         31.   Representatives of trade unions urged industry to
ensure that corporate management tools included the following functions:
provide for democratic decision-making in the workplace and participatory
mechanisms to involve workers and their trade unions; build on progress made
within an industrial relations context which included collective bargaining
and other forms of workplace-based agreements between employers and trade
unions; promote joint workplace target-setting by employers and trade unions,
and encourage joint monitoring programmes, evaluation processes and
implementation measures; and promote training and education of workers to
enable them to be fully involved in environmental management systems.


              C.   Technology cooperation and assessment


         32.   Representatives of industry provided a working definition of
technology cooperation and suggested that successful technology cooperation
required an efficient market system that provided the financial incentives
necessary for technological innovation and investment in modern technology.
Technology cooperation and assessment was an important mechanism for
progressing towards sustainable development. They suggested that market
mechanisms provide the primary vehicle for technology cooperation and
assessment. Moreover, exchange of technologies should be a two-way street.
Representatives of industry were of the view that technology cooperation and
assessment and foreign direct investment, together with increased
international trade, had contributed to rapid economic growth and poverty
alleviation in several developing countries. They stated that an enabling
political and policy framework was required, for example, with regard
to political and economic stability, intellectual property rights and an
adequate legal framework, and fighting corruption. However, they maintained
that it was equally important to ensure that overly restrictive legislation
did not encourage the transfer of bad and inappropriate technologies,
and to establish joint initiatives to facilitate investment. It was also
required that knowledge, skills and equipment be transferred between actors
at the local, national and international levels.

         33.   There appeared to be widespread agreement that
technology cooperation should involve the highest degree of safety and
environmental protection that was reasonably achievable. Transfer of efficient
technologies should be accompanied by high environmental, health and safety
standards.

         34.   Furthermore, some participants emphasized that
technologies should be properly assessed, introduced and reviewed in order to
avoid causing environmentally and socially adverse impacts in recipient
countries. This required advanced education and training. Access to
information was crucial and could be supported by a clearing-house mechanism.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations called for talent and
technology banks to be established at the regional level with the involvement
of all stakeholders. As well as acting as clearing houses, such information
banks could make available unbiased information on endogenous environmentally
sound technologies and the technologies of indigenous people. They could also
promote joint venture development and local ownership of technologies, provide
opportunities for scientists to work in their own countries and serve as an
office to register and protect intellectual property rights.

         35.   There was widespread agreement on the need to explore
the potential of publicly owned and publicly funded environmentally sound
technologies since a proportion of those technologies were held or owned by
Governments or public institutions, or resulted from publicly funded research
activities.

         36.   With regard to the role of government, there was broad
consensus that Governments should develop and implement policies to create a
stable macroeconomic environment and an enabling legal and financial framework
to facilitate technology cooperation and attract the foreign direct investment
needed for the transfer and dissemination of environmentally sound
technologies.

         37.   There was broad consensus that in order to improve the
capacity of local industry to absorb and adapt new technologies, Governments
should strengthen educational systems and, in cooperation with other major
groups, expand opportunities for training in order to promote the integration
of imported technology with locally available technology.

         38.   Many participants were of the opinion that Governments
of developing countries could improve their bargaining capabilities in
technology transfer agreements through increased technology assessment
capacity. Representatives of non-governmental organizations advanced the view
that developing countries, in order to maximize social, economic and
environmental benefits, should focus their limited scientific and technical
resources on improving their capacity to evaluate and bargain for foreign
technology and expertise that would serve national priorities.

         39.   Many participants were of the opinion that Governments,
in their efforts to safeguard the rights of indigenous people, should explore
ways and means to compensate indigenous communities for knowledge used in
patents on genetic resources.

         40.   They also felt that industry should further develop and
strengthen safety guidelines to prevent adverse effects of technology,
including health effects and industrial accidents.

         41.   Many participants considered that official development
assistance should provide more resources for capacity-building in order to
improve the absorption of imported technologies in developing countries.

         42.   International programmes to produce independent,
credible verification of environmental technologies could assist users and
regulators of technology to make informed decisions, and help suppliers of
technology to reach global markets more quickly. The public would benefit
through improved environmental quality. Many noted that further work was
necessary to identify the types of verification programmes that could be
effective.

         43.   Representatives of trade unions emphasized that
technology transfer must serve to protect the environment, promote employment
as a cornerstone of sustainable development, and be undertaken with the full
range of risk assessment and control procedures already developed in the area
of occupational health and safety. Transition programmes should be instituted
for workers displaced because of technological change, and workers should
be provided with training and education, including international worker
exchange programmes, organized with the involvement of trade unions as
a basis for effective technology transfer. Workers and trade unions should be
involved in decisions affecting technology changes at the workplace.

         44.   Representatives of non-governmental organizations called for
banks and international financial institutions to provide access to long-term
financing for business development by non-governmental organizations utilizing
environmentally sound technologies in independent or joint venture projects.


              D.   Industry and freshwater


         45.   Several speakers noted that the twenty-first century
would witness increasing competition for finite freshwater resources, and that
all sectors needed to cooperate if society was to avert or minimize the
adverse effects associated with emerging freshwater shortages. Comprehensive
freshwater management strategies must involve all suppliers and users.
Non-governmental organizations stressed that good water management could
not be undertaken by a central Government and had to be designed according to
local conditions, with problem-solving based on the involvement of all
stakeholders, especially women and indigenous peoples, preferably at a
subnational or local level. It was noted that over 1 billion people did not
have access to safe drinking water, over 2 billion did not have access to
adequate sanitation and 3 to 5 million deaths per year resulted from
water-related diseases.

         46.   Participants emphasized that the integrated watershed
management approach had become absolutely necessary in water resources
protection. It was imperative to consider the impact of industrial activities
on the watershed where a particular industrial site was located, as well as on
populations and areas downstream. The impact of the industrial facilities on
the ecosystem should be addressed, and the best practices should be
implemented in a collaborative approach. In that regard, trade unions felt
that the issue of water must be approached in an integrated way, especially
with regard to target-setting in the workplace.

         47.   Participants recognized that education and information
were critical for local water resources protection and improving water
quality. The involvement of women and indigenous people in improving water
quality was especially critical.

         48.   As to the role of Governments, participants emphasized
that special attention needed to be paid to the issue of full pricing of
water. Considering that water was an economic, environmental and social good,
some participants felt that its pricing should cover costs and risks
associated with finding, processing, conserving and delivering water to
end-users, as well as meeting the demands of social equity.

         49.   Participants also noted that agriculture was the
largest water consumer and was a crucial sector for the evolution of
government water policy, especially in countries experiencing water scarcity.

         50.   There was broad agreement that Governments should
remain ultimately responsible for water protection, supply and delivery. They
should play the major role in the treatment and delivery of water, protection
of water from abuse, pollution prevention and the promotion of employment
through improved management. Governments should establish or maintain
standards to ensure the safety of water consumption and prevent health hazards
associated with water-related diseases, in close collaboration with industry
and other stakeholders.

         51.   Industry representatives suggested that Governments
must accept that there were certain risks which only they could absorb. The
private sector did not have the authority or capacity to deal with such
problems as acquisition of land and rights of way for the installation of
pipelines and plants at an economic cost; efficient performance by
government-owned distribution companies with contracts to purchase water from
private-sector water companies; and the financial impact of large changes in
exchange rates.

         52.   There was general agreement that a more comprehensive
management of water resources, including pollution-control policies, was
necessary. Appropriate regulations or economic incentives and institutional
structures should be developed for internalizing the externalities that arose
when one user affected the quantity and quality of water available to another
group. The effects of damage caused by industries through pollution
of surface water and groundwater needed to be taken into account in
determining their water tariffs.

         53.   Participants noted that there was a growing consensus
for greater private-sector involvement, taking into account the political,
legal, cultural, institutional, financial and technical characteristics of
water and sewage systems.

         54.   Many participants noted that industry could play an
active role in a number of areas related to the demand for freshwater for
human needs, including research and development of efficient new
infrastructure for urban water supply and new technology for the reuse
of urban wastewater.

         55.   Non-governmental organizations stressed that guidelines
for monitoring biological and chemical toxicity at both water sources and
delivery points could be developed by appropriate United Nations bodies.

         56.   In the area of sustainable provision of water to meet
agricultural needs, some participants suggested that industry could help by
promoting best practices in environmental management, including fertilizer and
pesticide usage. In addition, some suggested that industrial research and
development for improving irrigation technology should be strongly
supported. In that context, targets for agriculture use of water should be set
and met. Non-governmental organization representatives proposed that the
Commission initiate an ongoing dialogue of stakeholder groups to develop
common criteria for good practices.

         57.   Many participants stressed that the environment was not
just a sectoral user of water but played a fundamental role in maintaining the
quality and supply of water resources for use for other purposes. Industry
could assist in promoting effective environmental management of water and land
resources. The chemical and fertilizer sectors, for example, had an important
role to play in protecting water quality and life-supporting ecosystems. 

         58.   Many participants suggested that workers and their
trade unions be involved with employers in developing workplace eco-auditing
tools to address problems of water management. 

         59.   Some participants felt that industry should also
develop standards to protect existing water quality and improve substandard
sources. Decisions on siting industrial facilities should take into account
the quality of the water resources to be used and the impact of the industrial
activity on those resources.

         60.   Industry representatives suggested further work on
defining the nature and pricing of natural resources, such as water, in
particular the definition of social goods and how they should be monetarized
and integrated in market prices. They suggested that two countries be invited
to work together to evaluate how to achieve full cost-pricing and
manage water tariffs. Two other countries could study how watershed management
could contribute to water protection and enhance carbon sinks for
greenhouse gases under the "clean development" mechanism.

         61.   With respect to actions by the international community,
many participants suggested that the United Nations system play an active role
in harmonizing, at the international and national levels, the recommendations
being made to countries for integrated water resources management strategies.
In addition, they suggested that the United Nations system play a central role
in the development and coordination of data and information networks,
strengthen regional and global monitoring systems, conduct periodic global
assessments and analyses, promote the broadest exchange and dissemination
of relevant information, in particular to developing countries, and increase
its role in education efforts.

         62.   They also suggested that international organizations
promote technology transfer and research cooperation in collaboration with
Governments and industry to foster sustainable agriculture practices that
integrated efficient water use and prevented the pollution of surface water
and groundwater.


Chapter III


         Chairman's summary of the high-level segment of the sixth
           session of the Commission on Sustainable Development

                        (New York, 1 May 1998)


              A.   General


         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development held its sixth
session with the active participation of many ministers and other
representatives of national Governments, United Nations organizations,
international financial institutions and industry. The energetic
involvement of Governments and major groups, including business and industry,
trade unions and non-governmental organizations, was noteworthy.

         2. The session was enriched by a number of special and side
events, initiated by major group representatives, Governments and United
Nations organizations. In the two-day industry segment, representatives of
business and industry, Governments, trade unions and non-governmental
organizations discussed the role of industry in sustainable development.
A series of exhibits and presentations relating to the role of industry in the
transfer of environmentally sound technologies provided practical
examples of the role of industry in international cooperation for sustainable
development. Many other events organized by Governments, international
organizations and non-governmental organizations provided for an active
exchange of views and information on many aspects of sustainable
development and indicated the diversity and enthusiasm of many groups and the
broad and growing commitment to sustainable development. These
activities were seen as an encouraging demonstration of the continuing
vitality of the Rio process.

         3. Participants in the high-level segment stressed the
continuing importance of the inter-sessional process and expressed
their gratitude to Governments and organizations that had sponsored
inter-sessional initiatives that contributed to the preparations for the sixth
session. They welcomed new initiatives from a number of Governments and
organizations for future inter-sessional activities that would contribute
to the work of the Commission at its forthcoming sessions.

         4. Participants in the high-level segment provided
information on progress at the national level towards the development of
strategies and programmes for sustainable development and took note of the
information submitted in national reports to the Commission and in
presentations of national experience made by a number of countries.
There was a feeling, however, that the interdisciplinary nature of sustainable
development would be better reflected if there were more ministers
responsible for economic and social issues who could join ministers
responsible for the environment.

         5. Progress at the international level during the past year
was also noted in such areas as climate change, with the adoption of the Kyoto
Protocol, chemical safety, with the work on the conventions on prior informed
consent (PIC) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and the first
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Severe Drought and/or
Desertification, Particularly in Africa.

         6. Participants noted that a number of countries had signed
the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change during the Commission's session, adding to those countries that had
previously signed it. It was recognized that developed countries should take
the lead in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.


              B.   Issues discussed at the sixth session


         7. Participants noted that this was the first session of the
Commission following the adoption by the General Assembly at its nineteenth
special session of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21.
Participants welcomed the focused approach of the new five-year work programme
and emphasized the need to promote economic and social development and
environmental protection, and to support the overarching themes of poverty
reduction and changing consumption and production patterns in an integrated
and balanced manner.

         8. Participants stressed the importance for sustainable
development of meeting the human development goals and targets agreed upon at
major United nations conferences, including reducing infant, child and
maternal mortality, universal primary education, and reducing malnutrition and
poverty.

         9. Participants welcomed efforts to strengthen the role of
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in promoting environmental
aspects of sustainable development, including its activities in Nairobi, as
well as its centres in Paris and Japan. Special mention was made of its work
with the financial community and of possible future work on industry and
freshwater.

         10.   The importance of international, regional and
subregional sharing of information was noted by many participants. Many
countries face similar problems of sustainable development and can benefit
from exchanges of experience, particularly concerning problems that are common
to the countries of a region or subregion. The Commission could play a
stronger role as a forum for the exchange of regional data and experiences.

         11.   The development and application of indicators for
monitoring sustainable development and assessing the effectiveness of policies
was also recognized as important. It was noted that work on indicators was
being carried out in a variety of national and international organizations and
that coordination of such efforts could contribute to the effective use of
indicators.

         12.   Participants recognized that promoting sustainable
development required a judicious mix of government, market and voluntary
structures and activities, adapted to the specific needs and capacities of
each country, so as to harness the innovative skills of entrepreneurs
and civil society.


              1.   Financial resources

         13.   Participants noted that ODA continued to decline and
was far below the accepted United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross
national product (GNP). A few countries, however, continued to meet and
surpass the target. Participants called for greater efforts
by other countries to reach the target.

         14.   Participants noted that foreign direct investment,
which had increased in recent years, was contributing to sustainable
development in recipient countries. Private investment, however, could not
generally substitute for ODA, as it was concentrated on a small number
of countries and did not always contribute to sustainable development. The
decline of ODA had reduced a main source of development finance for many
developing countries, aggravating poverty, marginalization and environmental
degradation, particularly in areas with fragile ecosystems. Many participants
noted the continued importance of ODA for supporting education and the
transfer of environmentally sound technology for increasing sustainable
production and employment. Proposals were made for new financial
mechanisms for supporting sustainable development, including international
funds for meeting basic needs for water and for debt-for-nature swaps.

         15.   Participants noted that foreign direct investment could
have negative as well as positive effects. Further work was needed to assess
the positive and negative effects of FDI on sustainable development and to
take measures to enhance the positive effects and to enable more countries to
enjoy those benefits. Participants noted the possibility of using ODA to
complement FDI and to attract private-sector investment to sectors and
countries that have not yet benefited from such flows. Concern was also
expressed, however, over conditionalities on ODA relating to policies for
attracting foreign investment. It was felt that special attention should be
given to assistance to countries where ecological vulnerability was causing a
deterioration in social conditions.

         16.   Participants welcomed the successful second replenishment of
the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which should allow an increase in
project funding in support of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Vienna Convention
on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol, and the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. They also welcomed efforts to
improve procedures to ensure that projects met country priorities
and to clarify the criteria for incremental funding.


              2.   Strategic approaches to freshwater management

         17.   Participants noted that water was essential to meet
basic social needs, to promote agricultural and industrial production and to
support critical natural ecosystems. The demand for water was steadily
increasing while supplies were not, resulting in growing water shortages in
many countries and projections of future water shortages in others. Water
shortages were exacerbated in many areas by increasing water pollution,
further limiting the supply of water for human consumption and other uses
requiring clean water. In some areas, competition for scarce water could
create conditions for potential conflict.

         18.   There was growing recognition that in many areas water
was a scarce resource and that improved water management was necessary to
ensure adequate provision for domestic consumption, agriculture, industrial
production and critical ecosystems. Participants welcomed the organization of
meetings in Harare, Petersberg (Germany) and Paris, focusing on a number of
critical issues of freshwater management. They also welcomed the
announcements by a number of countries of their plans to organize
international conferences on water-related issues as a contribution to the
future work of the Commission.

         19.   Noting that a large number of people in developing
countries did not have access to clean water or adequate sanitation
facilities, participants stressed that meeting those basic human needs should
be an urgent priority for national action and international cooperation.

         20.   Sustainable management of water resources required an
integrated approach to regulation and pricing to ensure that the basic needs
of all people were met, while promoting efficient water use for economic
production, and ensuring the health of ecosystems. Emphasis was given to the
need for integrated watershed management, with multi-stakeholder participation
and local planning.

         21.   Participants noted that water distribution and pricing
systems should ensure that clean water was accessible and affordable for
everyone. They also noted that many poor people in developing countries
without access to public water systems paid high rates for water and that
investment was urgently needed to extend public water supplies.

         22.   There was a spirited exchange of views on the
desirability of full-cost pricing of water. Some participants stressed that
water was primarily a social good and that full-cost pricing would be socially
inequitable, particularly in developing countries. Others emphasized that
movement towards full-cost pricing, with provisions for meeting basic
needs, was an essential mechanism to promote the efficient use of limited
water supplies and to mobilize resources to finance the extension of
drinking water and sanitation infrastructure. Some participants described
experiences in their countries with partial privatization of water services
and the challenges of reconciling equity with efficiency.

         23.   The social, cultural, economic and ecological
importance of water for all members of society require that the development of
equitable and efficient water management systems should be a participatory
process, involving all users. Particular efforts were required to increase the
participation of women in the development of water management policy and
systems, as women generally bear most of the burden of lack of clean water and
sanitation.

         24.   Participants recognized the importance of water
management on a watershed and groundwater aquifer basis. In the case of
international watercourses, this required the cooperation of all riparian
States. It was suggested that similar arrangements were needed for managing
shared groundwater resources. Participants also suggested that the
organization of joint technical groups could be useful for addressing problems
relating to shared water resources.

         25.   Water resources management could be improved through
the organization of demonstration projects and the dissemination of
information on best practices, perhaps through an international
water-information network. Training and technical assistance were
also required.


              3.   Industry and sustainable development

         26.   Participants expressed appreciation for the industry
segment as a dialogue among representatives of industry, Governments, trade
unions and non-governmental organizations. That multi-stakeholder exchange
represented a valuable innovation in the work of the Commission and made an
important contribution to the work of the sixth session. Efforts should be
made to continue and enhance such dialogues in the future, with increased
participation of major group participants from developing countries. In
particular, the participation of representatives of industry in the
discussions in the Commission should be continued at future sessions. In this
regard, there was a proposal for a voluntary financial mechanism to support
the participation of major group representatives from developing countries in
the work of the Commission.

         27.   Participants emphasized that industry had a key role to
play in social development and environmental protection, as well as in
economic development. Industry should continue to contribute to poverty
reduction and employment, to cleaner production, to the diffusion of best
practices, and to the more efficient use of natural resources and energy
in production processes.

         28.   Participants noted the difficulties faced by small and
medium-sized enterprises, particularly in developing countries, in complying
with national and international standards and adopting best practices for
cleaner production. They called for greater efforts at the national and
international levels by both the public and private sectors to support the
adoption of cleaner, more productive and more efficient technologies and
improved management by small and medium-sized enterprises. Developed
country enterprises could assist developing country small and medium-sized
enterprises in adopting best practices through supply chain relationships.

         29.   Participants noted that industry was increasingly
becoming an active partner in sustainable development efforts. Improvements in
the energy and resource efficiency of production, conservation of energy and
other resources, and protection of air and water quality would benefit both
industry and society in general. Sustainable development is therefore
increasingly seen as a public-private partnership, involving trade unions,
environmental groups and consumer groups, as well as government and industry.
Many participants emphasized that voluntary initiatives by industry groups,
often in cooperation with government or private groups, could make a valuable
contribution to sustainable development. It was suggested that an analysis of
the effectiveness of voluntary initiatives in promoting sustainable
development should be undertaken by major groups. In their observations on the
requirements for the success of such initiatives, participants reinforced
the conclusions of the industry segment.

         30.   Participants called on Governments to work with
business to encourage responsible entrepreneurship, through such means as
environmental management systems, setting environmental standards and
publication of information on the environmental and social impacts of goods
and services, taking into account their production, distribution, use and
disposal.


              4.   Transfer of environmentally sound technologies

         31.   The transfer of environmentally sound technologies to
developing countries required partnerships between public and private actors
in both developed and developing countries, as well as research and
development institutes, educational institutions and international
organizations. Business and industry had a vital role to play in providing
practical know-how and skills for management and product design,
commercialization and marketing, while Governments should provide an enabling
environment, including financial incentives, for such transfers.

         32.   Participants noted that meetings in the Republic of
Korea and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, organized
as part of the preparations for the sixth session, focused on important
aspects of technology transfer and contributed to the Commission's work.

         33.   Participants emphasized that ODA was particularly
crucial for capacity-building in the least developed countries to enable them
to develop, absorb and adapt environmentally sound technologies to meet local
economic, social and environmental needs.


              5.   Education and public awareness

         34.   Participants noted that children today, unlike their
parents, were being introduced to environmental issues, as well as social and
economic issues, and their global impacts, in elementary school, a development
that should contribute to increasing public awareness in the future.
Participants stressed that education for sustainable development, on a
lifelong basis, needed to encompass many disciplines at all levels,
using a variety of modes of teaching and learning. Sustainable development
strategies should include education and public awareness as integral
components, and sustainable development issues should be integrated into
existing educational curricula. It was noted that the education of girls and
the lifelong education of women were particularly important for promoting
sustainable development.

         35.   Participants recognized the need for greater public
awareness of issues relating to sustainable development, and there was a
suggestion for a task force or other mechanism to find ways and means to
improve communication strategies and efforts to that end.

         36.   Participants noted with appreciation the organization
by the Government of Greece and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of the International Conference on Education
and Sustainability in Thessaloniki, Greece. Participants called for increased
efforts within the United Nations system to coordinate and consolidate the
educational efforts of various agencies and organizations.


              6.   Science

         37.   Participants recognized the need to strengthen science
education, to build scientific capacity in all countries, and to ensure that
scientific research addressed priority issues of sustainable development. They
noted that the World Conference on Science, to be organized by UNESCO and the
Government of Hungary in 1999, could promote more effective mobilization of
science for sustainable development. Participants emphasized that scientific
advice should be brought into the Commission's consideration of sectoral
themes, such as oceans, at the seventh session.


              C.   Challenges for the future


              1.   Oceans

         38.   Participants emphasized that, in considering the theme
of oceans at its seventh session, the Commission should address the problems
of the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources for development,
coastal pollution and degradation, and marine pollution. They stressed the
importance of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the
Marine Environment from Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution.

         39.   Some participants proposed that the preparations for
the seventh session include an analysis of existing international agreements
dealing with oceans and the degree to which they have been implemented.
Participants welcomed the proposal by the United Kingdom to organize a
workshop on oceans to contribute to the discussions on the topic at the
seventh session.


              2.   Tourism

         40.   Participants noted that tourism was a large and growing
economic sector, with important economic, social and environmental effects. In
some small island developing States, tourism represented over half of GNP.
Tourism, when carefully managed, could contribute to sustainable development,
but large numbers of tourists could also cause severe environmental stress as
a result of water consumption and pollution, waste generation and construction
activities, particularly in environmentally fragile areas such as coastal
zones and mountains.

         41.   It was noted that a number of voluntary initiatives for
environmental protection had been undertaken in the tourism sector. It was
suggested that at the seventh session the Commission consider the
effectiveness of those initiatives. It was also suggested that the
Commission undertake the development of a strategy for sustainable tourism,
taking into account related work under the Convention on Biological
Diversity. It was suggested that a multi-stakeholder dialogue on tourism be
organized during the seventh session.


              3.   Changing consumption and production patterns

         42.   Participants emphasized that developed countries have a
lead role to play in addressing the problems of sustainable consumption and
production patterns. It was also noted that all countries could benefit from
the experience of the developed countries and from the development and
transfer of cleaner, more productive and more efficient production processes
and more sustainable consumption patterns. Some participants stressed the need
to ensure that changes in consumption and production patterns in
developed countries did not jeopardize economic growth and sustainable
development in developing countries.

         43.   Participants noted the progress made in the development
of indicators for changing consumption and production patterns and invited
countries to participate in testing the proposed indicators. Participants
welcomed the proposal by the Republic of Korea to host an inter-sessional
expert meeting on consumption patterns in newly emerging economies,
using the proposed indicators for changing consumption and
production patterns.

         44.   Participants recognized that national consumer
protection policies could play an important role in promoting sustainable
consumption. The United Nations guidelines for consumer protection, adopted by
the General Assembly in 1985, should be examined at the seventh session, with
a view to including guidelines for sustainable consumption.


              4.   Small island developing States

         45.   Some participants stressed that the future of small
island developing States was threatened by climate change and other
environmental threats, underlining the need for more rapid development of
their human resources and institutional capacities across a wide
range of skills and disciplines, undertaken with the full participation of
local communities. Participants underscored the importance of the forthcoming
five-year review of the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island
Developing States, which would be undertaken by the General Assembly in 1999,
with the Commission, at its seventh session, serving as a preparatory body.


              5.   Energy

         46.   Participants emphasized that consideration of energy by
the Commission at its ninth session, in 2001, required substantial advance
preparation. Participants welcomed the announcements by the Government of
Austria of a meeting on renewable energy and by the Government of the Czech
Republic of a workshop on sustainable energy. The Commission, at its seventh
session, should define the mandate for the open-ended intergovernmental group
of experts for a worldwide strategy for a sustainable energy future.

                               *   *   *

         47.   Participants called for a dynamic and participatory
process in the preparations for and conduct of the seventh session, based on
experience gained at the sixth session. They called on Governments and other
partners to undertake initiatives in support of the work of the Commission.
Some participants suggested that the Commission continue to be innovative in
its working methods, further strengthening its participatory character,
involving all major groups, including youth, to increase opportunities for
frank discussion of conflicting views in order to reach consensus.


Chapter IV


     Sectoral theme: strategic approaches to freshwater management


         1. The Commission considered item 3 of its agenda at its 2nd,
3rd, 9th and 16th meetings, on 20 and 23 April and 1 May 1998. It had before
it the following documents:

            (a)    Report of the High-level Advisory Board on
Sustainable Development for the 1997 review of the Rio commitments
(E/CN.17/1997/17/Add.1);

            (b)    Report of the Secretary-General on strategic
approaches to freshwater management (E/CN.17/1998/2);

            (c)    Report of the Secretary-General transmitting the
report of the Expert Group Meeting on Strategic Approaches to Freshwater
Management, held at Harare from 27 to 30 January 1998 (E/CN.17/1998/2/Add.1);

            (d)    Report of the Secretary-General on activities of
the organizations of the United Nations system in the field of freshwater
resources (E/CN.17/1998/3);

            (e)    Letter dated 11 February 1998 from the Permanent
Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Expert Group Meeting on
Strategic Approaches to Freshwater Management, held at Harare from 27 to 30
January 1998 (E/CN.17/1998/11);
         
                      (f)    Report of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc
Working Group on Strategic Approaches to Freshwater Management
(E/CN.17/1998/13);

            (g)    Letter dated 16 April 1998 from the Acting
Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General transmitting the Petersberg Declaration issued by the
International Dialogue Forum on Global Water Politics, Cooperation for
Transboundary Water Management, held at Petersberg near Bonn, Germany from 3
to 5 March 1998 (E/CN.17/1998/17).

         2. At the 2nd meeting, on 20 April, the Commission heard a
statement on the outcome of the work of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working
Group on Strategic Approaches to Freshwater Management.

         3. At the same meeting, statements were made by the
representatives of Germany and France and the observer for Kenya.

         4. At the 3rd meeting, on 20 April, statements were made by
the representatives of China, Zimbabwe and Venezuela.

         5. At the same meeting, questions were posed by the
representatives of the United States of America, Sweden, the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Egypt, India and Bangladesh and the
observers for Lesotho, Nicaragua, Kenya and Austria.

         6. At the 9th meeting, on 23 April, the Commission held a
discussion on item 3 and item 5 (Economic sector/major group: industry)
concurrently (see chap. VI, para. 4).

         7. At the same meeting, statements were made by the
representatives of Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United
Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Bolivia (on behalf of
the Latin American and Caribbean States), the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations
that are members of the European Union), China, Egypt, India, Colombia,
the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States of America, the Sudan, Canada
and Switzerland and the observers for Norway, Kenya, the Syrian Arab Republic,
Cuba and Algeria.

         8. Also at the same meeting, a statement was made by the
observer for the Arab Organization of Agricultural Development.

         9. The representative of the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization made a statement.

         10.   The observer for the International Federation of
Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres, a non-governmental organization in
special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, also made a
statement.


         Action taken by the Commission


         Strategic approaches to freshwater management

         11.   At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission had
before it an informal paper containing the text of a draft decision submitted
by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Rogatien Biaou (Benin).

         12.   At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
decision (see chap. I, sect. B, Commission decision 6/1).

         13.   After the adoption of the draft decision, the following
statements for the record were made:


                   India

               "India's understanding and interpretation of paragraph
11 of the document that has just been adopted, therefore, is that cooperation
on transboundary or international watercourses among the riparian States
concerned would be based on bilateral agreements and other arrangements and
that `appropriate arrangements and mechanisms' would be mutually agreed upon
among the riparian States concerned."


         Ethiopia

               "The reference to  appropriate arrangements and/or
mechanisms' in paragraph 11 of the decision on the strategic approaches to
freshwater management will not affect the right of Ethiopia to use its
transboundary water resources, and should not be construed as recognition or
acceptance of the validity of any arrangement or mechanism to which Ethiopia
is not a party. 

               "Ethiopia joined the consensus on the decision in
general, and on paragraph 11 in particular, on the above understanding."


         Turkey

               "Turkey appreciates the Chairman's efforts which guided
the commission on Sustainable Development in its deliberations during the
sixth session. Turkey would also like to thank the Chairmen of the drafting
groups.

               "As has been seen during the meetings in the past two
weeks, freshwater indeed plays an important role in the development of
countries. Turkey gives utmost importance to sustainable development in
freshwater management and the effective use of water resources. That is the
reason why its delegation participated actively in the deliberations.

               "With a spirit of cooperation, the delegation of Turkey
approached most of the paragraphs dealing with freshwater in the most flexible
and compromising way.

               "However, paragraph 11 of the text that was adopted a
few minutes ago has the term  international watercourses', which the
delegation of Turkey has opposed until the last moment. Turkey still believes
that it is not an appropriate term to be used in the Commission's work.

               "Turkey believes that  transboundary watercourses' is
the correct term, since it is widely accepted and used in legal instruments.

               "Since the term  international watercourses' has been
used in the document, Turkey is of the opinion that the correct interpretation
of that term would be just transboundary and boundary'. Using that term would
have no legal consequences whatsoever, and it is important to state that
certain international legal instruments that have not entered into force
legally and that do not have the support of the international community should
not be used as a reference document, especially in the context of the
Commission on Sustainable Development."


         Uganda

               "The issue of freshwater is indeed of paramount
importance to the delegation of Uganda. The delegation is pleased that the
Commission now has before it a well-negotiated document that reflects the
issues and the concern about freshwater in a holistic manner.

               "The delegation of Uganda joined the consensus on this
document based on its well-known behaviour of not standing in the way of
consensus. Although it joined the consensus, its clear understanding of
paragraph 11 of the document does not imply reference to bilateral agreements
or existing legal instruments. The paragraph will not prevent Uganda's rights
to use its freshwater resources as it deems appropriate.

               "Lastly, Uganda wants to make it clear that the use of
the words  appropriate arrangements and/or mechanisms' is not acceptable to
its delegation and it hopes that they will not be used in future negotiations
as consensus language."

         14.   Also at the 16th meeting, the observer for Rwanda made
a statement.


Chapter V


         Cross-sectoral theme: transfer of technology,
           capacity-building, education, science and 
                      awareness-raising


         1. The Commission considered item 4 of its agenda at its 3rd,
8th, 9th and 16th meetings, on 20 and 23 April and 1 May 1998. It had before
it the following documents:

            (a)    Report of the Secretary-General on
capacity-building, education and public awareness, science and transfer of
environmentally sound technology (E/CN.17/1998/6);

            (b)    Report of the Secretary-General on areas for policy
action by Governments to accelerate the development, transfer and
dissemination of environmentally sound technologies (E/CN.17/1998/6/Add.1);

            (c)    Report of the Secretary-General on education,
public awareness and training (E/CN.17/1998/6/Add.2);

            (d)    Report of the Secretary-General on science for
sustainable development (E/CN.17/1998/6/Add.3);

            (e)    Letter dated 23 February 1998 from the Permanent
Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General transmitting the report of the International Expert Meeting
on the Role of Publicly Funded Research and Publicly Owned Technologies in the
Transfer and Diffusion of Environmentally Sound Technologies, held at Kyongju,
Republic of Korea, from 4 to 6 February 1998 (E/CN.17/1998/12);

            (f)    Letter dated 20 April 1998 from the Deputy
Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General transmitting the Declaration adopted by the International
Conference on Environment and Society: Education and Public Awareness for
Sustainability, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization and the Government of Greece in Thessaloniki, Greece,
from 8 to 12 December 1997 (E/CN.17/1998/19).

         2. At the 3rd meeting, on 20 April, an introductory statement
was made by the Officer-in-Charge of the Division for Sustainable Development
of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

         3. At the 8th meeting, on 23 April, statements were made by
representatives of Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United
Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland (on behalf of the States Members of the
United Nations that are members of the European Union, and also on behalf of
Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia),
China, the United States of America, Poland, Brazil, Switzerland, Peru,
Mexico, the Russian Federation, Australia, France, Japan, Pakistan, Canada and
India and the observers for Kazakhstan, Norway and Cuba.

         4. At the same meeting, the representative of the United
Nations Industrial Development Organization made a statement.

         5. Statements were also made by the representatives of the
United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Institute for
Training and Research.

         6. Also at the 8th meeting, statements were made by the
observers for the International Youth and Student Movement for the United
Nations, a non-governmental organization in general consultative status with
the Economic and Social Council, and the UNED-UK/United Nations Environment
and Development-United Kingdom Committee, a non-governmental organization
on the Roster.

         7. At the 9th meeting, on 23 April, the representative of
Benin made a statement.

         8. At the same meeting, the representative of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization made a statement.

         9. Statements were also made by the observers for the
International Federation on Ageing, a non-governmental organization in general
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and the
International Ocean Institute, a non-governmental organization on the Roster.


         Action taken by the Commission


         Transfer of environmentally sound technology, capacity-building,
education and public awareness, and science for sustainable development

         10.   At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission had
before it an informal paper containing the text of a draft decision submitted
by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Miloslav Hettes (Slovakia).

         11.   At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
decision (see chap. I, sect. B, Commission decision 6/3).

         12.   After the adoption of the draft decision, the
representative of France made a statement.


Chapter VI


                Economic sector/major group: industry


         1. The Commission considered item 5 of its agenda at its 2nd,
4th to 7th, 9th and 16th meetings, from 20 to 23 April and on 1 May 1998. It
had before it the following reports:

            (a)    Report of the Secretary-General on industry and
sustainable development (E/CN.17/1998/4);

            (b)    Report of the Secretary-General on industry and
economic development (E/CN.17/1998/4/Add.1);

            (c)    Report of the Secretary-General on industry and
social development (E/CN.17/1998/4/Add.2);

            (d)    Report of the Secretary-General on industry and
environmental protection (E/CN.17/1998/4/Add.3);

            (e)    Report of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working Group
on Industry and Sustainable Development (E/CN.17/1998/14).

         2. At the 2nd meeting, on 20 April, the Commission heard a
statement on the outcome of the work of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working
Group on Industry and Sustainable Development.

         3. The industry segment of the Commission was held on 21 and
22 April (4th to 7th meetings). The free-flowing dialogue among participants
focused on responsible entrepreneurship, corporate management tools,
technology cooperation and assessment, and industry and freshwater.

         4. At the 9th meeting, on 23 April, the Commission held a
general discussion on item 5 and item 3 (Sectoral theme: strategic approaches
to freshwater management) concurrently (see chap. IV, paras. 6-10).


         Action taken by the Commission


         Chairman's summary of the industry segment of the sixth
session of the Commission on Sustainable Development

         5. At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission had before
it a Chairman's summary of the industry segment of the sixth session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development (E/CN.17/1998/L.3).

         6. At the same meeting, the Commission agreed to include the
Chairman's summary in the report of the Commission (see chap. II).


                Industry and sustainable development

         7. At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission had before
it a draft decision (E/CN.17/1998/L.10) entitled "Industry and sustainable
development", which was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Mr.
Michael Odevall (Sweden).

         8. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
decision (see chap. I, sect. B, Commission decision 6/2).


Chapter VII


         Review of progress in the implementation of the Programme
         of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island
                          Developing States


         1. The Commission considered item 6 of its agenda at its 9th
and 16th meetings, on 23 April and 1 May 1998. It had before it the following
reports: 

            (a)    Report of the Secretary-General on development of a
vulnerability index for small island developing States (A/53/65-E/1998/5);

            (b)    Report of the Secretary-General on progress in the
implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of
Small Island Developing States (E/CN.17/1998/7);

            (c)    Report of the Secretary-General on climate change
and sea level rise (E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.1);

            (d)    Report of the Secretary-General on management of
wastes in small island developing States (E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.2);

            (e)    Report of the Secretary-General on freshwater
resources in small island developing States (E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.3);

            (f)    Report of the Secretary-General on land resources
in small island developing States (E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.4);

            (g)    Report of the Secretary-General on biodiversity
resources in small island developing States (E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.5);

            (h)    Report of the Secretary-General on national
institutions and administrative capacity in small island developing States
(E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.6);

            (i)    Report of the Secretary-General on regional
institutions and technical cooperation for the sustainable development of
small island developing States (E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.7);

            (j)    Report of the Secretary-General on science and
technology for small island developing States (E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.8);

            (k)    Report of the Secretary-General on human resource
development in small island developing States (E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.9).

         2. At the 9th meeting, on 23 April, the Commission heard an
introductory statement by the Officer-in-Charge of the Division for
Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

         3. At the same meeting, statements were made by the
representatives of Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United
Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland (on behalf of the States Members of the
United Nations that are members of the European Union, and also
on behalf of Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia), Papua New
Guinea, the United States of America, India, Australia, Japan, the
Philippines, Canada, Guyana and China, and the observers for Samoa (on behalf
of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Alliance
of Small Island States), Jamaica, Barbados, New Zealand, Cuba, Fiji, the
Marshall Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Malta.

         4. Also at the same meeting, the representative of the United
Nations Environment Programme made a statement.


         Action taken by the Commission


         Review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for
         the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States

         5. At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission had before
it a draft decision (E/CN.17/1998/L.5), entitled "Review of the implementation
of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island
Developing States", which was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the
Commission, Mr. Rogatien Biaou (Benin).

         6. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
decision (see chap. I, sect. B, Commission decision 6/4).


Chapter VIII


                          High-level meeting


         1. The Commission considered item 7 of its agenda at its 11th
to 16th meetings, on 29 and 30 April and 1 May 1998. It had before it the
report of the Secretary-General on main and emerging issues (E/CN.17/1998/10).

         2. At the 11th meeting, on 29 April, the Chairman of the
Commission and the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social
Affairs made statements.

         3. At the same meeting, statements were made by the State
Minister for the Environment of Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of
the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), the
Minister for Environment of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that
are members of the European Union, and also on behalf of Bulgaria, Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia), the Minister of Water
Affairs and Forestry of South Africa, the Minister for Sustainable Development
and Planning of Bolivia, the Minister of the Environment of Sweden, the State
Secretary for Environment of Japan, the Minister for Environment of Italy, the
Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Minister for the
Environment of Canada, the Minister of Mines, Environment and Tourism
of Zimbabwe, the Minister of Irrigation of the Syrian Arab Republic, the
Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark, the Minister for the
Environment of Colombia, the Minister of Environment and Forests of India, the
Minister of Environment of Spain and the Minister of Environment of Portugal.

         4. Also at the 11th meeting, the Executive Director of the
United Nations Environment Programme made a statement.

         5. A statement was also made by the Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Global Environment Facility. The Managing Director of the
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd. made a statement.

         6. At the 12th meeting, on 29 April, statements were made by
the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology of Ghana, the Minister of
State for Environment, Local Government and Rural Development of Pakistan, the
Vice-Minister of Environment of Lithuania, the Secretary of Natural Resources
of Argentina, the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Environment of
Thailand, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Interior, Local Communities
and Environment of Algeria, the Deputy Minister of Social and Economic
Planning of the Philippines, the Senior Adviser on Environment to the
Government of Egypt, the Deputy Permanent Representative of China, the
representative of France, the Minister for Environmental Affairs of
Mozambique, the Minister of Environment and Tourism of South Africa, the
Permanent Representative of the Netherlands, the Deputy Permanent
Representative of Panama, the President of the Meteorology and Environmental
Protection Administration of Saudi Arabia, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry
of Rural Resources and Water Development, of Zimbabwe and the representative
of Ethiopia.

         7. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Westvaco Corporation and the
President of UNITE and Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the
American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations.

         8. Statements were also made by the International Indian
Treaty Council, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status
with the Economic and Social Council (on behalf of the Indigenous People's
Caucus) and the Women's Environment and Development Organization, a
non-governmental organization on the Roster (on behalf of the Women's Caucus).

         9. At the 13th meeting, on 30 April, statements were made by
the Federal Minister for the Environment, Youth and Family Affairs of Austria,
the Minister for the Environment of the Czech Republic, the Minister for the
Environment of Ireland, the State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment
and Regional Planning of Slovenia, the Assistant Secretary of State for
Oceans, Environment and Science of the United States of America, the
Vice-Minister, Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, of
Greece, the State Secretary for Environment of Morocco, the Minister for
Environment of Australia, the Federal Vice-Minister for the Environment,
Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany, the High Commissioner,
Ministry of Planning, Environment and Tourism, of Gabon, the Minister for the
Environment, Habitat and Urbanism of Benin, the State Secretary for Foreign
Economic Affairs of Switzerland, the Adviser to the President on Science,
Technology and Environment of Guyana, the State Secretary, Ministry of
Environment and Regional Planning, of Hungary and the representatives of
Iraq, Finland and Kenya. The Director-General of the European Community also
made a statement.

         10.   At the same meeting, a statement was made by the
observer for the World Council of Independent Christian Churches, a
non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council.

         11.   At the 14th meeting, on 30 April, statements were made
by the Minister for the Environment of New Zealand, the Minister for the
Environment of Monaco, the First Deputy Minister for Environmental Protection
and Nuclear Safety of Ukraine, the Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan, the
Head of Division for International Affairs, Ministry for the Environment, of
Iceland, the representative of the Russian Federation, the Permanent
Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Permanent Representative
of Belarus, the Senior Adviser on Environment to the Government of Egypt, the
Under-Secretary for Environment Programs and Development, Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, of the Philippines and the State
Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of Norway.

         12.   At the same meeting, a statement was made by the
Special Representative of the Director-General of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization. The Director of the Environment and
Natural Resources Management Division of the Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific made a statement.

         13.   Statements were also made by the observers for the
International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations, a
non-governmental organization in general consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council (on behalf of the Youth Caucus), the Women's
Environment and Development Organization and Environnement et de'veloppement
du tiers-monde (ENDA), non-governmental organizations on the Roster.

         14.   At the 15th meeting, on 1 May, statements were made by
the Charge' d'affaires of Turkey, the Under-Secretary of Planning, Ministry of
the Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries, of Mexico, the Permanent
Representative of Samoa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations
that are members of the Alliance of Small Island States), the Director of
Environmental Policy of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of
Cuba, the Permanent Representative of Jamaica, and the Minister of
Environment and Tourism of South Africa. The President of the Brazilian
Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources made a statement.

         15.   At the same meeting, the Deputy Secretary-General of
the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development made a statement. A
statement was also made by the Acting Vice-President, Environmentally and
Socially Sustainable Development, of the World Bank.

         16.   The representative of the United Nations Development
Programme made a statement.


         Action taken by the Commission


         17.   At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Chairman made a
statement summarizing the high-level meeting.

         18.   At the same meeting, the Commission agreed to include
the Chairman's summary in the report of the Commission (see chap. III).


Chapter IX


                           Other matters


         1. The Commission considered item 8 of its agenda at its 3rd
and 16th meetings, on 20 April and 1 May 1998. It had before it the following
documents:

            (a)    Report of the Secretary-General on consumer
protection: guidelines for sustainable consumption (E/CN.17/1998/5);

            (b)    Report of the Secretary-General on national
reporting to the Commission on Sustainable Development (E/CN.17/1998/8);

            (c)    Report of the Secretary-General on modalities for
the exchange of national experiences at the regional level (E/CN.17/1998/9);

            (d)    Note verbale dated 30 March 1998 from the Permanent
Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Fourth International Workshop
on Indicators of Sustainable Development, held at Prague from 19 to 21 January
1998 (E/CN.17/1998/15);

            (e)    Letter dated 30 March 1998 from the Permanent
Representative of France to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General transmitting the Final Declaration and the Programme for
Priority Actions, adopted by the International Conference on Water
and Sustainable Development, held in Paris from 19 to 21 March 1998
(E/CN.17/1998/16);

            (f)    Letter dated 15 April 1998 from the Permanent
Representatives of Brazil and the Netherlands to the United Nations addressed
to the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Expert Meeting on
Environmental Practices in Offshore Oil and Gas Activities, held at Noordwijk,
Netherlands (E/CN.17/1998/18).

         2. At the 3rd meeting, on 20 April, the Officer-in-Charge, of
the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and
Social Affairs made an introductory statement.


         Action taken by the Commission


         Matters related to the inter-sessional work of the Commission

         3. At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission had before
it a draft decision (E/CN.17/1998/L.6), entitled "Matters related to the
inter-sessional work of the Commission", submitted by the Vice-Chairman, Mr.
Rogatien Biaou (Benin).

         4. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
decision (see chap. I, sect. B, Commission decision 6/6).

         5. After the adoption of the draft decision, the
representative of China made a statement.


  Information provided by Governments and exchange of national experiences

         6. At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission had before
it a draft decision (E/CN.17/1998/L.8), entitled "Information provided by
Governments and exchange of national experiences", submitted by the
Vice-Chairman, Mr. Miloslav Hettes (Slovakia).

         7. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
decision (see chap. I, sect. B, Commission decision 6/5).


       Consumer protection guidelines for sustainable consumption

         8. At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission had before
it a draft decision (E/CN.17/1998/L.9), entitled "Consumer protection
guidelines for sustainable consumption", submitted by the Vice-Chairman, 
Mr. Michael Odevall (Sweden).

         9. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
decision (see chap. I, sect. A, draft decision I).


          Matters relating to the third session of the
               Intergovernmental Forum on Forests

         10.   At the 16th meeting, on 1 May, the Commission
considered an oral draft decision entitled "Matters relating to the third
session of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests", presented by the Chairman.

         11.   At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
decision (see chap. I, sect. A, draft decision II).


Chapter X


       Provisional agenda for the seventh session of the Commission


         1. The Commission considered item 9 of its agenda at its 16th
meeting, on 1 May 1998. It had before it the draft provisional agenda for the
seventh session (E/CN.17/1998/L.7).

         2. At the same meeting, the Commission approved the
provisional agenda for its seventh session (see chap. I, sect. A, draft
decision III).


Chapter XI


       Adoption of the report of the Commission on its sixth session


         1. At the 16th meeting, on 1 May 1998, the Rapporteur
introduced the draft report of the Commission on its sixth session
(E/CN.17/1998/L.4).

         2. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft
report and entrusted the Rapporteur with its completion.


Chapter XII


                   Organization of the session


             A.    Opening and duration of the session


         1. The Commission on Sustainable Development held its sixth
session at United Nations Headquarters on 22 December 1997 and from 20 April
to 1 May 1998.  The Commission held 16 meetings (1st to 16th meetings).

         2. At the 2nd meeting, on 20 April, the Chairman, Mr. Cielito
Habito (Philippines), made an introductory statement.

         3. Also at the 2nd meeting, the Under-Secretary-General for
Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat made an
introductory statement.


             B.    Attendance


         4. The session was attended by representatives of 50 States
members of the Commission.  Observers for other States Members of the United
Nations and for the European Community, representatives of organizations and
bodies of the United Nations system, and observers for intergovernmental,
non-governmental and other organizations also attended.  A list of
participants is contained in annex 1 to the present
report.

         5. At the 2nd meeting, on 20 April, the Commission agreed to
invite the secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance, Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) and the Arab
Organization for Agricultural Development to attend the session of the
Commission as intergovernmental organizations, with the status of observers.


             C.    Election of officers


         6. At the 1st and 2nd meetings, on 22 December 1997 and 20
April 1998, the Commission elected the following officers by acclamation:

            Chairman: Cielito Habito (Philippines)


            Vice-Chairmen: Rogatien Biaou (Benin)
                           Marta Ine's Galindo (Colombia)
                           Michael Odevall (Sweden)
                           Miloslav Hettes (Slovakia)

         7. At the 2nd meeting, on 20 April, Marta Ine's Galindo
(Colombia) was elected to serve also as Rapporteur.


             D.    Agenda and organization of work


         8. At the 8th meeting, on 23 April 1998, the Commission
adopted its provisional agenda, as contained in document E/CN.17/1998/1 and
Corr.1, and approved its organization of work, as circulated in an informal
paper. The agenda was as follows:


                      1. Election of officers.

                      2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational
                         matters.

                      3. Sectoral theme:  strategic approaches to
                         freshwater management.

                      4. Cross-sectoral theme:  transfer of technology,
                         capacity-building, education, science and
                         awareness-raising.

                      5. Economic sector/major group:  industry.

                      6. Review of progress in the implementation of
                         the Programme of Action for the
                         Sustainable Development of Small Island
                         Developing States.

                      7. High-level meeting.

                      8. Other matters.

                      9. Provisional agenda for the seventh session of
                         the Commission.

                      10. Adoption of the report of the Commission
                          on its sixth session.


         9. At the 10th meeting, on 24 April, statements were made by
the representatives of Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the
United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Mexico, the
United States of America, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that
are members of the European Union), the Islamic Republic of Iran, India,
Benin, the Russian Federation, Bangladesh and the Sudan and the observers for
Uganda, Kenya and Algeria.


             E.    Documentation


         10.   The documents before the Commission at its sixth
session are listed in annex II to the present report.


                              Annex I

         Attendance


         Members


         Antigua and Barbuda:   Molwyn Joseph, John W. Ashe, Conrod C.
                                Hunte, Dornella M. Seth, Aqeelah J. Akbar

         Australia:             Robert Hill, Howard Bamsey, Penelope
                                Wensley, Meg McDonald, Joanne Disano, Gerard
                                Early, Susanne Pearce, Trent Zimmerman,
                                Volker Aeuckens,  Kerry Smith, Stephanie Copus
                                Campbell, Laurie Hodgman, Geoffrey Tooth,
                                Amanda Hawkins, Peter Hoey, Ted Vandeloo, 
                                Paul Perkins

         Bahamas:               Maurice E. Moore, Sharon Brennen-Haylock,
                                Sandra P. Carey, Allison P. Christie, Cecil C.
                                Ferguson

         Bangladesh:            Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, F. A. Shamim
                                Ahmed, Md. Quadir-uz-Zaman, Muhammad Ali
                                Sorcar

         Belgium:               Alex Reyn, Jan Verschooten, Marc Gedopt,
                                Hugo Brauwers, Ulrik Lenaerts, Johan Debar,
                                Lut Slabbinck

         Benin:                 M. Sahidou Dango-Nadey, Fassassi Adam
                                Yacoubou, Rogatien Biaou, Damien Houeto, Anne
                                Rebecca Dossou-Gbete, Rhetice Dagba, Samuel
                                Amehou, Charles Borromee Todjinou, Thomas
                                D'Aquin Okoudjou, Thomas Ouedegbe,
                                Paul Houansou, Venance Dassi

         Bolivia:               Erick Reyes Villa, Neiosa Roca Hurtado,
                                Alberto Salamanca Prado, Sergio Jauregui,
                                Estela Mendoza, Eva Urquidi

         Brazil:                Celso Amorim, Eduardo de Souza Martins,
                                Henrique R. Valle, Antonio Augusto Dayrell
                                de Lima, Luiz Antonio Fachini Gomes, Enio
                                Cordeiro, Antonio Fernando Cruz de
                                Mello, Eduardo Carvalho, Carlos
                                Alberto Michaelsen den Hartog, Fla'vio Celio
                                Goldman, Herbert Eugenio de Araujo
                                Cardoso, Raimundo Jose' Santos
                                Garrido, Mara Lepesqueur Botelho Rodrigues,
                                Nestor da Costa Borba, Marcelo Drugg
                                Barreto Vianna, Marcelo Kos Silveira Campos

         Bulgaria:              Philip Dimitrov, D. Kantardjiev, Raiko
                                Raichev, Zvetolyub P. Barmajiev

         Burundi:

         Canada:                Christine Stewart, John Fraser,
                                Robert Slater, J. R. Hickman,
                                Kenneth MaCartney, Denis Chouinard, Shirley
                                Lewchuck, Yvan Jobin, Rene'e Sauve', Guy
                                Rochon, Carol Smith-Wright, Andrew Kenyon,
                                Kevin Wisener, Pat Dossett, Trudy Seri-Samuel,
                                Brenda Inouye, Don Kowal, Andrea Skillen,
                                Philippe Kirsch, Janet Stephenson,
                                Blaine Favel, Linda Dunn, Anne Mitchell, Dana
                                Silk, Alain Pellissier, Sheryl Beillard, Ilona
                                Doherty, Avrim Lazar, Cathy Wilkinson, Jacline
                                Lanthier, Phil Fontaine, Pierre-Marc
                                Johnson, Sarah Samplonius, David Hecnar, Tom
                                Vant, Gordon Lloyd, Jim Wall, Rick Laliberte',
                                Bernard Bigras, Marc Colpitts

         Central African Rep.:  Ambroisine Kpongo, Fernand Poukre-Kono

         China:                 Shen Guofang, Zhang Kunmin,
                                Cheng Weixue, Yu Qingtai,
                                Wang Zonglai, Liu Zhiguang,
                                Zhang Xiaoan, Guo Risheng,
                                Zhang Yue, Bai Yongjie

         Colombia:              Eduardo Verano de la Rosa, Julio
                                London~o Paredes, Martha
                                Galindo, Maria Cristina Cardenas
                                Fischer, Alvaro Jose'
                                Rodriguez, Bibiana Vargas Morales,
                                Ernesto Guhl Nannetti

         Djibouti:              Roble Olhaye, Djama Mahamoud
                                Ali, Badri Ali Bogoreh

         Egypt:                 Mostafa Tolba, Adel Abdellatif,
                                Hussein Ehsan El-Atfy,
                                Amany Fahmy, Mohamed Fattah,
                                Amr El-Sherbiny

         Ethiopia:              Duri Mohammed, Mohamed A.
                                Hagos, Berhanemeskel Nega,
                                Azanaw T. Abreha, Meheret Getahoun

         Finland:               Ilkka Ristima"ki, Sirkka
                                Hautoja"rvi, Birgitta Stenius-Mladenov, 
                                David Johansson, Jukka Uosukainen, Taisto
                                Huimasalo, Timo Kotkasaari,
                                Risto Ranki, Asko Luukkainen,
                                Antero Honkasalo, Hannele Nyroos, Marit Huhta,
                                Anu Pa"rna"nen-Landtman, Marjo Nummelin,
                                Riitta Larnimaa, Salla Korpela, Sampo Ruoppila

         France:                Dominique Voynet, Jacques
                                Andreani, Jean-Pierre Thebault,
                                Janie Letrot Hadj Hamou, Marc
                                Giacomini, Denis Vene,
                                Philippe Delacroix, Olivier
                                Guerot, Genevie`ve Besse, Thierry
                                Facon, Pierre Icard, Christian
                                Brodagh, Genevie`ve
                                Verbrugge, Jean-Paul Rivaud,
                                Alain Griot, Jean David

         Gabon:                 Pascal Ndzemba, Denis Dangue
                                Rewaka, Jean-Baptiste
                                Mebiame, Alexandre Ndao
                                Rilogue, Edwige Eyogo, Antoine
                                Ango Ossa, Gre'goire Lomba

         Germany:               Erhard Jauck, Gerhard Henze,
                                Manfred Plaetrich,
                                Michael Bohnet, Wolfgang Runge,
                                Bernd Wulffen,
                                Cornelia Quennet-Thielen,
                                Rainald Roesch, Dagmara
                                Berbalk, Robert Holla"nder,
                                Elfriede Bierbrauer,
                                Karsten Sach, Peter Christmann,
                                Jurgen Wenderoth,
                                Claudia Warning, Carola
                                Schmidt, Helen Winter,
                                Andrea Kienle, Marika
                                Gavriilidis, Hanno Spitzer,
                                Mechthilde Fo"hr, Claus Hipp,
                                Konrad von Moltke,
                                Wolfgang Grabs, Edith
                                Ku"rzinger, Kurt  Fleckenstein,
                                Klaus Mittelbach, Ju"rgen
                                Meyer, Dieter Boymanns,
                                Werner Schneider, Ole
                                Wintermann, Frank Schulte

         Ghana:                 J. E. Afful, Jack B. Wilmot,
                                Edwin P. D. Barnes, Messie Y. Amoah

         Guyana:                S. R. Insanally, G. Talbot, K.
                                Simon, N. Chandarpal

         Hungary:               Katalin Szili, Andre' Erd s,
                                Tibor Farago', Sa'ndor Mo'zes,
                                Gyula Hollo', Csaba Nemes,
                                Ma'rta Hibbeyne' Joo', Orsolya
                                Szenthe

         India:                 Suresh Prabhu, Vishwanath
                                Anand, Kamalesh Sharma, Arun
                                Kumar, Satyabrata Pal, Rajiv K.
                                Chander, Nandhini Iyer
                                Krishna, Balraj Bhjanot

         Indonesia:             Juwono Soedarsono, Makarim
                                Wibisono, Arizal Effendi,
                                Wyoso Prodjowarsito, Mochammad
                                Slamet Hidayat, Eddy
                                Haryadhi, Bagas Hapsoro, Esti
                                Andayani, Gagarin Singgih
                                Djatmiko

         Iran                   S. M. Hadi Nejad Hosseinian,
         (Islamic Republic of): Bagher Asadi, Ali Mojtahed
                                Shabestari, Jamsheed
                                Mesbahi, Mohammad Reza, Hadji
                                Karim Djabbari, Mohammad Ali
                                Zarie Zare, Hossein Fadaei

         Ireland:               Noel Dempsey, John H. F.
                                Campbell, Dan Kiely, Brendan
                                Ryan, Noel Ahern, Deirdre
                                Clune, Margaret Hennessy,
                                Gerard Corr, Jim Humphries,
                                Paul Cullen, Michael Egan,
                                Dympna Hayes, Damien Boyle,
                                Noeleen Behan, Joyce Duffy,
                                Edel O'Dea, Iva Pocock, Karin Dubsky

         Japan:                 Hiroshi Ohki, Koichi Yamamoto,
                                Hisashi Owada, Takayuki
                                Kimura, Masaki Konishi, Toru
                                Namiki, Hironori Hamanaka,
                                Wataru Nishigahiro, Seiji
                                Ikkatai, Hideki Ito, Kazuhiko
                                Takemoto, Nobuaki Matsuguma,
                                Shigemoto Kajihara, Hideka
                                Morimoto, Yoshirou Morino,
                                Yuusuke Shindou, Hiroshi
                                Shimizu, Takashi Kageyama,
                                Tadashi Kawasugi, Yoshiro
                                Kaburagi, Satoshi Tanaka,
                                Tetsuro Fujitsuka, Kiyoshi
                                Masumoto, Takayuki Sato,
                                Shinichiro Baba, Kensei
                                Minemoto, Yoichi Toyama, Akiko
                                Iimura, Yutaka Yoshino,
                                Masaharu Yagishita, Sachiko
                                Tanaka, Akiko Shinoda

         Mexico:       

         Mozambique:            Bernardo P. Ferraz, Carlos dos
                                Santos, Ce'sar Gouveia,
                                Fernando Chomar, Anto'nio
                                Ina'cio Ju'nior, Maria Fernanda
                                Diamantino Gomes

         Netherlands:           Margaretha de Boer, Pieter
                                Verbeek, Cees Zoeteman, Jan
                                Suurland, Bob Dekker, Frits
                                Thissen, Hans van Zijst, Ron
                                Lander, Vincent van den Bergen,
                                Danie"l Pietermaat, Herman
                                Verweij, Jeroen Steeghs, Karin
                                Wester, Robert Wester, Linda
                                Docter, Mira de Rooy, Yvonne
                                van der Pol

         Niger:                 Adam Maiga Zakairaou

         Pakistan:              Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Mahmud,
                                Ahmad Kamal, Yawar
                                Badat, Khalid Aziz Babar, Navid Hanif

         Panama:                Ruth Decerega, Judith Cardoze

         Papua New Guinea:      Jimmy U. Ovia, Adam Vai
                                Delaney, Winifred Kavanamur

         Peru:                  Fernando Guille'n, Rube'n Espinoza,
                                Sonia Valdivia

         Philippines:           Cielito F. Habito, Felipe H.
                                Mabilangan, Jr., Raphael
                                Perpetuo, M. Lotilla, Delfin J.
                                Ganapin, Jr., Maria Lourdes
                                Ramiro Lopez, Libran N.
                                Cabactulan, Bernarditas C. Muller,
                                Narcisa R. Umali, Leonora
                                Gonzales, Carlos Tomboc,
                                Nicanor Perlas, Elmer
                                Hernandez, Beatriz del Rosario, Mary
                                Mai Flor, Glenn Corpin,
                                Ellamelides S. Antonio, Roger
                                Birosel, Elizabeth Roxas, Grace
                                Teoxon, Luis Corral, Patricia
                                Araneta, Oliver Oliveros

         Poland:                Jan Szyszko, Mieczyslaw
                                Ostojski, Czeslaw Wieckowski,
                                Tadeusz Mroz, Aleksandra Duda,
                                Jacek Jaskiewicz, Karol Litynski

         Russian Federation:    Sergey Lavrov, Nikolai
                                Tchoulkov, Sergey Beliaev, Victoria
                                Elias, Vassili Nebenzia,
                                Oleg Rudenski, Dmitry
                                Maksimitchev, Sergey
                                Fedorov, Alexandre Nemoytine

         Saudi Arabia:          Nizar I. Tawfiq, Mohamed S.
                                Soroor Al-Sabban, Salah A.
                                Sarhan, Abdullah Al-Fawaz,
                                Abdullah N. Al-Sarhan, Samer
                                A. Shuman, Ayman Abalkhail,
                                Hashim A. Niazi, Abdullah
                                A. Al-Rawani, Naser F.
                                Al-Watban, Saad M. Al-Majid,
                                Abdulaziz A. Al-Huwaish,
                                Sayed F. El-Kholi

         Senegal:               Mbarek Diop, Abdourahmane Samb

         Slovakia:              Jozef Zlocha, Ol'ga Kelto va',
                                Jozef  kulte'y, Kamil
                                Vilinovi , L'ubica Mikula'
                                kova', Miloslav Hette 

         Spain:                 Isabel Tocino

         Sudan:                 Elfatih Mohamed Erwa, Muburak
                                Rahmtallar, Awad
                                Mohamed Hassan, Hatim Mubarak
                                Abdel Nou, Daffa-Alla
                                Alhag Ali Osman, Omer Dahab
                                Fadol Mohamed, Rarig Ali
                                Bakhit, Mohamed Mustafa M. Ahmed

         Sweden:                Anna Lindh, Bo Kjelle'n,
                                Michael Odevall, Mats Engstro"m,
                                Per Tegne'r, Pia Lo"vkvist,
                                Mats Ekenger, Ulf Ottosson, Eva
                                Jerna"s, Ulla-Stina Ryking, Per
                                Augustsson, Gunilla
                                Bjo"rklund, Maria Leissner,
                                Sven Nyberg, Inger Stro"mdahl,
                                Maisoun Jabali, Markus Larsson

         Switzerland:           Franz Blankart, Jean-Francois
                                Giovannini, Philippe Roch,
                                Beat Nobs, Monika Linn Locher,
                                Andreas Goetz, Armon
                                Hartmann, Salome Spillmann,
                                Daniel Hartmann, Maria
                                Peyro, Rosmarie Baer, Livia Leu Agosti 

         Thailand:              Porntep Techapaibul, Kasem
                                Snidvongs, Asda Jayanama,
                                Saksit Tridech, Songpol
                                Kovitsirikul, Prasert Aphiphunya,
                                Prakan Veerakul, Sonthi
                                Vannasaeng, Orapin Wongchumpit,
                                Manop Mekprayoonthong, Arunrung Phothong

         Ukraine:               Volodymyr M. Bratishko, Yurly
                                V. Bohaievs'ky, Anatoliy
                                P. Dembitsky, Oleksandr I.
                                Zakrevsky, Ihor V. Humenny,
                                Volodymyr M. Reshetnyak

         United Kingdom of      Michael Meacher, John
         Great Britain and      Weston, Stephen Gobersall, Dinah
         Northern Ireland:      Nichols, Andrew Bennett,
                                Peter Gooderham, Ian Symons, David
                                Dunn, Sheila McCabe, Scott
                                Ghagan, Alan Simcock, Richard
                                Dewdney, Alistair Wray,
                                Philip Ward, Michael Massey

         United States of       Melinda Kimble, Mark
         America:               Hambley, Adala Backiel, Susan
                                Biniaz, William Breed,
                                Donald Brown, James Freund, David
                                Hales, Alan Hecht, Ronald
                                Hoffer, Thomas Houlihan, John
                                Matuszak, John P. McGuinness, Lynette J.
                                Poulton, Jane Siegel, E. Zell Steever,
                                Diane Dillon-Ridgley, Gail Karlsson,
                                Norine Kennedy, Thomas Rogers

         Venezuela:

         Zimbabwe:              Simon K. Moyo, Machivenyika T.
                                Mapuranga, Margaret
                                Mukahanana, Sibekile Metewa, Alfred
                                Mutiwazuka


         States Members of the United Nations represented by observers


     Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Botswana, Burkina
Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti,
Honduras, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal,
New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of
Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino,
Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Syrian Arab
Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Yemen


         Non-member States maintaining permanent observer status


            Holy See


         Entities represented by observers


            European Community


         Intergovernmental organizations


     Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, Commonwealth Secretariat,
secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance,
especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention), Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development


         Specialized agencies and related organizations


     International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, World Health Organization, World Bank, World Meteorological
Organization, International Maritime Organization, United Nations Industrial
Development Organization


         Non-governmental organizations


General consultative status with    Consumers International
the Economic and Social Council

Special consultative status with    Baha'i International Community,
the Economic and Social Council     Canadian Council of Churches, Commission 
                                    of the Churches on International Affairs
                                    of the World Council of Churches, Global
                                    Education Associates,
                                    Greenpeace International,
                                    Information Habitat:
                                    Where Information Lives,
                                    INNU Council of Nitassinan (INNU Nation),
                                    Peace Child International, Summer
                                    Institute of Linguistics,
                                    Temple of Understanding, Union of
                                    International Associations, World
                                    Resources Institute, World
                                    Wide Fund for Nature 

Roster (Economic and                Center for Research on the New
Social Council)                     International  Economic Order, the
                                    Center of Concern,
                                    Friedrich Ebert
                                    Stiftung, Friends of the Earth,
                                    Norwegian Forum for Environment and
                                    Development, Pan African Islamic Society
                                    for Agro-Cultural Development

Roster (Commission on               Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning,
Sustainable Development)            American Association of Engineering
                                    Societies (AAES), Both Ends,
                                    Campaign for the Earth Foundation,
                                    Caribbean Conservation Association,
                                    Citizens Alliance for Saving the
                                    Atmosphere and the Earth, Center
                                    for International Environment
                                    Law, Centre for Science and Environment,
                                    Centre pour l'environnement et la
                                    de'veloppement rural, Citizen's Network
                                    for Sustainable Development,
                                    Council on Economic Priorities, 
                                    Council on International and
                                    Public Affairs, Deutsche Naturschutzring
                                    (DNR), Earth Council, European
                                    Environmental Bureau, Free Youth of
                                    Romania, Fundacio'n para la
                                    Defensa del Ambiente (FUNAM), United
                                    Methodist Church/General Board of Church
                                    and Society, Green Earth Organization,
                                    Green Forum Philippines, Instituto
                                    de Analises Sociais e Economicas (IBASE),
                                    Institute for Cultural Ecology, Institute
                                    for Planetary Synthesis, Loretto
                                    Community, Metropolitan Solar
                                    Energy Society, Natural Heritage
                                    Institute, Pan African Movement,
                                    REDES (Red de Ecologia' Social), Sierra
                                    Club, Socie'te' marocaine pour le droit de
                                    l'environnement (SOMADE), Stockholm
                                    Environment Institute, Tinker Institute on
                                    International Law and Organizations,
                                    United Nations Association in Canada,
                                    United Nations Association of the
                                    United States of America, -UNED-UK/United
                                    Nations Environment and Development -- 
                                    United Kingdom Committee,
                                    Women's Environment and Development
                                    Organization (WEDO), World Business
                                    Council for Sustainable Development, 
                                    World Federation of Engineering
                                    Organizations (WFEO), World Sustainable
                                    Agriculture Association, Worldwatch
                                    Institute, Zero (Regional Network of
                                    Energy/Environment Experts)


                                  Annex II

         List of documents before the Commission at its sixth session

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document symbol          Agenda             Title or description
                          item
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/53/65-E/1998/5            6     Development of a vulnerability index for
                                  small island developing States: report of
                                  the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1997/17/Add.1       3     Report of the High-level Advisory Board on
                                  Sustainable Development for the 1997 review
                                  of the Rio commitments
       
E/CN.17/1998/1 and          2     Provisional agenda
  Corr.1                 

E/CN.17/1998/2              3     Strategic approaches to freshwater
                                  management: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/2/Add.1        3     Report of the Expert Group Meeting on
                                  Strategic Approaches to Freshwater
                                  Management, held at Harare from 27 to 30
                                  January 1998
       
E/CN.17/1998/3              3     Activities of the organizations of the
                                  United Nations system in the field of
                                  freshwater resources: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/4              5     Industry and sustainable development: report
                                  of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/4/Add.1        5     Industry and economic development: report of
                                  the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/4/Add.2        5     Industry and social development: report of
                                  the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/4/Add.3        5     Industry and environmental protection:
                                  report of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/5              8     Consumer protection: guidelines for
                                  sustainable consumption:
                                  report of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/6              4     Capacity-building, education and public
                                  awareness, science and transfer of
                                  environmentally sound technology: report of
                                  the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/6/Add.1        4     Areas for policy action by Governments to
                                  accelerate the development, transfer and
                                  dissemination of environmentally
                                  sound technologies: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/6/Add.2        4     Education, public awareness and training:
                                  report of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/6/Add.3        4     Science for sustainable development: report
                                  of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7              6     Progress in the implementation of the
                                  Programme of Action for the Sustainable
                                  Development of Small Island Developing
                                  States: report of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.1        6     Climate change and sea level rise: report of
                                  the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.2        6     Management of wastes in small island
                                  developing States: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.3        6     Freshwater resources in small island
                                  developing States: report
                                  of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.4        6     Land resources in small island developing
                                  States: report of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.5        6     Biodiversity resources in small island
                                  developing States: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.6        6     National institutions and administrative
                                  capacity in small island developing States:
                                  report of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.7        6     Regional institutions and technical
                                  cooperation for the sustainable development
                                  of small island developing States:
                                  report of the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.8        6     Science and technology for small island
                                  developing States: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.9        6     Human resources development in small island
                                  developing States: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/8              8     National reporting to the Commission on
                                  Sustainable Development: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/9              8     Modalities for the exchange of national
                                  experiences at the regional level: report of
                                  the Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/10             7     Main and emerging issues: report of the
                                  Secretary-General
       
E/CN.17/1998/11             3     Letter dated 11 February 1998 from the
                                  Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the
                                  United Nations transmitting the report of
                                  the Expert Group Meeting on Strategic
                                  Approaches to Freshwater Management, held at
                                  Harare from 27 to 30 January 1998
       
E/CN.17/1998/12             4     Letter dated 23 February 1998 from the
                                  Permanent Representative of the Republic of
                                  Korea to the United Nations
                                  transmitting the report of the International
                                  Expert Meeting on the Role of Publicly
                                  Funded Research and Publicly Owned
                                  Technologies in the Transfer and Diffusion
                                  of Environmentally Sound Technologies, held
                                  at Kyongju, Republic of Korea, from
                                  4 to 6 February 1998
       
E/CN.17/1998/13            3      Report of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working
                                  Group on Strategic Approaches to Freshwater
                                  Management
       
E/CN.17/1998/14            5      Report of the Inter-sessional Ad Hoc Working
                                  Group on Industry and Sustainable
                                  Development
       
E/CN.17/1998/15            8      Note verbale dated 30 March 1998 from the
                                  Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to
                                  the United Nations transmitting the report
                                  of the Fourth International Workshop on
                                  Indicators of Sustainable Development, held
                                  at Prague from 19 to 21 January 1998
       
E/CN.17/1998/16            8      Letter dated 30 March 1998 from the
                                  Permanent Representative of France to the
                                  United Nations transmitting the Final
                                  Declaration and the Programme for Priority
                                  Actions, adopted by the International
                                  Conference on Water and Sustainable
                                  Development, held in Paris from 19 to 21
                                  March 1998
       
E/CN.17/1998/17            3      Letter dated 16 April 1998 from the Acting
                                  Permanent Representative of Germany to the
                                  United Nations transmitting the Petersberg
                                  Declaration issued by the International
                                  Dialogue Forum on Global Water Politics,
                                  Cooperation for Transboundary Water
                                  Management, held at Petersberg near
                                  Bonn, Germany, from 3 to 5 March 1998
       
E/CN.17/1998/18            8      Letter dated 15 April 1998 from the
                                  Permanent Representatives of Brazil and the
                                  Netherlands to the United Nations
                                  transmitting the report of the Expert
                                  Meeting on Environmental Practices in
                                  Offshore Oil and Gas Activities,
                                  held at Noordwijk, Netherlands
       
E/CN.17/1998/19            4      Letter dated 20 April 1998 from the Deputy
                                  Permanent Representative of Greece to the
                                  United Nations transmitting
                                  the Declaration adopted by the International
                                  Conference on Environment and Society:
                                  Education and Public Awareness for
                                  Sustainability, held at Thessaloniki from 8
                                  to 12 December 1997
       
E/CN.17/1998/CRP.1         4      Text for negotiation proposed by the
                                  Chairman on capacity-building, education and
                                  public awareness, science and transfer
                                  of environmentally sound technology
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.1           2      Participation of intergovernmental
                                  organizations in the work of
                                  the sixth session of the Commission on
                                  Sustainable Development: note by the
                                  Secretariat
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.2           2      Participation of intergovernmental
                                  organizations in the work of
                                  the sixth session of the Commission on
                                  Sustainable Development: note by the
                                  Secretariat
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.3           5      Chairman's summary of the industry segment
                                  of the sixth session of the Commission on
                                  Sustainable Development
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.4          10      Draft report of the Commission on its sixth
                                  session
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.5           6      Draft decision submitted by the
                                  Vice-Chairman of the Commission, 
                                  Mr. Rogatien Biaou (Benin), entitled "Review
                                  of the implementation of the Programme of
                                  Action for the Sustainable Development of
                                  Small Island Developing States"
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.6           8      Draft decision submitted by the
                                  Vice-Chairman of the Commission, 
                                  Mr. Rogatien Biaou (Benin), entitled
                                  "Matters related to the inter-sessional work
                                  of the Commission"
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.7           9      Draft provisional agenda for the seventh
                                  session of the Commission
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.8           8      Draft decision submitted by the
                                  Vice-Chairman of the Commission, 
                                  Mr. Miloslav Hettes (Slovakia), entitled
                                  "Information provided by Governments and
                                  exchange of national experiences"
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.9           8      Draft decision submitted by the
                                  Vice-Chairman of the Commission, 
                                  Mr. Michael Odevall (Sweden), entitled
                                  "Consumer protection guidelines for
                                  sustainable consumption"
       
E/CN.17/1998/L.10          5      Draft decision submitted by the
                                  Vice-Chairman of the Commission, 
                                  Mr. Michael Odevall (Sweden), entitled
                                  "Industry and sustainable development"
       
  
                              Notes

1/  See E/CN.17/1998/5, annex.

2/  E/CN.17/1998/5.

3/  E/CN.17/1998/2.

4/  E/CN.17/1998/3.

5/  E/CN.17/1998/13.

6/  E/CN.17/1998/2/Add.1 and E/CN.17/1998/11. 

7/  E/CN.17/1998/17.

8/  E/CN.17/1998/16.

9/  Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol.I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference
(United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution
I, annex II.

10/ Ibid., annex I.

11/ General Assembly resolution S-19/2.

12/ The United Nations Water Conference, held at Mar del Plata, Argentina,
in 1977; the Global Consultation on Safe Water and Sanitation for the
1990s, held at New Delhi in 1990; the World Summit for Children, held
in New York in 1990; the International Conference on Water and the
Environment, held at Dublin in 1992; the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992; the
Ministerial Conference on Drinking Water Supply and Environmental
Sanitation for the 1990s, held at Noordwijk, Netherlands in 1994; the
International Conference on Population and Development, held at Cairo
in 1994; the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small
Island Developing States, held at Bridgetown in 1994; the World Summit
for Social Development, held at Copenhagen in 1995; the Fourth World
Conference on Women, held at Beijing in 1995; the Intergovernmental
Conference to Adopt a Global Programme of Action for the Protection of
the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, held at Washington,
D.C. in 1995; the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II), held at Istanbul in 1996; the World Food Summit, held in
Rome in 1996; and the nineteenth special session of the General
Assembly, in 1997.

13/ Report of the United Nations Water Conference, Mar del Plata, 14-25
March 1977 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.77.II.A.12), chap.I.

14/ All references to the platforms for or programmes of action of major
conferences should be considered in a manner consistent with the
reports of those conferences.

15/ E/CN.17/1998/4 and Add.1-3.

16/ Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12
March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, 
resolution 1, annex I.

17/ Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions
adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II.

18/ Ibid., annex I

19/ Adopted at the third session of the Conference of the Parties, on 11
December 1997.

20/ See Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12
March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8).

21/ Ibid., chap. I, resolution 1, annex I.

22/ E/CN.17/1998/6 and Add.1-3.

23/ Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions
adopted by the Conference,  resolution 1, annex I.

24/ This target is drawn from the document entitled "Shaping the 21st
Century", issued by the Development Assistance Committee of the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in 1996, and has
been endorsed by the Development Assistance Committee of Donors.

25/ Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions
Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No.
E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), resolution 1, annex II.

26/ See E/CN.17/1998/12, annex

27/ E/CN.17/1998/7 and Add.1-9.

28/ A/53/65-E/1998/5.

29/ Resolution S-19/2, annex, para. 71

30/ Resolution S-19/2, annex.

31/ Ibid., para. 72.

32/ See Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of
Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May
1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. 94.I.18 and corrigendum),
chap. I, resolution 1, annex I, part two, sect. III, para. 1.

33/ A/53/65-E/1998/5, annex.

34/ Without prejudice to the reform efforts under resolution 50/227.

35/ E/CN.17/1998/8.

36/ General Assembly resolution S-19/2, annex.

37/ Ibid., appendix.

38/ Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of
Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May
1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda),
chap. I, resolution 1, annex.

39/ General Assembly resolution 39/248, annex

40/ General Assembly resolution S-19/2, annex.


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