unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/20/89)
NGO CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON ENVIRONMENT Posting Date: 09/18/89 Source: UNITEX Network, Hoboken, NJ, USA Host: (201) 795-0733 ISSN: 1043-7932 Perspectives of developed and developing countries on environmental matters were the focus of discussion this morning during the third and final day of the Annual Non-Governmental Organizations Conference of the Department of Public Information (DPI). The theme of this year's Conference is "Environment and Development: Only One Earth". Statements were made by Michael J. Gucovsky, Chairman of the Environmental Action Team of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Paulo Nogueira-Batista, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations; Zbigniew M. Bochniarz, visiting professor of the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs; David Okali, professor of forest ecology in the Department of Forest Resources Management at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria; V.V.Aksenov, Director of the Scientific Research Centre for the Use of Natural Resources in the Soviet Union; and TomEricVraalsen, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations. Discussion focused on the relative responsibility of the developed and developing countries for environmental degradation; the need for social and economic reform to ensure sustainable development; the consideration of poverty itself as an obstacle to sustainable development; the relationship between world peace and the problems of environment and development; and the need for an action-oriented international conference to achieve specific goals Following the statements, the floor was thrown open for questions and comments by the participants and panelists. The final meeting of the Conference will begin at 2p.m. today, when statements will deal with public awareness and action on environment and development. Work Programme The Annual Non-Governmental Organizations Conference of the Department of Public Information (DPI) met this morning to discuss the theme: "Perspectives of Developed and Developing Countries". The theme of the three-day Conference which ends this afternoon, is "Environment and Development: Only One Earth". Statements Opening the meeting, MICHAEL J. GUCOVSKY, Chairman of the Environmental Action Team of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said it was important to "manage planet Earth wisely and prudently", and to understand which activities different countries-- both developed and developing-- saw as requiring priority attention. PAULO NOGUEIRA-BATISTA, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, said environmental degradation had continued for two centuries, since the start of the industrial revolution, and had once been considered an acceptable part of that revolution. Industrial growth had been based on two assumptions: that natural resources were not finite; and that the environment could cope with any degree of interference resulting from that growth. It now appeared that such "free goods" as air, the climate and fossil fuels were limited; and that there might be limits to the environment's capacity to cope with industrial interference. At present, the main focus of environmental interest focused on such global concerns as climate, depletion of the ozone layer, and loss of biodiversity. The relative responsibility of each nation for such problems could be found in their respective levels of energy consumption. The industrialized countries, which represented only 8.2per cent of the world's population, accounted for 85percent of use of energy resources. These consumption patterns were the chief source of carbon dioxide emissions which resulted in global warming. The developing world, which represented fourfifths of the world population, accounted for only a small percentage of carbon dioxide emissions. Rather than changing their own consumption, the industrialized countries were exploring new technologies. Under such * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501) --- Patt Haring | United Nations | FAX: 212-787-1726 patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | BBS: 201-795-0733 patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | (3/12/24/9600 Baud) -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-