International Effort

Conserving natural resources is about using less and managing stocks to ensure they are renewable and an even flow is carried forward into the long-term. This philosophy was endorsed by the international community in towards the end of the 1980s.

For example;

• the Governing Council of UNEP, the UN Environment Programme, in its decision 15/2 of 1989, "invites the attention of the General Assembly to the understanding of the Governing Council with regard to the concept of "sustainable development", as follows: "Statement by the Governing Council on Sustainable Development"
• "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and does not imply in any way encroachment upon national sovereignty. The Governing Council considers that the achievement of sustainable development involves co- operation within and across national boundaries. It implies progress toward national and international equity, including assistance to developing countries in accordance with their national development plans, priorities and objectives. It implies, further, the existence of a supportive international economic environment that would result in sustained economic growth and development in all countries, particularly in developing countries, which is of major importance for sound management of the environment. It also implies the maintenance, rational use and enhancement of the natural resource base that underpins ecological resilience and economic growth. Sustainable development further implies incorporation of environmental concern and considerations in development planning and policies, and does not represent a new form of conditionality in aid or development financing.' "—Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/4425), UNEP/GC, 15/12 decision 15/2, Annex II.

If developing countries had been required to meet the environmental standards that prevailed in the United States, they would have incurred direct pollution control costs of $5.5 billion in 1980 with respect to their exports of manufactures to OECD countries, which amounted to 848 billion. In addition, it has been estimated that, if the pollution control expenditures associated with the materials that went into the final product were also counted, the costs would have risen to $14.2 billion. This is probably an underestimate, as it relates only to the impact of environmental pollution and does not allow for the costs of soil degradation, deforestation, desertification and other deterioration of resources. Source: A/42/42y, Annex.

"There is general agreement that if present emissions trends continue, a rise of global mean temperature could occur in the first half of the next century that would be greater than any in the history of civilization." "The Full Range of Responses to Anticipated Climatic Change", UNEP and the Beijer Institute, April 1989, p. Xi.