17 December 1981

Interrelationships between resources, environment, people and development

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Director-General for Development and International Economic Co-operation on interrelationships between resources, environment, people and development,

Conscious of the interrelationships between resources, environment, people and development, as noted in the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade,

Recognizing that the application of existing knowledge concerning those interrelationships could lead to a more efficient use of available resources in the United Nations system,

Recalling its resolution 35/74 of 5 December 1980, in paragraph 5 of which it requested the Secretary-General to take the requisite steps for implementation of a system-wide programme of work on the interrelationships between resources, environment, people and development,

Recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 1981/51 of 22 July 1981 and 1981/73 of 24 July 1981,

Aware that the formulation and implementation of policies and strategies in the fields of resources, environment, people and development, at the national level, fall within the prerogative of Governments,

1. Requests the Director-General for Development and International Economic Co-operation:

(a) To initiate implementation of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary programme of work on interrelationships between resources, environment, people and development, as outlined in his report, and within this framework the recommendations of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme and of the Economic and Social Council on this subject;

(b) Urgently to consult Governments on the elements contained in his report, as he proceeds in the implementation of the above-mentioned programme of work;

2. Supports the arrangements proposed by the Director-General for interagency consultations and programme support in the implementation of the programme of work, as well as the establishment of a small advisory body, to be financed through the trust fund which has been established for financing activities concerning interrelationships between resources, environment, people and development, to assist him in the over-all guidance of the programme of work and to oversee the operation of the trust fund;

3. Appeals to Governments to contribute to the above-mentioned trust fund;

4. Decides to review at its thirty-eighth session the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution.