17 December 1981

Session of a special character of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme to be held in 1982

The General Assembly,

Recalling paragraphs 13 to 15 of its resolution 35/74 of 5 December 1980 on international co-operation in the field of the environment,

Concerned that there is need to revive the sense of urgency and commitment by Governments for national and international co-operative action to protect and enhance the environment, which found expression at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held at Stockholm from 5 to 16 June 1972,

Recognizing that important changes in the perception of the environment and of environmental problems have occurred since that Conference and recognizing also the importance of the interrelationships between people, resources, environment and development,

Convinced that the session of a special character represents a unique opportunity for Governments to re-emphasize their continued commitment and support to the cause of the environment and to the United Nations Environment Programme,

1. Decides that the session of a special character of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme should be held at Nairobi from 10 to 18 May 1982 and should report to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;

2. Approves the draft provisional agenda for the session as set forth in section I of the annex to the present resolution;

3. Further decides that the rules of procedure of the Governing Council will apply to the session of a special character, with modifications to rules 17, 18, 19, 31 and 67 as recommended by the Governing Council and set forth in section II of the annex to the present resolution;

4. Reiterates its invitation to Governments to prepare thoroughly for and to participate in the session of a special character at the highest political level, and specifically invites ministers dealing with the environment to participate in the session;

5. Agrees that there should be a special public information programme along the lines indicated by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, which should to a large extent be financed within existing resources;

6. Decides that the present resolution should be implemented with due regard for the need for economy in respect of the preparations and arrangements for the session of a special character;

7. Encourages the participation of non-governmental organizations in the session of a special character, in accordance with the practices normally followed by the Governing Council.

ANNEX Session of a special character of the Governing Council of

the United Nations Environment Programme to be held in 1982

I. DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDA

1. Opening of the session.

2. Adoption of the rules of procedure.

3. Election of the President of the session.

4. Organizational and procedural matters;

(a) Adoption of the agenda and organization of work;

(b) Election of officers other than the President.

5. Credentials of representatives.

6. Review of the major achievements in the implementation of the Action Plan for the Human Environment.

7. Future perspectives, action and international co-operation in the field of the environment, and major environmental trends to be addressed by the United Nations Environment Programme over the next 10 years.

8. Adoption of the report of the session.

9. Closure of the session.

II. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL FOR THE SESSION Rule 17 (Representation and credentials). Paragraph 2 shall be amended to read as follows:

"A Credentials Committee of nine members shall be appointed at the beginning of the session of a special character. Its composition shall be based on that of the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session. It shall examine the credentials of representatives and report to the session of a special character without delay." Rule 18 (Elections)

(a) Paragraph 1 shall be amended as follows:

"At the commencement of the first meeting of the session of a special character, the Governing Council shall elect, for the duration of that session, a President, three Vice-Presidents and a Rapporteur from among its members.

Those officers shall constitute the Bureau of the Governing Council. The Bureau shall assist the President in the general conduct of business of the Governing Council.

The Chairman of such sessional committees or working parties as may be established under rule 60 below shall be invited to participate in meetings of the Bureau."

(b) Paragraph 2 shall remain unchanged;

(c) Paragraph 3 shall be suspended for the duration of the session of a special character.

Rule 19 (Terms of office) shall be suspended for the duration of the session of a special character.

Rule 31 (Quorum) shall read:

"The President may declare a meeting open and permit the debate to start when at least one third of the members of the session of a special character of the Governing Council are present. The presence of a majority of the members shall be required for any decision to be taken." Rule 67 (Participation of States members of the Governing Council). This rule shall be suspended for the duration of the session.