27 July 1984

Meeting 50

Environment and development in Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 35/56 of 5 December 1980, containing the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade, which, inter alia, calls for methods to be devised to assist interested developing countries in dealing more adequately with the environmental aspects of development activities, for the international community to increase substantially its financial and technical support to drought-stricken countries suffering from desertification, for consideration to be given by all countries to the environmental aspects of industrialization in the formulation and implementation of their industrial policies and plans and for the improvement of the quality of life and the environment through, inter alia, the strengthening, in the context of human settlements planning, of measures to improve housing conditions,

Taking note of decisions 10/4 and 10/6 of 31 May 1982 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, in which the Governing Council called for assistance to be provided to developing countries in addressing serious environmental problems related to poverty and underdevelopment,

Recalling also resolution 446(XVII), adopted on 30 April 1982 by the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa, on the need to intensify regional co-operation for combating desertification in Africa, resolution 473(XVIII), adopted on 2 May 1983 by the Conference of Ministers, in which the Conference called for the organization of a scientific round-table on the climatic situation and drought in Africa, and resolution 474(XVIII), adopted on 2 May 1983 by the Conference of Ministers, in which the Conference called for the strengthening of African capabilities in environmental matters, especially the environmental co-ordination capabilities of the Commission, and for the encouragement of the development of environmental education and training programmes in member States,

Urges the General Assembly to consider seriously:

(a) The inclusion of reference to the United Republic of Tanzania in the terms of reference of the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office in order to enable that country to receive assistance in the implementation of programmes for combating desertification;

(b) The expansion of the scope of the work of the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office so as to enable it to assist the States members of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference in implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme on combating desertification and drought, in the same way as the Office is currently assisting the States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel.