26 May 1987

14th Plenary Meeting

Application of microcomputer technology in the assessment and development of natural resources and energy

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1985/50 of 25 July 1985 on the application of microcomputer technology in the development of water, energy and mineral resources,

Mindful of the accelerating pace of progress in microcomputer technology and its application to the assessment, planning and development of natural resources and energy,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Application of microcomputer technology in the assessment, planning and development of natural resources: water, energy and mineral resources",

1. Takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to promote the transfer and dissemination to the developing countries of microcomputer technology for the assessment, planning and development of water, energy and mineral resources;

3. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Natural Resources at its eleventh session on the progress achieved in the implementation of the above-mentioned recommendations and in the application of microcomputer technology;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a software reference library comprising a collection of software packages developed by various organizations of the United Nations system and references to software packages available in the commercial and public sectors for use in the exploration for and development and management of natural resources and to distribute software to developing countries through application-oriented workshops, seminars and training courses, to be organized at the regional or country level, preferably in developing countries.