28 July 1988

40th plenary meeting

International co-operation on the environment: the Environment Fund

The Economic and Social Council,

Having considered the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on the work of its first special session,

Expressing its concern at the almost complete stagnation in nominal terms of the resources available to the Environment Fund, at a time when the challenges facing the international community in the field of environment and in the achievement of sustained, environmentally sound and socially just development by the developing countries continue to multiply and assume critical importance,

Considering that a 50 per cent increase in real terms in the resources of the Environment Fund is desirable,

1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on the work of its first special session;

2. Recognizes the resolve of the Governing Council to exercise fully the role expected of it in accordance with its mandate;

3. Welcomes the request of the Governing Council to the governing bodies of the organizations of the United Nations system to give priority to the provision of financial and technical assistance for the effective implementation of the Ciaro Programme for African Co-operation in each of its programme areas;

4. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have substantially increased their contributions to the Environment Fund;

5. Considers it essential to increase the resources of the Environment Fund substantially;

6. Calls upon Governments of developed countries that have not contributed in the past to the Environment Fund to do so at a level commensurate with that of other developed countries, in order to give the Fund a much wider base, and encourages those Governments that are contributing to the Fund to continue to do so and, if possible, to increase their contributions in accordance with their capacity to do so.