22 May 1989

12th plenary meeting

Co-ordination of programmes within the United Nations system in the field of natural resources

The Economic and Social Council,

Noting the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations system in water, mineral and energy resources,

Bearing in mind the broad range of activities proposed for the United Nations in preparation of the medium-term plan for the period 1992-1997,

Convinced of the need to increase the effectiveness and relevance of the work of the United Nations system,

Concerned that the documentation relating to the co-ordination of programmes within the United Nations system in the field of natural resources, prepared for the eleventh session of the Committee on Natural Resources, was not provided sufficiently in advance of the session to allow the Committee to give guidance on the programming and implementation of activities in the United Nations system for the development of natural resources, as called for in its terms of reference,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Committee on Natural Resources at its twelfth session an updated report containing an overview of the activities of the United Nations system in water, mineral and energy resources, identifying the organizations or units within the United Nations system mandated to carry out work in those fields and assessing the extent to which the guidelines provided by the Committee have been followed;

2. Also requests the Secretary-General to fully implement the measures to improve the work of the Committee identified at its tenth session, and to submit documentation at least three months in advance of the Committee's sessions;

3. Further requests the Secretary-General to identify, in the report referred to in paragraph 1 above, the existing priorities and objectives for the work of the United Nations system in the field of natural resources.