26 July 1991

32nd plenary meeting

Coordination of programmes within the United Nations system in the field of natural resources

The Economic and Social Council,

Bearing in mind section I of General Assembly resolution 45/253 of 21 December 1990 on the medium-term plan for the period 1992-1997 and, in particular, programme 19 of the medium-term plan, on natural resources,

Recalling its resolutions 1987/13 of 26 May 1987 and 1989/12 of 22 May 1989,

Convinced of the need to increase the effectiveness and relevance of the work of the United Nations system in the field of natural resources,

Stressing the crucial role of natural resources for economic growth and development, particularly that of the developing countries,

Welcoming the enhanced coordination of the activities of the United Nations system in the field of natural resources, particularly in water resources,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations system in water, mineral and energy resources;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Committee on Natural Resources at its thirteenth session an updated report containing an overview of the activities of the United Nations system regarding 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;

3. Welcomes with appreciation the coordination mechanisms for water and sanitation issues, including the inter-agency Steering Committee for Cooperative Action for the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade, the Intersecretariat Group for Water Resources of the Administrative Committee on Coordination and the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, to include in the annual report of the Committee, to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council at its regular session of 1992, a section on the most effective ways and means of enhancing coordination in the mineral and energy sectors;

5. Also requests the Secretary-General to prepare a compilation of the relevant decisions emanating from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in the area of natural resources for priority consideration by the Committee on Natural Resources at its thirteenth session.