⁸¹ Major international documents recognizing this principle (first established in domestic law under the 1972 National Environmental Protection Act of the United States) are the 1992 Rio Declaration (Principle 17), United Nations General Assembly resolution 2995 (XXVII), 1972; the 1978 UNEP DraR Principles of Conduct (Principle 5); Agenda 21 (paras. 7.41 (b) and 8.4), the 1974 Nordic Environmental Protection Convention (Art. 6); the 1985 EC Environmental Assessment Directive (Art. 3); and the 1991 Espoo Convention. The status of the principle in actual practice is indicated also by the fact that multilateral development banks have adopted it as an essential precaution (World Bank Operational Directive 4.00).