Press Release No. G/28/99
13 October 1999
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) -- A high-level United Nations meeting today called for greater integration of environmental factors into economic policy making to ensure sustainable development of the region.
Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Second Session of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Development is being held at the United Nations Conference Centre from 13-15 October 1999. Senior officials from ESCAP member and associate member countries are attending the meeting.
In his inaugural address to the session, H.E. Mr. Savit Bhotiwihok , Minister to the Prime Minister's Office of the Royal Thai Government said that Thailand attaches great importance on minimizing environmental degradation in implementing development activities.
"I would therefore like to urge the international community to take urgent action on the integration of economic, social and environmental objectives, with emphasis on enhancing national capacity", said Mr Savit. The Minister's call is in line with the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly held in 1997 which also set a target for the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development by the year 2002.
In his opening statement to the meeting , Mr. Azizul Islam, Officer-In-Charge, ESCAP said that there was a need to promote a strategic environmental management approach in the Asian and Pacific region. "The countries of the region are no doubt developing national environmental management plans but in many cases the measures adopted are reactive or ad hoc in nature", Mr. Islam said.
According to Mr. Islam the strategic environmental management approach involves a long-term view of development taking into account natural resources use and environmental quality. Such an approach, Mr Islam said, would also define measurable targets which allow for the monitoring of progress as well as accountability and promote cooperation among both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.
The agenda for discussion during the three-day session include policy issues in integrating environmental considerations into economic decision-making; efficient utilization of energy in supply-side facilities and demand-side management; integrated assessment, development and management of land and mineral resources for sustainable economic development. In addition, a panel discussion on "A Sustainable Energy Future for All " will be organized in line with the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly in 1997 which adopted the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21.
The three-day session is also expected to discuss preparations for the Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific, 2000 to be held next year in Kitakyushu City, Japan and the upcoming Second Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India from 15 to 20 November 1999.
Attention was also drawn to the fact that today, 13 October 1999, is the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction in which the General Assembly proclaimed the 1990s as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction and designated the second Wednesday of each October as an International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.
In this regard, ESCAP has organized an exhibition of posters, publications and other materials highlighting efforts at the regional and national level to confront natural disasters.