ENB:03:04
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Elizabeth Dowdeswell
, the Under-Secretary-General for the
United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Centre
for Human Settlements (Habitat), encouraged a greater concentration
of meetings on environmental and human settlements to be held at
the UN in Nairobi. She pointed out that the 17th session of the
UNEP Governing Council focused on UNCED follow-up. It highlighted
the importance of according a high priority to activities that give
direct or indirect support to developing countries and decided to
give greater emphasis to fresh water resources, terrestrial
eco-systems, oceans, all kinds of seas, coastal areas,
environmental health, human settlements, toxic chemicals and waste
management and capacity building. The Governing Council decided to
make the Earthwatch Programme a more efficient instrument for
environmental sensing. Other responses to Agenda 21 include:
formulating a possible international legal instrument on prior
informed consent procedure contained in the amended London
Guidelines for the exchange of information on chemicals in
international trade; an expanded programme on capacity building;
supporting the implementation of international and regional
conventions; supporting the desertification negotiations and work
on poverty alleviation and clean drinking water. UNEP will be an
equal partner in the GEF and will develop its role to ensure that
activities financed by GEF will be in keeping with UNEP's work in
the UN system. UNEP needs to initiate action in the following
areas: restructure and reorient programmes to align them with the
new directions provided by UNCED; strengthen the operational
capacity of Regional Offices; and reassess its coordinating role.
With regard to Habitat, Dowdeswell highlighted the fourteenth
session of the Commission on Human Settlements (26 April - 5 May
1993) and the Preparatory Committee meeting for the UN Conference
on Human Settlements (Habitat II) (3-5 March 1993). Habitat II will
be held in Turkey in June 1996. Habitat II is the strategic
initiative that will lead to settlements and urban policies in the
21st century that are inclusive, innovative, enabling, capable of
generating economic growth, alleviating poverty and improving the
environment. The two themes for the Conference are Sustainable
Human Settlements in an Urbanizing World and Shelter for All.
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