A/RES/2996(XXVII) GA

42 General Assembly-Twenty-seventh Session (XXIII) of 17 December 1968, 2525 (XXIV) of 5 December 1969, 2690 (XXV) of 11 December 1970 and 2812 (XXVI) of 14 Decembe,r 1971, Decides to preserve the original functions of the United Nations Capital Development Fund until 31 De- cember 1973, in accordance with the measures set forth in paragraph 1 of General Assembly resolution 2321 (XXJil). 2109th plenary meeting 14 December 1972 2994 (XXVII). United Nations Conference on the Human Environment The General Assembly, Reaffirming the responsibility of the international community to take action to preserve and enhance the environment and, in particular, the need for continuous international co-operation to this end, Recalling its resolutions 2398 (XXHI) of 3 De- cember 1968, 2581 (XXJV) of 15 December 1969, 2657 (XXV) of 7 December 1970, 2849 (XXVI) and 2850 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971, Having considered the report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment,8a held at Stockholm from 5 to 16 June 1972, and the report of the Secretary-General thereon,H Expressing its satisfaction that the Conference and the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment succeeded in focusing the attention of Governments and public opinion on the need for prompt action in the field of the environment, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environ- ment; 2. Drcn,vs the attention of Governments and the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programn;ie85 to the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment:86 and refers the Action Plan for the Human Environment87 to the Governing Council for appropriate action; 3. Drcn,vs the attention of Governments to the rec- ommendations for action at the national level referred to them by the Conference for their consideration and such action as they might deem appropriate; 4. Designates 5 Jane as World Environment Day and urges Governments and the organizations in the United Nations system to undertake on th·at day every year world-'Wide activities reaffirming their concern for the preservation and enhancement of the environment, with a view to deepening environmental awareness and to pursuing the determination expressed at the Con- ference; 5. Takes note with appreciation of resolution 4 (I) of 15 June 197238 adopted by the Conference on the convening of a second United Nations Con,ference on the Human Environment and refers this matter to the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme with the request that the Council study 33 A/CONF.48/14 and Corr.1. :H A/8783 and Add. l, Add.1/Corr.1 and Add.2. 35 See resolution 2997 (XXVII), sect. I. 30 A/CONF.48/14 and Corr.1, chap, I. 37 Ibid., chap. II. 38 Ibid., chap. N. this matter, taking into ,account the status of imple- mentation of the Action Plan and future developments in the field of the environment, and report its views and recommendations to the General Assembly so that the Assembly can take a decision on all aspects of the matter not later than at its twenty-ninth session. 2112th plenary meeting 15 December 1972 2995 (XXVII). Co-operation between States in the field of the environment The General Assembly, Having considered principle 20 as contained in the dr·aft text of a preamble and principles of the declara- tion on the human environment, 80 referred to it for consideration by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Recalling its resolution 2849 (XXVI) of 20 De- cember 1971 entitled "Development and environment", Bearing in mind that, in exercising their sovereignty over their natural resources, States must seek, through effective bilateral and multilateral co-operation or through regional machinery, to preserve and improve the environment, 1. Emphasizes that, in the ex,ploration, exploitation and development of their natural resources, States must not produce significant harmful effects in zones situated outside thek national jurisdiction; 2. Recognizes that co-operation between States in the field of the environment, including co-operation towards the implementation of principles 21 and 22 of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on· the Human Environment,40 will be effectively achieved if official and public knowledge is provided of the technical data relating to the work to be carried out by States within their national jurisdiction, with a view to avoiding significant harm that may occur in the environment of the adjacent area; 3. Further recognizes that the technical data referred to in paragraph 2 above will be given and received in the best spirit of co-operation and good-neighbourliness, without this being construed as enabling each State to delay or impede the programmes and projects of ex- ploration, exploitation and development of the natural resources of the St,ates in whose territories such pro- grammes and projects are carried out. 2112 th plena.ry meeting 15 December 1972 2996 (XXVII). International responsibility 0£ States in regard to the environment The General Assembly, Recalling principles 21 and 22 of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment41 concerning the international responsi- bility of States in regard to the environment, Bearing in mind that those principles lay down the basic rules governing this matter, 20 See A/CONF.48/4, annex. See also A/CONF.48/14 and Corr.1, chap. X, sect. D. 40 A/CONF.48/14 and Corr.I, chap. I. 41 Jbid. Resolution!! adopted on the rep,ol"I!!. of the Sttond Co111mlllee Declares that no resolution adopted at the twenty- seventh session of the General Assembly can ~ect principles 21 and 22 of the DeclMa.tion of the Umted Natl.ons Conference on the Human. Environment. 2112th plenary ,neeting JS December 1972 2997 (XXVII). Institutional tmd financial arrange- ments for international environmental co• operation The General Assembly, Convinced of the need for prompt and effective implementation by Governments and the international community of measures designed to safeguard and enhance the environment for the benefit of pre.sent and future generations of man, Recognizing that responsibility for action to protect and enhance the environment resti; primarily with Governments and, in the first instance, can be exercise.cl more effectively at the nationial. and regional levels, Recognizing further that environmental problems of broad international significance fall within the com- petence of the United Nations system, Bearing in mind that international co~operative pro- grammes in the field of the environment must be under- taken with due respect for the sovereign rights of States and in conformity with the Charter of tbe United Nations ,and principles of international. law, Mindful of the sectoral responsibilities of the organ- izations in the United Nations system, Conscious of the significance of regional and sub- regional co-operation :in the field cYf the environment and of the important role of the regional economic com- missions and other regional inter-governmental organiza- tions, Emphasizing that problems of the envlronment consti- tute a new and important area for mtem·ational co- operation and that the comple~ity and interdependence of such problems require new approaches, Recognizing that the relevant international scientific and other professional communities can make an im- portant contribution to international co-operation in the field of the environment, Conscious of the ne~ for processes within the United Nations system which would effectively assist develop- ing countries to implement environmental policies and programmes that are compatible with their development plans and to paTticipate meaningfully in international environmental programmes, Convinced that, in order to be effective, international co-operation in the .field of the environment requires additional financial and technical ~esources1 Aware of the urgent need for a permanent institu- tional arrangement within the United Nations system -for the protection and improvement of the environment1 Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment,a 42 A/8783 and Add.I, Add.1/Corr.1 and Add.2. I GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME 1. Decides to establish a Governing Council of tht United Nations En~ironment Programme composed ol fifty-eight members. elected by the General Assemblj for three-year terms on the following basis: (a) Sixteen seats for African States; (b) Thirteen seats for Asian States; (c) Six seats for Eastern European Statesj ( d) Ten seats for Latin American States; (e) Thirteen seats for Western European and other States; 2. Decides that the Governing Council shall have tlte following main Junctions and responsibilities: (a) To promote international co-operation in the ne:ld of the envjronmen t and to recommend, as appro-- priate, policies to this end; (h) To provide gene ml policy guidance for the direction and co-orclim1tion of environmental pro- grammes within the United Nations system; ( c) To receive an<l review the periodic reports of tile Executive Director of the United Nations Environ- ment Programme, refo1Ied to in section II, paragraph 2, betow, on the implementation of environmental pro- grammes within the United Notions system; (d) To keep under review the world environmental situation in order to e11Sure that emerging environ- menta.I problems of wide international significa-nce rec~ive appropriate and adequate consideration by Governments; (e) To promote the contribution of the relevant international scientific and other professional com- munities to the acquisition, assessment and exchange of environmental knowledge and information and, as app.topriate, to the technical aspects of the formu1ation and implementation of environmental programmes within the United Nations system; (I) To maintain under <:ontinuing review the impact of national and international environmental policies and measures on developing co1Jntries, as well as the problem of additional costs that may be incurred by aeveloping countries in the implementation of environ- mental programmes and projects, and to ensure that such programm~ and pro1ects shall be compatible with the development plans and priorities of those countries; (g) To review and approve annually the programme of utilization of resources of the Environment Fund referred to in section III below; 3. Decides that the Governing Council shall report annually to the General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council, which will transmit to the Assembly such comments on the report as it may deem necessary, particularly with regard to questions of co-ordination and to the relationship of...environmental policies and programmes within the Ufiited Nations system to over- all economic and social policies and priorities; II ENVIR01'1MENT SF.CR BT ARIA. T 1. Decides that n small secretariat shall be estab- lished in the United Nations to serve as a focal point for en-vironmental action and co-ordination witllin the

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