Protection of the ozone layer

while there may be some weakening of environmental commitment at this time among the developed, industrialized nations, we are at the same time witnessing an increasing recognition of the funda- mental importance of these concerns among the developing nations of the world. In this regard, at the meeting I have just attended of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Switzerland, I learned that

the Government of India had requested the aid of the Environmental Law Cen- ter in Bonn for assistance in drafting legislation governing the establishment and management of Biosphere Reserves. I am happy to announce that I shall de- dicate the 150,000 francs which accom- pany the Elizabeth Haub Prize to this purpose, which will provide a prototype of such legislation - not only for India but as a model for other nations aswell. []

SELECTED DOCUMENTS

UNEP DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE 9th GOVERNING COUNCIL*

THE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME 1980--1983

Having considered the programme docu- mentation before it at its 9th session. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the programme performance report of the Executive- Director and the Medium-Term Plan, 1981 -

t 1983; 2. Urges the Executive-Director to continue to improve the evaluation aspects of future programme performance reports; 3. Requests the Executive-Director to pur- sue the assessment activities identified in the programme performance report; 2 4. Approves the revised objectives and stra- tegies for assessment of basic human needs in relation to outer limits; 5. Takes note of the report 3 on international conventions and protocols in the field of the environment, and authorizes the Executive- Director to transmit it, together with the fourth supplement to the list of such conventions and protocols, 4 to the General Assem- bly at its 36th session, in accordance with resolution 3436 (XXX) of 9 December 1975; 6. Authorizes the Executive-Director to submit the report on marine pollution, 5 on its behalf, to the General Assembly at its 36th session, through the Economic and Social

.Council, as called for by the General As- sembly in resolution 34/183 of 18 December 1979; 7. Further authorizes the Executive-Director to submit the report 6 on the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Na- tions Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy, on its behalf, to the Eco- nomic and Social Council at its second regular session in 1981, as called for by the Council in resolution 1980/49 of 23 July 1980; 8. Takes note the work of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and

"26.5.1981. See also pages 125-129. 1UNEP/GC.9/5 and Adds. 1--5 and UNEP/ GC.9/6 and Add. 1. 2UNEP/GC.9/5, para 18. 3 UN EP/GC.9/5/Add. 1. 4 UN EP/GC/lnformation/5/Supplement 4. s UN EP/GC.5/Add. 3. 6 UNEP/GC./9/5/Add. 4. 7UNEP/GC.9/7. 8UNEP/GC.9/5/Add.5, annex 111.

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Agriculture Organization of the United Na- tions on the preparation of a plan of action on marine mammals, and requests, the Exe- cutive-Director to continue the preparation of the plan with a view to its submission to the Governing Council at its 11th session; 9. Approves the activities in the Medium- Term Plan, 1982--1983; 10. Invites the Executive-Director to submit more precise budgetary indications for each strategy elements in the Medium-Term Plan.

[ ]

INFOTERRA

The Governing Council, 1. Notes with satisfaction the conclusion of the report o f the evaluation of INFOTERRA co-sponsored by the United Nations Environ- ment Programme and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organi- zation that INFOTERRA has fulf i l led the mandate given to it by the Governing Council; 2. Endorses the recommendations of the evaluation report, particularly those which call on national focal points to provide ser- vices beyond referral, where appropriate, to speed up the query-response process, and to continue to promote the use of the system; 3. Requests Governments to make resources available to their respective national focal points to enable them to extend their activities as recommended by the evaluation report; 4. Requests the Executive Director, subject to availability of resources, to implement those recommendations of the evaluation report which will facilitate the phased expan- sion of INFOTERRA as envisaged in the evaluation report. [ ]

PROTECTION OF THE OZONE LAYER

The Governing Council, Recalling its decision 84 C (V) of 25 May

1977 on the establishment of the Co-ordina- ting Committee on the Ozone Layer and on the World Plan of Action on the Ozone Layer,

Recalling further its decision 8/7 B of 29 April 1980 on measures relating to the protection of the ozone layer,

Noting that the latter decision recommends that the use of chlorofluorocarbons 11 and 12 be significantly reduced, and that production capacity should not be increased,

Approves the activities proposed in the medium-term plan, 1982--1983;

Invites the ED to submit more precise bridgely indications for each element of the strategy. [ ]

SYSTEM-WIDE MEDIUM-TERM ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

The Governing Council, Having considered the note of the Exe-

cutive Director on the system-wide medium- term environment programme, "/ 1. Approves, on a provisional basis, the struc- ture and objectives of the system-wide medium- term environment programme, and urges the Executive Director, taking into account the views expressed by delegations to the Council at its ninth session and in co-operation with the United Nations system, to proceed with the development of the system-wide programme, for submission to the Council at its tenth session; 2. Takes note of the sample detailed presen- tation, using the example of genetic resources, a specific programme area of the system-wide programme. [ ]

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

The Governing Council, Noting with satisfaction the outcome 8 of

the Working Group of Experts on Environ- mental Law as contained in its report on the work of its 8th session,

Wishing to assist Governments in promot- ing legal protection of the environment against marine pollut ion caused by offshore mining and drill ing within the limits of national jurisdiction,

Bearing in mind its responsibilities to promote international cooperation in the field of the environment and to recommend, as appropriate, policies to this end, 1. Takes note of the conclusions of the study, containing guidelines, on offshore mining and dril l ing within the limits of national jurisdiction annexed to the report of the Working Group of Experts on Environmental Law on the work of its 8th session; 2. Requests the Executive-Director to circu- late the texts of the conclusions to all Gov- ernments for comments: 3. Recommends that States consider the guidelines when formulating national legislation or undertaking the negotiations for the conclusion of international agreements for the prevention of pol lut ion of the marine environment caused by offshore mining and drill ing within the limits of national jurisdiction; 4. Requests the Executive-Director to report on these matters to the Governing Council at its tenth session. [ ]

OCEANS: REGIONAL SEAS

Implementation of Governing Council decision 7/8 of 3 May 1979 and 8/13 of 29 April 1980

The Governing Council, Recalling its decisions 7/8 of 3 May 1979

and 8/13 B of 29 Apri l , 1980, Recognizing once again the extensive geo-

graphical scope and multidisciplinary charac- ter of the regional seas programmes conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme, which provide an effective contr ibution to the protection of the marine environment on the world level,

Underlining the very positive results achieved in the implementation of the vari- ous regional seas programmes already under way,

Environmental Policy and Law, 7 (1981)

Documents

Protection of the ozone layer