Providing environmental assistance to developing countries

Much of the world's current environmental degradation is occurring in developing countries. Technical and financial assistance to developing countries is needed to fight their environmental problems. Such help is fundamentally important if these countries are to pursue sustainable paths of development.

The main objective of environmental assistance is to contribute to a sound management of the global environment and biological diversity. The following four areas are specifically given priority: development of sustainable production systems; conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; reduction of pollution of soil, air and water; and, the preservation of cultural heritage and management of the natural environment's cultural values.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Agenda 21 recommends providing technical support to developing countries on issues relating to the application of economic instruments and market mechanisms.

UN Environment Programme's Clearing-house mechanism was established in 1982 to act as a bridge between developing countries and potential donors. Through it, UNEP assists developing countries in their efforts to deal with their environmental problems and helps them find financial and technical resources they need. The Clearing-house mechanism helps these countries to formulate priority programmes and projects, and in order to do so, mobilize financial and other resources. In addition, potential donors are matched with identified projects, and links are forged between developing countries and donors. The Clearing-house mechanism has provided assistance to some 45 countries, from small individual projects to complete national plans.

UN's World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest provider of grant assistance for environmental activities in developing countries. Since its establishment, the Programme has provided more than US$5,000 million of assistance to help developing countries increase the long-term ability of the land to provide people with the basic means of existence on a sustainable basis. Activities include soil and forest conservation, among others.

1. Providing
2. Integrating environment and development in decision-making
3. Supporting developing countries
4. Promoting environmentally sound economic growth
5. Protecting global environment

1. Transferring environmentally sound technology to affiliates in developing countries
2. Taking measures for environmentally sound disposal of hazardous waste in developing countries
3. Supporting education in developing countries on protecting marine environment
4. Improving capability for environmentally sound use of biotechnology in developing countries
5. Financing environmentally sound technologies in developing countries
6. Facilitating return to developing countries of qualified experts
7. Facilitating access to environmental data collection technology
8. Expanding environmental management education and training
9. Cooperating on environmentally sound technology among enterprises in developed and developing countries
10. Compensating developing countries for use of environmentally sound technologies
11. Assisting developing countries to prevent threats to the marine environment
12. Assisting developing countries to build up expertise in international sustainable development law
13. Assisting developing countries improve scientific capabilities on climate change and the marine environment

1. Providing environmental security
2. Promoting sustainability through cross-sectoral dialogue
3. Improving quality of human life
4. Ensuring participation of developing countries in collection of environmental data
5. Building administrative structures for sustainable development

1. Using economic instruments for sustainable development
2. Supporting research and development of environmentally sound technology
3. Providing training on environmental information technology
4. Providing training about integrated environmental accounting
5. Providing access to appropriate technology
6. Preparing national environmental synopses
7. Increasing training for sustainable development
8. Greening international institutions
9. Disseminating environmental information
10. Developing international environmental policy
11. Developing environmental action plan
12. Creating environmentally sound trading practices
13. Building environmental capacity in governments

1. Presumptuous management of the environment
2. Negative ecological impact of overpopulation
3. Natural disasters
4. Ineffectiveness of foreign aid
5. Inadequate legislation against environmental pollution
6. Inadequate environmental education
7. Failure to take account of externalities of systems
8. Environmental poverty
9. Environmental pollution
10. Environmental degradation

1. Assistance