Posted by kelphead on July 10, 2001 at 18:44:05:
In Reply to: Re: Kelphead, how extensively have you travelled the planet? posted by kelphead on July 08, 2001 at 00:57:21:
taken from:
http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=52&ArticleID=53
_________________
This is a final, advanced version of a chapter of
Agenda 21, as adopted by the Plenary in Rio de
Janeiro, on June 14, 1992. This document will be
further edited, translated into the official
langauges, and published by the United Nations
for the General Assembly this autumn.
5.1. This chapter contains the following programme areas:
(a) Developing and disseminating knowledge concerning the links between
demographic trends and factors and sustainable development;
(b) Formulating integrated national policies for environment and development,
taking into account demographic trends and factors;
(c) Implementing integrated, environment and development programmes at the
local level, taking into account demographic trends and factors.
PROGRAMME AREAS
A. Developing and disseminating knowledge concerning the links between
demographic trends and factors and sustainable development
Basis for action
5.2. Demographic trends and factors and sustainable development have a
synergistic relationship.
5.3. The growth of world population and production combined with unsustainable
consumption patterns places increasingly severe stress on the life-supporting
capacities of our planet. These interactive processes affect the use of land, water,
air, energy and other resources. Rapidly growing cities, unless well-managed,
face major environmental problems. The increase in both the number and size of
cities calls for greater attention to issues of local government and municipal
management. The human dimensions are key elements to consider in this
intricate set of relationships and they should be adequately taken into
consideration in comprehensive policies for sustainable development. Such
policies should address the linkages of demographic trends and factors,
resource use, appropriate technology dissemination, and development.
Population policy should also recognize the role played by human beings in
environmental and development concerns. There is a need to increase
awareness of this issue among decision makers at all levels and to provide both
better information on which to base national and international policies and a
framework against which to interpret this information.
5.4. There is a need to develop strategies to mitigate both the adverse impact on
the environment of human activities and the adverse impact of environmental
change on human populations. The world's population is expected to exceed 8
billion by the year 2020. Sixty percent of the world's population already live in
coastal areas, while 65 per cent of cities with populations above 2.5 million are
located along the world coasts; several of them are already at or below the
present sea level.
Objectives
5.5. The following objectives should be achieved as soon as practicable:
(a) To incorporate demographic trends and factors in the global analysis of
environment and development issues;
(b) To develop a better understanding of the relationships among demographic
dynamics, technology, cultural behaviour, natural resources and life support
systems;
(c) To assess human vulnerability in ecologically sensitive areas and centres of
population to determine the priorities for action at all levels, taking full account of
community defined needs.
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kelphead.