agenda-21.pdf

vi. Minimize adverse effects from agricultural chemicals by use of integrated pest management;
vii. Educate communities about the pollution-related impacts of the use of fertilizers and chemicals on water-quality, food safety and human health;
e. Water resources development programmes:
i. Develop small-scale irrigation and water-supply for humans and livestock and for water and soil conservation;
ii. Formulate large-scale and long-term irrigation development programmes, taking into account their effects on the local level, the economy and the environment;
iii. Promote local initiatives for the integrated development and management of water resources;
iv. Provide adequate technical advice and support and enhancement of institutional collaboration at the local community level;
v. Promote a farming approach for land and water management that takes account of the level of education, the capacity to mobilize local communities and the ecosystem requirements of arid and semi-arid regions;
vi. Plan and develop multi-purpose hydroelectric power schemes, making sure that environmental concerns are duly taken into account;
f. Scarce water resources management:
i. Develop long-term strategies and practical implementation programmes for agricultural water use under scarcity conditions with competing demands for water;
ii. Recognize water as a social, economic and strategic good in irrigation planning and management;
iii. Formulate specialized programmes focused on drought preparedness, with emphasis on food scarcity and environmental safeguards;
iv. Promote and enhance waste-water reuse in agriculture;
g. Water-supply for livestock:
i. Improve quality of water available to livestock, taking into account their tolerance limits;
ii. Increase the quantity of water sources available to livestock, in particular those in extensive grazing systems, in order to both reduce the distance needed to travel for water and to prevent overgrazing around water sources;
iii. Prevent contamination of water sources with animal excrement in order to prevent the spread of diseases, in particular zoonosis;
iv. Encourage multiple use of water-supplies through promotion of integrated agro- livestock-fishery systems;
v. Encourage water spreading schemes for increasing water retention of extensive grasslands to stimulate forage production and prevent run-off;

h. Inland fisheries:
i. Develop the sustainable management of fisheries as part of national water resources planning;
ii. Study specific aspects of the hydrobiology and environmental requirements of key inland fish species in relation to varying water regimes;
iii. Prevent or mitigate modification of aquatic environments by other users or rehabilitate environments subjected to such modification on behalf of the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity of living aquatic resources;
iv. Develop and disseminate environmentally sound water resources development and management methodologies for the intensification of fish yield from inland waters;
v. Establish and maintain adequate systems for the collection and interpretation of data on water quality and quantity and channel morphology related to the state and management of living aquatic resources, including fisheries;
i. Aquaculture development:
i. Develop environmentally sound aquaculture technologies that are compatible with local, regional and national water resources management plans and take into consideration social factors;
ii. Introduce appropriate aquaculture techniques and related water development and management practices in countries not yet experienced in aquaculture;
iii. Assess environmental impacts of aquaculture with specific reference to commercialized culture units and potential water pollution from processing centres;
iv. Evaluate economic feasibility of aquaculture in relation to alternative use of water, taking into consideration the use of marginal-quality water and investment and operational requirements.
Means of implementation

(a) Financing and cost evaluation

18.77. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $13.2 billion, including about $4.5 billion from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of- magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

18.78. There is an urgent need for countries to monitor water resources and water-quality, water and land use and crop production; compile inventories of type and extent of agricultural water development and of present and future contributions to sustainable agricultural development; evaluate the potential for fisheries and aquaculture development; and improve the availability and dissemination of data to planners, technicians, farmers and fishermen. Priority requirements for research are as follows:
a. Identification of critical areas for water-related adaptive research;
b. Strengthening of the adaptive research capacities of institutions in developing countries;

c. Enhancement of transl ation of water -related farming and fishing systems research results into practical and accessible technologies and provision of the support needed for their rapid adoption at the field level.
18.79. Transfer of technology, both horizontal and vertical, needs to be strengthened. Mechanisms to provide credit, input supplies, markets, appropriate pricing and transportation must be developed jointly by countries and external support agencies. Integrated rural water -supply infrastructure, including facilities for wate r-related education and training and support services for agriculture, should be expanded for multiple uses and should assist in developing the rural economy.
(c) Human resource development

18.80. Education and training of human resources should be actively pu rsued at the national level through: (a) assessment of current and long -term human resources management and training needs; (b) establishment of a national policy for human resources development; and (c) initiation and implementation of training programmes for staff at all levels as well as for farmers. The necessary actions are as follows:
a. Assess training needs for agricultural water management;
b. Increase formal and informal training activities;
c. Develop practical training courses for improving the abilit y of extension services to disseminate technologies and strengthen farmers' capabilities, with special reference to small-scale producers;
d. Train staff at all levels, including farmers, fishermen and members of local communities, with particular reference to women;
e. Increase the opportunities for career development to enhance the capabilities of administrators and officers at all levels involved in land - and water -management programmes.
(d) Capacity-building

18.81. The importance of a functional and coherent in stitutional framework at the national level to promote water and sustainable agricultural development has generally been fully recognized at present. In addition, an adequate legal framework of rules and regulations should be in place to facilitate actions on agricultural water -use, drainage, water -quality management, small -scale water programmes and the functioning of water -users' and fishermen's associations. Legislation specific to the needs of the agricultural water sector should be consistent with, and stem from, general legislation for the management of water resources. Actions should be pursued in the following areas:
a. Improvement of water -use policies related to agriculture, fisheries and rural development and of legal frameworks for implementing suc h policies;
b. Review, strengthening and restructuring, if required, of existing institutions in order to enhance their capacities in water -related activities, while recognizing the need to manage water resources at the lowest appropriate level;
c. Review and strengthening, where necessary, of organizational structure, functional relationships and linkages among ministries and departments within a given ministry;
d. Provision of specific measures that require support for institutional strengthening, inter alia, through long -term programme budgeting, staff training, incentives, mobility, equipment and coordination mechanisms;
e. Enhancement of involvement of the private sector, where appropriate, in human resource development and provision of infrastructure;
f. Transfer of existing and new water -use technologies by creating mechanisms for cooperation and information exchange among national and regional institutions.
G. Impacts of climate change on water resources
Basis for action

18.82. There is uncertainty with respect to the prediction of climate change at the global level. Although the uncertainties increase greatly at the regional, national and local levels, it is at the national level that the most important decisions would need to be made. Higher temperatures and decr eased precipitation would lead to decreased water -supplies and increased water demands; they might cause deterioration in the quality of freshwater bodies, putting strains on the already fragile balance between supply and demand in many countries. Even whe re precipitation might increase, there is no guarantee that it would occur at the time of year when it could be used; in addition, there might be a likelihood of increased flooding. Any rise in sealevel will often cause the intrusion of salt water into estuaries, small islands and coastal aquifers and the flooding of low -lying coastal areas; this puts low - lying countries at great risk.

18.83. The Ministerial Declaration of the Second World Climate Conference states that "the potential impact of such climate chan ge could pose an environmental threat of an up to now unknown magnitude ... and could even threaten survival in some small island States and in low -lying coastal, arid and semi-arid areas". 3/ The Conference recognized that among the most important impacts of climate change were its effects on the hydrologic cycle and on water management systems and, through these, on socio -economic systems. Increase in incidence of extremes, such as floods and droughts, would cause increased frequency and severity of disas ters. The Conference therefore called for a strengthening of the necessary research and monitoring programmes and the exchange of relevant data and information, these actions to be undertaken at the national, regional and international levels.

Objectives

18.84. The very nature of this topic calls first and foremost for more information about and greater understanding of the threat being faced. This topic may be translated into the following objectives, consistent with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change:
i. To understand and quantify the threat of the impact of climate change on freshwater resources;
ii. To facilitate the implementation of effective national countermeasures, as and when the threatening impact is seen as sufficiently confirmed t o justify such action;
iii. To study the potential impacts of climate change on areas prone to droughts and floods.
Activities

18.85. All States, according to their capacity and available resources, and through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, including the United Nations and other relevant organizations as appropriate, could implement the following activities:
a. Monitor the hydrologic regime, including soil moisture, groundwater balance, penetration and transpiration of water -quality, and related climate fact ors, especially in the regions and countries most likely to suffer from the adverse effects of climate change and where the localities vulnerable to these effects should therefore be defined;
b. Develop and apply techniques and methodologies for assessing th e potential adverse effects of climate change, through changes in temperature, precipitation and sealevel rise, on freshwater resources and the flood risk;
c. Initiate case-studies to establish whether there are linkages between climate changes and the current occurrences of droughts and floods in certain regions;
d. Assess the resulting social, economic and environmental impacts;
e. Develop and initiate response strategies to counter the adverse effects that are identified, including changing groundwater levels and to mitigate saline intrusion into aquifers;
f. Develop agricultural activities based on brackish -water use;
g. Contribute to the research activities under way within the framework of current international programmes.
Means of implementation

(a) Financin g and cost evaluation

18.86. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993 -2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $100 million, including about $40 million from the international community on grant or c oncessional terms. These are indicative and order -of- magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non -concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.

(b) Scientific and technological means

18.87. Monitoring of climate change and its impact on freshwater bodies must be closely integrated with national and international programmes for monitoring the enviro nment, in particular those concerned with the atmosphere, as discussed under other sections of Agenda 21, and the hydrosphere, as discussed under programme area B above. The analysis of data for indication of climate change as a basis for developing remedi al measures is a complex task. Extensive research is necessary in this area and due account has to be taken of the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the World Climate Programme, the International Geosphere -Biosphere Programme (I GBP) and other relevant international programmes.

18.88. The development and implementation of response strategies requires innovative use of technological means and engineering solutions, including the installation of flood and drought warning systems and the construction of new water resource development projects such as dams, aqueducts, well fields, waste -water treatment plants, desalination works, levees, banks and drainage channels. There is also a need for coordinated research networks such as the Internat ional Geosphere - Biosphere Programme/Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training (IGBP/START) network.

(c) Human resource development

18.89. The developmental work and innovation depend for their success on good academic training and staff motivat ion. International projects can help by enumerating alternatives, but each country needs to establish and implement the necessary policies and to develop its own expertise in the scientific and engineering challenges to be faced, as well as a body of dedic ated individuals who are able to interpret the complex issues concerned for those required to make policy decisions. Such specialized personnel need to be trained, hired and retained in service, so that they may serve their countries in these tasks.

(d) Capacity-building

18.90. There is a need, however, to build a capacity at the national level to develop, review and implement response strategies. Construction of major engineering works and installation of forecasting systems will require significant strengthe ning of the agencies responsible, whether in the public or the private sector. Most critical is the requirement for a socio -economic mechanism that can review predictions of the impact of climate change and possible response strategies and make the necessary judgements and decisions.

Notes
1/ Report of the United Nations Water Conference, Mar del Plata, 14 -25 March 1977 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.77.II.A.12), part one, chap. I, sect. C, para. 35.

2/ Ibid., part one, chap. I, resolution I I.

3/ A/45/696/Add.1, annex III, preamble, para. 2.

Agenda 21 – Chapter 19 ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN TOXIC AND DANGEROUS PRODUCTS 19.1. A substantial use of chemical s is essential to meet the social and economic goals of the world community and today's best practice demonstrates that they can be used widely in a cost -effective manner and with a high degree of safety. However, a great deal remains to be done to ensure the environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, within the principles of sustainable development and improved quality of life for humankind. Two of the major problems, particularly in developing countries, are (a) lack of sufficient scientific inf ormation for the assessment of risks entailed by the use of a great number of chemicals, and (b) lack of resources for assessment of chemicals for which data are at hand.

19.2. Gross chemical contamination, with grave damage to human health, genetic structures and reproductive outcomes, and the environment, has in recent times been continuing within some of the world's most important industrial areas. Restoration will require major investment and development of new techniques. The long -range effects of pollutio n, extending even to the fundamental chemical and physical processes of the Earth's atmosphere and climate, are becoming understood only recently and the importance of those effects is becoming recognized only recently as well.

19.3. A considerable number of i nternational bodies are involved in work on chemical safety. In many countries work programmes for the promotion of chemical safety are in place. Such work has international implications, as chemical risks do not respect national boundaries. However, a significant strengthening of both national and international efforts is needed to achieve an environmentally sound management of chemicals.

19.4. Six programme areas are proposed:
a. Expanding and accelerating international assessment of chemical risks;
b. Harmonizat ion of classification and labelling of chemicals;
c. Information exchange on toxic chemicals and chemical risks;
d. Establishment of risk reduction programmes;
e. Strengthening of national capabilities and capacities for management of chemicals;
f. Prevention of i llegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products.
In addition, the short final subsection G deals with the enhancement of cooperation related to several programme areas.

19.5. The six programme areas are together dependent for their successful imp lementation on intensive international work and improved coordination of current international activities, as well as on the identification and application of technical, scientific, educational and financial means, in particular for developing countries. T o varying degrees, the programme areas involve hazard assessment (based on the intrinsic properties of chemicals), risk assessment (including assessment of exposure), risk acceptability and risk management.

19.6. Collaboration on chemical safety between the Un ited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) should be the nucleus for international cooperation on environmentally s ound management of toxic chemicals. All efforts should be made to strengthen this programme. Cooperation with other programmes, such as those of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Communities (EC) and other regional and governmental chemical programmes, should be promoted.

19.7. Increased coordination of United Nations bodies and other international organizations involved in chemicals assessment and management should be further promoted. Within the framework of IPC S, an intergovernmental meeting, convened by the Executive Director of UNEP, was held in London in December 1991 to further explore this matter (see paras. 19.75 and 19.76).

19.8. The broadest possible awareness of chemical risks is a prerequisite for achievin g chemical safety. The principle of the right of the community and of workers to know those risks should be recognized. However, the right to know the identity of hazardous ingredients should be balanced with industry's right to protect confidential busine ss information. (Industry, as referred to in this chapter, shall be taken to include large industrial enterprises and transnational corporations as well as domestic industries.) The industry initiative on responsible care and product stewardship should be developed and promoted. Industry should apply adequate standards of operation in all countries in order not to damage human health and the environment.

19.9. There is international concern that part of the international movement of toxic and dangerous products is being carried out in contravention of existing national legislation and international instruments, to the detriment of the environment and public health of all countries, particularly developing countries.

19.10. In resolution 44/226 of 22 December 1989, th e General Assembly requested each regional commission, within existing resources, to contribute to the prevention of the illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes by monitoring and making regional assessments of that illegal traffic and its environmental and health implications. The Assembly also requested the regional commissions to interact among themselves and to cooperate with the United Nations Environment Programme, with a view to maintaining efficient and coordinated monitoring and a ssessment of the illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes.

PROGRAMME AREAS

A. Expanding and accelerating international assessment of chemical risks
19.11. Assessing the risks to human health and the environment hazards that a chemical may c ause is a prerequisite to planning for its safe and beneficial use. Among the approximately 100,000 chemical substances in commerce and the thousands of substances of natural origin with which human beings come into contact, many appear as pollutants and c ontaminants in food, commercial products and the various environmental media. Fortunately, exposure to most chemicals (some 1,500 cover over 95 per cent of total world production) is rather limited, as most are used in very small amounts. However, a seriou s problem is that even for a great number of chemicals characterized by high - volume production, crucial data for risk assessment are often lacking. Within the framework of the OECD chemicals programme such data are now being generated for a number of chemi cals.

19.12. Risk assessment is resource -intensive. It could be made cost -effective by strengthening international cooperation and better coordination, thereby making the best use of available resources and avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort. However, e ach nation should have a critical mass of technical staff with experience in toxicity testing and exposure analysis, which are two important components of risk assessment.

Objectives

19.13. The objectives of this programme area are:
a. To strengthen internation al risk assessment. Several hundred priority chemicals or groups of chemicals, including major pollutants and contaminants of global significance, should be assessed by the year 2000, using current selection and assessment criteria;
b. To produce guidelines for acceptable exposure for a greater number of toxic chemicals, based on peer review and scientific consensus distinguishing between health- or environment-based exposure limits and those relating to socio-economic factors.
Activities

(a) Management-related activities

19.14. Governments, through the cooperation of relevant international organizations and industry, where appropriate, should:
a. Strengthen and expand programmes on chemical risk assessment within the United Nations system IPCS (UNEP, ILO, WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with other organizations, including the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), based on an agreed approach to data-quality assurance, application of assessment criteria, peer review and linkages to risk management activities, taking into account the precautionary approach;
b. Promote mechanisms to increase collaboration among Governments, industry, academia and relevant non-governmental organizations involved in the various aspects of risk assessment of chemicals and related processes, in particular the promoting and coordinating of research activities to improve understanding of the mechanisms of action of toxic chemicals;
c. Encourage the development of procedures for the exchange by countries of their assessment reports on chemicals with other countries for use in national chemical assessment programmes.
(b) Data and information

19.15. Governments, through the cooperation of relevant international organizations and industry, where appropriate, should:
a. Give high priority to hazard assessment of chemicals, that is, of their intrinsic properties as the appropriate basis for risk assessment;
b. Generate data necessary for assessment, building, inter alia, on programmes of IPCS (UNEP, WHO, ILO), FAO, OECD and EC and on established programmes other regions and Governments. Industry should participate actively.
19.16. Industry should provide data for substances produced that are needed specifically for the assessment of potential risks to human health and the environment. Such data should be made available to relevant national competent authorities and international bodies and other interested parties involved in hazard and risk assessment, and to the greatest possible extent to the public also, taking into account legitimate claims of confidentiality.

(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination

19.17. Governments, through the cooperation of relevant international organizations and industry, where appropriate, should:
a. Develop criteria for priority-setting for chemicals of global concern with respect to assessment;
b. Review strategies for exposure assessment and environmental monitoring to allow for the best use of available resources, to ensure compatibility of data and to encourage coherent national and international strategies for that assessment.
Means of implementation