agenda-21.pdf

a. Acting as the lead agency in organizing United Nations system efforts towards capacity - building at the local, national and regional levels;
b. Mobilizing donor resources on behalf of Governments for capacity -building in recipient countries and, where appropriate, through the use of the UNDP donor round -table mechanisms;
c. Strengthening its own programmes in su pport of follow -up to the Conference without prejudice to the fifth programming cycle;
d. Assisting recipient countries, upon request, in the establishment and strengthening of national coordination mechanisms and networks related to activities for the follo w-up to the Conference;
e. Assisting recipient countries, upon request, in coordinating the mobilization of domestic financial resources;
f. Promoting and strengthening the role and involvement of women, youth and other major groups in recipient countries in t he implementation of Agenda 21.

3. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
   38.26. UNCTAD should play an important role in the implementation of Agenda 21 as extended at its eighth session, taking into account the importance of the interrelationships be tween development, international trade and the environment and in accordance with its mandate in the area of sustainable development.

4. United Nations Sudano -Sahelian Office
   38.27. The role of the United Nations Sudano -Sahelian Office (UNSO), with added resource s that may become available, operating under the umbrella of UNDP and with the support of UNEP, should be strengthened so that it can assume an appropriate major advisory role and participate effectively in the implementation of Agenda 21 provisions relate d to combating drought and desertification and to land resource management. In this context, the experience gained could be used by all other countries affected by drought and desertification, in particular those in Africa, with special attention to countries most affected or classified as least developed countries.

5. Specialized agencies of the United Nations system and related organizations and other relevant intergovernmental organizations
   38.28. All specialized agencies of the United Nations system, related or ganizations and other relevant intergovernmental organizations within their respective fields of competence have an important role to play in the implementation of relevant parts of Agenda 21 and other decisions of the Conference. Their governing bodies ma y consider ways of strengthening and adjusting activities and programmes in line with Agenda 21, in particular, regarding projects for promoting sustainable development. Furthermore, they may consider establishing special arrangements with donors and finan cial institutions for project implementation that may require additional resources.
   I. Regional and subregional cooperation and implementation

38.29. Regional and subregional cooperation will be an important part of the outcome of the Conference. The regional c ommissions, regional development banks and regional economic and technical cooperation organizations, within their respective agreed mandates, can contribute to this process by:
a. Promoting regional and subregional capacity -building;
b. Promoting the integrat ion of environmental concerns in regional and subregional development policies;
c. Promoting regional and subregional cooperation, where appropriate, regarding transboundary issues related to sustainable development.
38.30. The regional commissions, as appropriate, should play a leading role in coordinating regional and subregional activities by sectoral and other United Nations bodies and shall assist countries in achieving sustainable development. The commissions and regional programmes within the United Nations system, as well as other regional organizations, should review the need for modification of ongoing activities, as appropriate, in light of Agenda 21.

38.31. There must be active cooperation and collaboration among the regional commissions and other relevant organizations, regional development banks, non-governmental organizations and other institutions at the regional level. UNEP and UNDP, together with the regional commissions, would have a crucial role to play, especially in providing the necessary assistance, with particular emphasis on building and strengthening the national capacity of Member States.

38.32. There is a need for closer cooperation between UNEP and UNDP, together with other relevant institutions, in the implementation of projects to halt environmental degradation or its impact and to support training programmes in environmental planning and management for sustainable development at the regional level.

38.33. Regional intergovernmental technical and economic organizations have an important role to play in helping Governments to take coordinated action in solving environment issues of regional significance.

38.34. Regional and subregional organizations should play a major role in the implementation of the provisions of Agenda 21 related to combating drought and desertification. UNEP, UNDP and UNSO should assist and cooperate with those relevant organizations.

38.35. Cooperation between regional and subregional organizations and relevant organizations of the United Nations system should be encouraged, where appropriate, in other sectoral areas.

J. National implementation

38.36. States have an important role to play in the follow-up of the Conference and the implementation of Agenda 21. National level efforts should be undertaken by all countries in an integrated manner so that both environment and development concerns can be dealt with in a coherent manner.

38.37. Policy decisions and activities at the national level, tailored to support and implement Agenda 21, should be supported by the United Nations system upon request.

38.38. Furthermore, States could consider the preparation of national reports. In this context, the organs of the United Nations system should, upon request, assist countries, in particular developing countries. Countries could also consider the preparation of national action plans for the implementation of Agenda 21.

38.39. Existing assistance consortia, consultative groups and round tables should make greater efforts to integrate environmental considerations and related development objectives into their development assistance strategies and should consider reorienting and appropriately adjusting their memberships and operations to facilitate this process and better support national efforts to integrate environment and development.

38.40. States may wish to consider setting up a national coordination structure responsible for the follow- up of Agenda 21. Within this structure, which would benefit from the expertise of non-governmental organizations, submissions and other relevant information could be made to the United Nations.

K. Cooperation between United Nations bodies and international financial organizations

38.41. The success of the follow -up to the Conference is dependent upon an effective link between substantive action and financial support, and this requires close and effe ctive cooperation between United Nations bodies and the multilateral financial organizations. The Secretary -General and heads of United Nations programmes, organizations and the multilateral financial organizations have a special responsibility in forging such cooperation, not only through the United Nations high -level coordination mechanism (Administrative Committee on Coordination) but also at regional and national levels. In particular, representatives of multilateral financial institutions and mechanism s, as well as IFAD, should actively be associated with deliberations of the intergovernmental structure responsible for the follow -up to Agenda 21.

L. Non-governmental organizations

38.42. Non-governmental organizations and major groups are important partners in the implementation of Agenda 21. Relevant non -governmental organizations, including the scientific community, the private sector and women's groups, should be given opportunities to make their contributions and establish appropriate relationships with the United Nations system. Support should be provided for developing countries' non -governmental organizations and their self -organized networks.

38.43. The United Nations system, including international finance and development agencies, and all intergovernment al organizations and forums should, in consultation with non -governmental organizations, take measures to:
a. Design open and effective means to achieve the participation of non -governmental organizations, including those related to major groups, in the proc ess established to review and evaluate the implementation of Agenda 21 at all levels and promote their contribution to it;
b. Take into account the findings of review systems and evaluation processes of non - governmental organizations in relevant reports of t he Secretary-General to the General Assembly and all pertinent United Nations agencies and intergovernmental organizations and forums concerning implementation of Agenda 21 in accordance with the review process.
38.44. Procedures should be established for an exp anded role for non -governmental organizations, including those related to major groups, with accreditation based on the procedures used in the Conference. Such organizations should have access to reports and other information produced by the United Nations system. The General Assembly, at an early stage, should examine ways of enhancing the involvement of non -governmental organizations within the United Nations system in relation to the follow-up process of the Conference.

38.45. The Conference takes note of oth er institutional initiatives for the implementation of Agenda 21, such as the proposal to establish a non -governmental Earth Council and the proposal to appoint a guardian for future generations, as well as other initiatives taken by local governments and business sectors.

Agenda 21 – Chapter 39 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND MECHANISMS Basis for action

39.1. The recognition that the following vital aspects of the universal, multilateral and bilateral treaty - making process should be taken into a ccount:
a. The further development of international law on sustainable development, giving special attention to the delicate balance between environmental and developmental concerns;
b. The need to clarify and strengthen the relationship between existing inter national instruments or agreements in the field of environment and relevant social and economic agreements or instruments, taking into account the special needs of developing countries;
c. At the global level, the essential importance of the participation in and the contribution of all countries, including the developing countries, to treaty making in the field of international law on sustainable development. Many of the existing international legal instruments and agreements in the field of environment have been developed without adequate participation and contribution of developing countries, and thus may require review in order to reflect the concerns and interests of developing countries and to ensure a balanced governance of such instruments and agreement s;
d. Developing countries should also be provided with technical assistance in their attempts to enhance their national legislative capabilities in the field of environmental law;
e. Future projects for the progressive development and codification of internat ional law on sustainable development should take into account the ongoing work of the International Law Commission;
f. Any negotiations for the progressive development and codification of international law concerning sustainable development should, in genera l, be conducted on a universal basis, taking into account special circumstances in the various regions.
Objectives

39.2. The overall objective of the review and development of international environmental law should be to evaluate and to promote the efficacy o f that law and to promote the integration of environment and development policies through effective international agreements or instruments taking into account both universal principles and the particular and differentiated needs and concerns of all countr ies.

39.3. Specific objectives are:
a. To identify and address difficulties which prevent some States, in particular developing countries, from participating in or duly implementing international agreements or instruments and, where appropriate, to review and re vise them with the purposes of integrating environmental and developmental concerns and laying down a sound basis for the implementation of these agreements or instruments;
b. To set priorities for future law -making on sustainable development at the global, regional or subregional level, with a view to enhancing the efficacy of international law in this field through, in particular, the integration of environmental and developmental concerns;
c. To promote and support the effective participation of all countrie s concerned, in particular developing countries, in the negotiation, implementation, review and governance of international agreements or instruments, including appropriate provision of technical and financial assistance and other available mechanisms for this purpose, as well as the use of differential obligations where appropriate;
d. To promote, through the gradual development of universally and multilaterally negotiated agreements or instruments, international standards for the protection of the environme nt that take into account the different situations and capabilities of countries. States recognize that environmental policies should deal with the root causes of environmental degradation, thus preventing environmental measures from resulting in unnecessa ry restrictions to trade. Trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade. Unilateral actions to deal with environmental challenge s outside the jurisdiction of the importing country should be avoided. Environmental measures addressing international environmental problems should, as far as possible, be based on an international consensus. Domestic measures targeted to achieve certain environmental objectives may need trade measures to render them effective. Should trade policy measures be found necessary for the enforcement of environmental policies, certain principles and rules should apply. These could include, inter alia, the princi ple of non- discrimination; the principle that the trade measure chosen should be the least trade - restrictive necessary to achieve the objectives; an obligation to ensure transparency in the use of trade measures related to the environment and to provide ad equate notification of national regulations; and the need to give consideration to the special conditions and development requirements of developing countries as they move towards internationally agreed environmental objectives;
e. To ensure the effective, f ull and prompt implementation of legally binding instruments and to facilitate timely review and adjustment of agreements or instruments by the parties concerned, taking into account the special needs and concerns of all countries, in particular developing countries;
f. To improve the effectiveness of institutions, mechanisms and procedures for the administration of agreements and instruments;
g. To identify and prevent actual or potential conflicts, particularly between environmental and social/economic agreem ents or instruments, with a view to ensuring that such agreements or instruments are consistent. Where conflicts arise they should be appropriately resolved;
h. To study and consider the broadening and strengthening of the capacity of mechanisms, inter alia, in the United Nations system, to facilitate, where appropriate and agreed to by the parties concerned, the identification, avoidance and settlement of international disputes in the field of sustainable development, duly taking into account existing bilateral and multilateral agreements for the settlement of such disputes.
Activities
39.4. Activities and means of implementation should be considered in the light of the above basis for action and objectives, without prejudice to the right of every State to put fo rward suggestions in this regard in the General Assembly. These suggestions could be reproduced in a separate compilation on sustainable development.
A. Review, assessment and fields of action in international law for sustainable development
39.5. While ensurin g the effective participation of all countries concerned, Parties should at periodic intervals review and assess both the past performance and effectiveness of existing international agreements or instruments as well as the priorities for future law making on sustainable development. This may include an examination of the feasibility of elaborating general rights and obligations of States, as appropriate, in the field of sustainable development, as provided by General Assembly resolution 44/228. In certain cases, attention should be given to the possibility of taking into account varying circumstances through differential obligations or gradual application. As an option for carrying out this task, earlier UNEP practice may be followed whereby legal experts d esignated by Governments could meet at suitable intervals, to be decided later, with a broader environmental and developmental perspective.
39.6. Measures in accordance with international law should be considered to address, in times of armed conflict, large-scale destruction of the environment that cannot be justified under international law. The General Assembly and its Sixth Committee are the appropriate forums to deal with this subject. The specific competence and role of the International Committee of the R ed Cross should be taken into account.
39.7. In view of the vital necessity of ensuring safe and environmentally sound nuclear power, and in order to strengthen international cooperation in this field, efforts should be made to conclude the ongoing negotiations for a nuclear safety convention in the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
B. Implementation mechanisms
39.8. The parties to international agreements should consider procedures and mechanisms to promote and review their effective, full and pro mpt implementation. To that effect, States could, inter alia:
a. Establish efficient and practical reporting systems on the effective, full and prompt implementation of international legal instruments;
b. Consider appropriate ways in which relevant internation al bodies, such as UNEP, might contribute towards the further development of such mechanisms.
C. Effective participation in international law making
39.9. In all these activities and others that may be pursued in the future, based on the above basis for action and objectives, the effective participation of all countries, in particular developing countries, should be ensured through appropriate provision of technical assistance and/or financial assistance. Developing countries should be given "headstart" support not only in their national efforts to implement international agreements or instruments, but also to participate effectively in the negotiation of new or revised agreements or instruments and in the actual international operation of such agreements or inst ruments. Support should include assistance in building up expertise in international law particularly in relation to sustainable development, and in assuring access to the necessary reference information and scientific/technical expertise.
D. Disputes in the field of sustainable development
39.10. In the area of avoidance and settlement of disputes, States should further study and consider methods to broaden and make more effective the range of techniques available at present, taking into account, among others, r elevant experience under existing international agreements, instruments or institutions and, where appropriate, their implementing mechanisms such as modalities for dispute avoidance and settlement. This may include mechanisms and procedures for the exchan ge of data and information, notification and consultation regarding situations that might lead to disputes with other States in the field of sustainable development and for effective peaceful means of dispute settlement in accordance with the Charter of th e United Nations, including, where appropriate, recourse to the International Court of Justice, and their inclusion in treaties relating to sustainable development.

Agenda 21 – Chapter 40 INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING 40.1. In sustainable development, eve ryone is a user and provider of information considered in the broad sense. That includes data, information, appropriately packaged experience and knowledge. The need for information arises at all levels, from that of senior decision makers at the national and international levels to the grass -roots and individual levels. The following two programme areas need to be implemented to ensure that decisions are based increasingly on sound information:
a. Bridging the data gap;
b. Improving information availability.
PROGRAMME AREAS
A. Bridging the data gap

Basis for action

40.2. While considerable data already exist, as the various sectoral chapters of Agenda 21 indicate, more and different types of data need to be collected, at the local, provincial, national and inter national levels, indicating the status and trends of the planet's ecosystem, natural resource, pollution and socio-economic variables. The gap in the availability, quality, coherence, standardization and accessibility of data between the developed and the developing world has been increasing, seriously impairing the capacities of countries to make informed decisions concerning environment and development.

40.3. There is a general lack of capacity, particularly in developing countries, and in many areas at the international level, for the collection and assessment of data, for their transformation into useful information and for their dissemination. There is also need for improved coordination among environmental, demographic, social and developmental data and in formation activities.

40.4. Commonly used indicators such as the gross national product (GNP) and measurements of individual resource or pollution flows do not provide adequate indications of sustainability. Methods for assessing interactions between different sectoral environmental, demographic, social and developmental parameters are not sufficiently developed or applied. Indicators of sustainable development need to be developed to provide solid bases for decision -making at all levels and to contribute to a self-regulating sustainability of integrated environment and development systems.

Objectives

40.5. The following objectives are important:
a. To achieve more cost -effective and relevant data collection and assessment by better identification of users, in both the public and private sectors, and of their information needs at the local, provincial, national and international levels;
b. To strengthen local, provincial, national and international capacity to collect and use multisectoral information in decision -making processes and to enhance capacities to collect and analyse data and information for decision -making, particularly in developing countries;
c. To develop or strengthen local, provincial, national and international means of ensuring that planning for sustain able development in all sectors is based on timely, reliable and usable information;
d. To make relevant information accessible in the form and at the time required to facilitate its use. Activities
a. Development of indicators of sustainable development
40.6. Countries at the national level and international governmental and non -governmental organizations at the international level should develop the concept of indicators of sustainable development in order to identify such indicators. In order to promote the incre asing use of some of those indicators in satellite accounts, and eventually in national accounts, the development of indicators needs to be pursued by the Statistical Office of the United Nations Secretariat, as it draws upon evolving experience in this re gard. b. Promotion of global use of indicators of sustainable development
40.7. Relevant organs and organizations of the United Nations system, in cooperation with other international governmental, intergovernmental and non -governmental organizations, should use a
suitable set of sustainable development indicators and indicators related to areas outside of national jurisdiction, such as the high seas, the upper atmosphere and outer space. The organs and organizations of the United Nations system, in coordination wi th other relevant international organizations, could provide recommendations for harmonized development of indicators at the national, regional and global levels, and for incorporation of a suitable set of these indicators in common, regularly updated, and widely accessible reports and databases, for use at the international level, subject to national sovereignty considerations.
c. Improvement of data collection and use
40.8. Countries and, upon request, international organizations should carry out inventories of environmental, resource and developmental data, based on national/global priorities for the management of sustainable development. They should determine the gaps and organize activities to fill those gaps. Within the organs and organizations of the United N ations system and relevant international organizations, data -collection activities, including those of Earthwatch and World Weather Watch, need to be strengthened, especially in the areas of urban air, freshwater, land resources (including forests and rang elands), desertification, other habitats, soil degradation, biodiversity, the high seas and the upper atmosphere. Countries and international organizations should make use of new techniques of data collection, including satellite -based remote sensing. In addition to the strengthening of existing development -related data collection, special attention needs to be paid to such areas as demographic factors, urbanization, poverty, health and rights of access to resources, as well as special groups, including wom en, indigenous peoples, youth, children and the disabled, and their relationships with environment issues.
d. Improvement of methods of data assessment and analysis
40.9. Relevant international organizations should develop practical recommendations for coordinated , harmonized collection and assessment of data at the national and international levels. National and international data and information centres should set up continuous and accurate data -collection systems and make use of geographic information systems, e xpert systems, models and a variety of other techniques for the assessment and analysis of data. These steps will be particularly relevant, as large quantities of data from satellite sources will need to be processed in the future. Developed countries and international organizations, as well as the private sector, should cooperate, in particular with developing countries, upon request, to facilitate their acquiring these technologies and this know-how. e. Establishment of a comprehensive information framework
40.10. Governments should consider undertaking the necessary institutional changes at the national level to achieve the integration of environmental and developmental information. At the international level, environmental assessment activities need to be strengt hened and coordinated with efforts to assess development trends.
f. Strengthening of the capacity for traditional information
40.11. Countries, with the cooperation of international organizations, should establish supporting mechanisms to provide local communities and resource users with the information and know -how they need to manage their environment and resources sustainably, applying traditional and indigenous knowledge and approaches when appropriate. This is particularly relevant for rural and urban populatio ns and indigenous, women's and youth groups.
Means of implementation
a. Financing and cost evaluation
40.12. The secretariat of the Conference has estimated the average total annual cost (1993 -2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $1. 9 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. (b) Institutional means
40.13. Institutional capacity to integrate environment and development and to develop relevant indicators is lacking at both the national and international levels. Existing institutions and programmes such as the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) and the Global Resource Information Database (GRID) within UNEP and different entities within the systemwide Earthwatch will need to be considerably strengthened. Earthwatch has been an essential element for environment -related data. While programmes related to development data exist in a number of agencies, there is insufficient coordination between them. The activities related to development data of agencies and institutions of the United Nations system should be more effectively coordinated, perhaps through an equivalent and complementary "Development Watch", which with the existing Earthwatch should be coordinated through an appropriate office within the United Nations to ensure the full integration of environment and development concerns.
c. Scientific and technological means
d.
40.14. Regarding transfer of technology, with the rapid evolution of data -collection and information technologies it is necessary to develop guidelines and mechanisms for the rapid and continuous transfer of those technologies, particularly to developing countries, in conformity with chapter 34 (Transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capac ity-building), and for the training of personnel in their utilization.
e. Human resource development
40.15. International cooperation for training in all areas and at all levels will be required, particularly in developing countries. That training will have to inc lude technical training of those involved in data collection, assessment and transformation, as well as assistance to decision makers concerning how to use such information.

f. Capacity-building
40.16. All countries, particularly developing countries, with the su pport of international cooperation, should strengthen their capacity to collect, store, organize, assess and use data in decision -making more effectively.
B. Improving availability of information

Basis for action

40.17. There already exists a wealth of data and information that could be used for the management of sustainable development. Finding the appropriate information at the required time and at the relevant scale of aggregation is a difficult task.

40.18. Information within many countries is not adequately m anaged, because of shortages of financial resources and trained manpower, lack of awareness of the value and availability of such information and other immediate or pressing problems, especially in developing countries. Even where information is available, it may not be easily accessible, either because of the lack of technology for effective access or because of associated costs, especially for information held outside the country and available commercially.

Objectives

40.19. Existing national and internation al mechanisms of information processing and exchange, and of related technical assistance, should be strengthened to ensure effective and equitable availability of information generated at the local, provincial, national and international levels, subject t o national sovereignty and relevant intellectual property rights.

40.20. National capacities should be strengthened, as should capacities within Governments, non - governmental organizations and the private sector, in information handling and communication, particularly within developing countries.

40.21. Full participation of, in particular, developing countries should be ensured in any international scheme under the organs and organizations of the United Nations system for the collection, analysis and use of data and information.

Activities
a. Production of information usable for decision -making
40.22. Countries and international organizations should review and strengthen information systems and services in sectors related to sustainable development, at the local, provincia l, national and international levels. Special emphasis should be placed on the transformation of existing information into forms more useful for decision -making and on targeting information at different user groups. Mechanisms should be strengthened or est ablished for transforming scientific and socio -economic assessments into information suitable for both planning and public information. Electronic and non - electronic formats should be used.
b. Establishment of standards and methods for handling information
40.23. Governments should consider supporting the efforts of governmental as well as non -governmental organizations to develop mechanisms for efficient and harmonized exchange of information at the local, national, provincial and international levels, including r evision and establishment of data, access and dissemination formats, and communication interfaces.
c. Development of documentation about information
40.24. The organs and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as other governmental and non-governmenta l organizations, should document and share information about the sources of available information in their respective organizations. Existing programmes, such as those of the Advisory Committee for the Coordination of Information Systems (ACCIS) and the In ternational Environmental Information System (INFOTERRA), should be reviewed and strengthened as required. Networking and coordinating mechanisms should be encouraged between the wide variety of other actors, including arrangements with non -governmental or ganizations for information sharing and donor activities for sharing information on sustainable development projects. The private sector should be encouraged to strengthen the mechanisms of sharing its experience and information on sustainable development.
d. Establishment and strengthening of electronic networking capabilities
40.25. Countries, international organizations, including organs and organizations of the United Nations system, and non -governmental organizations should exploit various initiatives for elec tronic links to support information sharing, to provide access to databases and other information sources, to facilitate communication for meeting broader objectives, such as the implementation of Agenda 21, to facilitate intergovernmental negotiations, to monitor conventions and efforts for sustainable development to transmit environmental alerts, and to transfer technical data. These organizations should also facilitate the linkage of different electronic networks and the use of appropriate standards and communication protocols for the transparent interchange of electronic communications. Where necessary, new technology should be developed and its use encouraged to permit participation of those not served at present by existing infrastructure and methods. Mechanisms should also be established to carry out the necessary transfer of information to and from non -electronic systems to ensure the involvement of those not able to participate in this way.
e. Making use of commercial information sources
40.26. Countries and international organizations should consider undertaking surveys of information available in the private sector on sustainable development and of present dissemination arrangements to determine gaps and how those gaps could be filled by commercial or quasi -commercial activity, particularly activities in and/or involving developing countries where feasible. Whenever economic or other constraints on supplying and accessing information arise, particularly in developing countries, innovative schemes for subsidi zing such information -related access or removing the non - economic constraints should be considered.
Means of implementation
a. Financing and cost evaluation
40.27. The secretariat of the Conference has estimated the average total annual cost (1993 -2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $165 million 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 financi al terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.
b. Institutional means
40.28. The institutional implications of this programme concern mostly the st rengthening of already existing institutions, as well as the strengthening of cooperation with non -governmental organizations, and need to be consistent with the overall decisions on institutions made by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Dev elopment.
c. Capacity-building
40.29. Developed countries and relevant international organizations should cooperate, in particular with developing countries, to expand their capacity to receive, store and retrieve, contribute, disseminate, use and provide appropri ate public access to relevant environmental and developmental information, by providing technology and training to establish local information services and by supporting partnership and cooperative arrangements between countries and on the regional or subr egional level.
d. Scientific and technological means
40.30. Developed countries and relevant international organizations should support research and development in hardware, software and other aspects of information technology, in particular in developing countries, appropriate to their operations, national needs and environmental contexts.