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(CIDIE).[1] Some have articulated clear policies and project guidelines for incorporating environmental concerns and assessments into their planning and decision making, but only a few have assigned staff and resources to implementing them, notably the World Bank, which is now considering even further institutional changes to strengthen this work. Overall, as pointed out by the UNEP Executive Director in his statement reviewing the first five years of work, 'CIDIE has not yet truly succeeded in getting environmental considerations firmly ingrained in development policies. There bas been a distinct lack of action by several multilaterals.' CIDIE members have 'gone along with the Declaration in principle more than in major shifts in action.'[2]
107. In order to marshal and support investments in conservation projects and national conservation strategies that enhance the resource base for development, serious consideration should be given to the development, of a special international banking programme or facility[3] linked to the World Bank. Such a special conservation banking programme or facility could provide loans and facilitate Joint financing arrangements for the development and protection of critical habitats and ecosystems, including those of international significance, supplementing efforts by bilateral aid agencies, multilateral financial institutions, and commercial banks.
10. In the framework of the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance (CE), there has been since the early 1970s a Committee for Environmental Protection with the participation of the heads of appropriate organizations in the member states. This Committee coordinates the relevant r$search and development programmes and, in some cases, organizes technical assistance for the interested member states, involving the Investment Batk of CEA.
6.2.2 Reorienting Bilateral Aid Agencies
109. Bilateral aid agencies present, provide nearly four times as much total ODA as is provided by international organizations. As indicated in Chapter 3, a new priority and lochs in bilateral aid agencies is needed in three main areas:
- new measures to ensure that all projects support sustainable development;
- special programmes to help restore, protect, and improve the ecological basis for development in many developing
countries; and
- special programmes for strengthening the institutional and professional capacities needed for sustainable development.
110. Proposals for special bilateral aid programmes in the areas of agriculture, forestry, energy, industry, human settlements, and genetic resources are made in earlier chapters of this report. The first to priority areas in this chapter also contain proposals for strengthening the institutional and professional capacities in Developing countries. The focus here
is therefore on the first area: new measures to ensure hat all bilateral aid projects support sustainable development.
- ↑ For a summary report on the work of the Committee of International Development Institutions on the Environment, UNEP, 1985 Annual Report. op. cit.
- ↑ Statement by Dr M.K. Tolba, UNEP Executive Director, at the opening of the Sixth session of CIDIE, hosted by the Organization of American State, Washington, DC, June 1985.
- ↑ A proposal for a World Conservation Bank was made by M. Sweatman of the International Wilderness Leadership Foundation at the WCED Public Hearings. Ottawa. 1986.
