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governments, foundations, and industry should also greatly extend their cooperation with NGOs in planning. monitoring, and evaluating as well as in carrying out projects when they can provide the necessary capabilities on a cost-effective basis. To
this end, governments should establish or strengthen procedures for official consultation and more meaningful participation by
NGOs in all relevant intergovernmental organizations.
74. International NGOs need substantially increased financial support to expand their special roles and functions on behalf of the world community and in support of national NGOs. In the Commission's view, the increased support that will allow these organizations to expand their services represents an indispensable and cost-effective investment. The Commission recommends that these organizations be accorded high priority by governments, foundations, and other private and public sources of funding.
4.2 Increase Cooperation with Industry
75. Industry is on the leading edge of the interface between people and the environment. It is perhaps the main instrument of change that affects the environmental resource bases of development, both positively and negatively. (See Chapter 8.) Both industry and government, therefore, stand to benefit from working together more closely.
76. World industry has taken some significant steps through voluntary guidelines concerning industry practices on environment, natural resources, science, and technology. Although few of these guidelines have been extended to or applied regionally in Africa, Asia, or Latin America, industry continues to address these issues through various international associations.
77. These efforts were advanced significantly by the 1984 World Industry Conference on Environmental Management (WICEM).[1] Recently, as a follow-up to WICEM, several major corporations from a number of developed countries formed the International Environment Bureau to assist developing countries with their environment/development needs. Such initiatives are promising and should be encouraged. Cooperation between governments and industry would be further facilitated if they established joint advisory councils for sustainable development – for mutual advice, assistance, and cooperation in helping to shape and implement policy, laws, and regulations for more sustainable forms of development. Internationally, governments in cooperation with industry, and NGOs should work through appropriate regional organizations to develop basic codes of conduct for sustainable development, drawing on and extending relevant existing voluntary codes, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
78. The private sector also has a major impact on development through commercial bank loans from within and outside countries. in 1983, for example, the proportion of the total net receipts of developing countries from private sources mostly in the form of
- ↑ Report of the World Industry Conference on Environmental Management sponsored by the International Chamber of Commerce and UNEP, 1984 see particularly the principles adopted by OECD in 1985 as a clarification of the OECD Guiding Principles for Multinational Enterprises in International Legal Materials, vol 25, No. 1 (1}86)2 see also the presentation to WCED Public Hearings. eels, June 1985, on 'World Industry Conference Follow-Up' by the Chairman of the Environment Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce.
