A-21: SUSTAINABILITY





                                             Distr.
                                             GENERAL

                                             A/CONF.151/26 (Vol. I)
                                             12 August 1992

                                             ORIGINAL:  ENGLISH




               REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON 
                       ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

                    (Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992)





                                Chapter 5

                 DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND SUSTAINABILITY


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 per cent 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.

Activities

     Research on the interaction between demographic trends and factors and
     sustainable development 

5.6.  Relevant international, regional and national institutions should
consider undertaking the following activities:

     (a)   Identifying the interactions between demographic processes,
natural resources and life support systems, bearing in mind regional and
subregional variations deriving from, inter alia, different levels of
development;

     (b)   Integrating demographic trends and factors into the ongoing study
of environmental change, using the expertise of international, regional and
national research networks and of local communities, first, to study the human
dimensions of environmental change and, second, to identify vulnerable areas; 

     (c)   Identifying priority areas for action and developing strategies
and programmes to mitigate the adverse impact of environmental change on human
populations, and vice versa. 

Means of implementation

(a)  Financing and cost evaluation 

5.7.  The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost
(1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about
$10 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 financial terms, including any that
are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies
and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation. 


(b)  Strengthening research programmes that integrate population,
     environment and development 

5.8.  In order to integrate demographic analysis into a broader social science
perspective on environment and development, interdisciplinary research should
be increased.  International institutions and networks of experts should
enhance their scientific capacity, taking full account of community experience
and knowledge, and should disseminate the experience gained in
multidisciplinary approaches and in linking theory to action.
5.9.  Better modelling capabilities should be developed, identifying the range
of possible outcomes of current human activities, especially the interrelated
impact of demographic trends and factors, per capita resource use and wealth
distribution, as well as the major migration flows that may be expected with
increasing climatic events and cumulative environmental change that may
destroy people's local livelihoods. 

(c)  Developing information and public awareness

5.10.  Socio-demographic information should be developed in a suitable format
for interfacing with physical, biological and socio-economic data.  Compatible
spatial and temporal scales, cross-country and time-series information, as
well as global behavioural indicators should be developed, learning from local
communities' perceptions and attitudes.

5.11.  Awareness should be increased at all levels concerning the need to
optimize the sustainable use of resources through efficient resource
management, taking into account the development needs of the populations of
developing countries. 

5.12.  Awareness should be increased of the fundamental linkages between
improving the status of women and demographic dynamics, particularly through
women's access to education, primary and reproductive health care programmes,
economic independence and their effective, equitable participation in all
levels of decision-making. 

5.13.  Results of research concerned with sustainable development issues
should be disseminated through technical reports, scientific journals, the
media, workshops, forums or other means so that the information can be used
by decision makers at all levels and increase public awareness.

(d)  Developing and/or enhancing institutional capacity and collaboration

5.14.  Collaboration and exchange of information should be increased between
research institutions and international, regional and national agencies and
all other sectors (including the private sector, local communities,
non-governmental organizations and scientific institutions) from both the
industrialized and developing countries, as appropriate. 

5.15.  Efforts should be intensified to enhance the capacities of national and
local governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations in
developing countries to meet the growing needs for improved management of
rapidly growing urban areas.


                B.  Formulating integrated national policies for
                    environment and development, taking into
                    account demographic trends and factors

Basis for action

5.16.  Existing plans for sustainable development have generally recognized
demographic trends and factors as elements that have a critical influence on
consumption patterns, production, lifestyles and long-term sustainability. 
But in future, more attention will have to be given to these issues in general
policy formulation and the design of development plans.  To do this, all
countries will have to improve their own capacities to assess the environment
and development implications of their demographic trends and factors.  They
will also need to formulate and implement policies and action programmes where
appropriate.  Policies should be designed to address the consequences of
population growth built into population momentum, while at the same time
incorporating measures to bring about demographic transition.  They should
combine environmental concerns and population issues within a holistic view
of development whose primary goals include the alleviation of poverty; secure
livelihoods; good health; quality of life; improvement of the status and
income of women and their access to schooling and professional training, as
well as fulfilment of their personal aspirations; and empowerment of
individuals and communities.  Recognizing that large increases in the size and
number of cities will occur in developing countries under any likely
population scenario, greater attention should be given to preparing for the
needs, in particular of women and children, for improved municipal management
and local government.

Objective

5.17.  Full integration of population concerns into national planning, policy
and decision-making processes should continue.  Population policies and
programmes should be considered, with full recognition of women's rights.

Activities

5.18.  Governments and other relevant actors could, inter alia, undertake the
following activities, with appropriate assistance from aid agencies, and
report on their status of implementation to the International Conference on
Population and Development to be held in 1994, especially to its committee on
population and environment.


(a)  Assessing the implications of national demographic trends and factors

5.19.  The relationships between demographic trends and factors and
environmental change and between environmental degradation and the components
of demographic change should be analysed.

5.20.  Research should be conducted on how environmental factors interact with
socio-economic factors as a cause of migration.

5.21.  Vulnerable population groups (such as rural landless workers, ethnic
minorities, refugees, migrants, displaced people, women heads of household)

whose changes in demographic structure may have specific impacts on
sustainable development should be identified.

5.22.  An assessment should be made of the implications of the age structure
of the population on resource demand and dependency burdens, ranging from
educational expenses for the young to health care and support for the elderly,
and on household income generation.

5.23.  An assessment should also be made of national population carrying
capacity in the context of satisfaction of human needs and sustainable
development, and special attention should be given to critical resources, such
as water and land, and environmental factors, such as ecosystem health and
biodiversity.

5.24.  The impact of national demographic trends and factors on the
traditional livelihoods of indigenous groups and local communities, including
changes in traditional land use because of internal population pressures,
should be studied.

(b)  Building and strengthening a national information base

5.25.  National databases on demographic trends and factors and environment
should be built and/or strengthened, disaggregating data by ecological region
(ecosystem approach), and population/environment profiles should be
established by region.

5.26.  Methodologies and instruments should be developed to identify areas
where sustainability is, or may be, threatened by the environmental effects
of demographic trends and factors, incorporating both current and projected
demographic data linked to natural environmental processes.  

5.27.  Case-studies of local level responses by different groups to
demographic dynamics should be developed, particularly in areas subject to
environmental stress and in deteriorating urban centres.

5.28.  Population data should be disaggregated by, inter alia, sex and age in
order to take into account the implications of the gender division of labour
for the use and management of natural resources.

(c)              Incorporating demographic features into policies and plans

5.29.  In formulating human settlements policies, account should be taken of
resource needs, waste production and ecosystem health.

5.30.  The direct and induced effects of demographic changes on environment
and development programmes should, where appropriate, be integrated, and the
impact on demographic features assessed.

5.31.  National population policy goals and programmes that are consistent
with national environment and development plans for sustainability and in
keeping with the freedom, dignity and personally held values of individuals
should be established and implemented.

5.32.  Appropriate socio-economic policies for the young and the elderly, both
in terms of family and state support systems, should be developed.

5.33.  Policies and programmes should be developed for handling the various
types of migrations that result from or induce environmental disruptions, with
special attention to women and vulnerable groups.

5.34.  Demographic concerns, including concerns for environmental migrants and
displaced people, should be incorporated in the programmes for sustainable
development of relevant international and regional institutions.

5.35.  National reviews should be conducted and the integration of population
policies in national development and environment strategies should be
monitored nationally.

Means of implementation

(a)  Financing and cost evaluation 

5.36.  The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost
(1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about
$90 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 financial terms, including any that
are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies
and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation. 

(b)  Raising awareness of demographic and sustainable development
     interactions 

5.37.  Understanding of the interactions between demographic trends and
factors and sustainable development should be increased in all sectors of
society.  Stress should be placed on local and national action.  Demographic
and sustainable development education should be coordinated and integrated in
both the formal and non-formal education sectors.  Particular attention should
be given to population literacy programmes, notably for women.  Special
emphasis should be placed on the linkage between these programmes, primary
environmental care and the provision of primary health care and services. 

(c)  Strengthening institutions

5.38.  The capacity of national, regional and local structures to deal with
issues relating to demographic trends and factors and sustainable development
should be enhanced.  This would involve strengthening the relevant bodies
responsible for population issues to enable them to elaborate policies
consistent with the national prospects for sustainable development. 
Cooperation among government, national research institutions, non-governmental
organizations and local communities in assessing problems and evaluating
policies should also be enhanced.

5.39.  The capacity of the relevant United Nations organs, organizations and
bodies, international and regional intergovernmental bodies, non-governmental
organizations and local communities should, as appropriate, be enhanced to
help countries develop sustainable development policies on request and, as
appropriate, provide assistance to environmental migrants and displaced
people. 

5.40.  Inter-agency support for national sustainable development policies and
programmes should be improved through better coordination of population and
environment activities.

(d)  Promoting human resource development

5.41.  The international and regional scientific institutions should assist
Governments, upon request, to include concerns regarding the
population/environment interactions at the global, ecosystem and micro-levels
in the training of demographers and population and environment specialists. 
Training should include research on linkages and ways to design integrated
strategies. 


            C.  Implementing integrated environment and development
                programmes at the local level, taking into account
                demographic trends and factors

Basis for action

5.42.  Population programmes are more effective when implemented together with
appropriate cross-sectoral policies.  To attain sustainability at the local
level, a new framework is needed that integrates demographic trends and
factors with such factors as ecosystem health, technology and human
settlements, and with socio-economic structures and access to resources. 
Population programmes should be consistent with socio-economic and
environmental planning.  Integrated sustainable development programmes should
closely correlate action on demographic trends and factors with resource
management activities and development goals that meet the needs of the people
concerned. 

Objective

5.43.  Population programmes should be implemented along with natural resource
management and development programmes at the local level that will ensure
sustainable use of natural resources, improve the quality of life of the
people and enhance environmental quality. 

Activities

5.44.  Governments and local communities, including community-based women's
organizations and national non-governmental organizations, consistent with
national plans, objectives, strategies and priorities, could, inter alia,
undertake the activities set out below with the assistance and cooperation of
international organizations, as appropriate.  Governments could share their
experience in the implementation of Agenda 21 at the International Conference
on Population and Development, to be held in 1994, especially its committee
on population and environment.

(a)  Developing a framework for action

5.45.  An effective consultative process should be established and implemented
with concerned groups of society where the formulation and decision-making of
all components of the programmes are based on a nationwide consultative
process drawing on community meetings, regional workshops and national
seminars, as appropriate.  This process should ensure that views of women and
men on needs, perspective and constraints are equally well reflected in the
design of programmes, and that solutions are rooted in specific experience. 
The poor and underprivileged should be priority groups in this process.

5.46.  Nationally determined policies for integrated and multifaceted
programmes, with special attention to women, to the poorest people living in
critical areas and to other vulnerable groups should be implemented, ensuring
the involvement of groups with a special potential to act as agents for change
and sustainable development.  Special emphasis should be placed on those
programmes that achieve multiple objectives, encouraging sustainable economic

development, and mitigating adverse impacts of demographic trends and factors,
and avoiding long-term environmental damage.  Food security, access to secure
tenure, basic shelter, and essential infrastructure, education, family
welfare, women's reproductive health, family credit schemes, reforestation
programmes, primary environmental care, women's employment should, as
appropriate, be included among other factors. 

5.47.  An analytical framework should be developed to identify complementary
elements of sustainable development policies as well as the national
mechanisms to monitor and evaluate their effects on population dynamics.

5.48.  Special attention should be given to the critical role of women in
population/environment programmes and in achieving sustainable development. 
Projects should take advantage of opportunities to link social, economic and
environmental gains for women and their families.  Empowerment of women is
essential and should be assured through education, training and policies to
accord and improve women's right and access to assets, human and civil rights,
labour-saving measures, job opportunities and participation in
decision-making.  Population/environment programmes must enable women to
mobilize themselves to alleviate their burden and improve their capacity to
participate in and benefit from socio-economic development.  Specific measures
should be undertaken to close the gap between female and male illiteracy
rates. 

(b)  Supporting programmes that promote changes in demographic trends and
     factors towards sustainability 

5.49.  Reproductive health programmes and services, should, as appropriate,
be developed and enhanced to reduce maternal and infant mortality from all
causes and enable women and men to fulfil their personal aspirations in terms
of family size, in a way in keeping with their freedom and dignity and
personally held values.

5.50.  Governments should take active steps to implement, as a matter of
urgency, in accordance with country-specific conditions and legal systems,
measures to ensure that women and men have the same right to decide freely and
responsibly on the number and spacing of their children, to have access to the
information, education and means, as appropriate, to enable them to exercise
this right in keeping with their freedom, dignity and personally held values
taking into account ethical and cultural considerations.

5.51.  Governments should take active steps to implement programmes to
establish and strengthen preventive and curative health facilities that
include women-centred, women-managed, safe and effective reproductive health
care and affordable, accessible services, as appropriate, for the responsible
planning of family size, in keeping with freedom, dignity and personally held
values and taking into account ethical and cultural considerations. 
Programmes should focus on providing comprehensive health care, including
pre-natal care, education and information on health and responsible parenthood
and should provide the opportunity for all women to breast-feed fully, at
least during the first four months post-partum.  Programmes should fully
support women's productive and reproductive roles and well being, with special
attention to the need for providing equal and improved health care for all
children and the need to reduce the risk of maternal and child mortality and
sickness. 

5.52.  Consistent with national priorities, culturally based information and
education programmes that transmit reproductive health messages to men and
women that are easily understood should be developed.

(c)  Creating appropriate institutional conditions

5.53.  Constituencies and institutional conditions to facilitate the
implementation of demographic activities should, as appropriate, be fostered. 
This requires support and commitment from political, indigenous, religious and
traditional authorities, the private sector and the national scientific
community.  In developing these appropriate institutional conditions,
countries should closely involve established national machinery for women.

5.54.  Population assistance should be coordinated with bilateral and
multilateral donors to ensure that population needs and requirements of all
developing countries are addressed, fully respecting the overall coordinating
responsibility and the choice and strategies of the recipient countries.

5.55.  Coordination should be improved at local and international levels. 
Working practices should be enhanced in order to make optimum use of
resources, draw on collective experience and improve the implementation of
programmes.  UNFPA and other relevant agencies should strengthen the
coordination of international cooperation activities with recipient and donor
countries in order to ensure that adequate funding is available to respond to
growing needs. 

5.56.  Proposals should be developed for local, national and international
population/environment programmes in line with specific needs for achieving
sustainability.  Where appropriate, institutional changes must be implemented
so that old-age security does not entirely depend on input from family
members. 

Means of implementation

(a)  Financing and cost evaluation

5.57.  The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost
(1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about
$7 billion, including about $3.5 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)  Research

5.58.  Research should be undertaken with a view to developing specific action
programmes; it will be necessary to establish priorities between proposed
areas of research. 

5.59.  Socio-demographic research should be conducted on how populations
respond to a changing environment. 

5.60.  Understanding of socio-cultural and political factors that can
positively influence acceptance of appropriate population policy instruments
should be improved.

5.61.  Surveys of changes in needs for appropriate services relating to
responsible planning of family size, reflecting variations among different
socio-economic groups and variations in different geographical regions should
be undertaken. 

(c)  Human resource development and capacity-building

5.62.  The areas of human resource development and capacity-building, with
particular attention to the education and training of women, are areas of
critical importance and are a very high priority in the implementation of
population programmes.

5.63.  Workshops to help programme and projects managers to link population
programmes to other development and environmental goals should be conducted. 

5.64.  Educational materials, including guides/workbooks for planners and
decision makers and other actors of population/environment/development
programmes, should be developed.

5.65.  Cooperation should be developed between Governments, scientific
institutions and non-governmental organizations within the region, and similar
institutions outside the region.  Cooperation with local organizations should
be fostered in ordered to raise awareness, engage in demonstration projects
and report on the experience gained.

5.66.  The recommendations contained in this chapter should in no way
prejudice discussions at the International Conference on Population and
Development in 1994, which will be the appropriate forum for dealing with
population and development issues, taking into account the recommendations of
the International Conference on Population, held in Mexico City in 1984, 1/
and the Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, 2/ adopted
by the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United
Decade for Women:  Equality, Development and Peace, held in Nairobi in 1985. 


                                  Notes

     1/    Report of the International Conference on Population, Mexico City,
6-14 August 1984 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.XIII.8),
chap. I. 

     2/    Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the
Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women:  Equality, Development
and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales
No. E.84.IV.10), chap. I, sect. A.



END OF CHAPTER 5
