Adoption of the "Environment and Development" guide of the Foreign and Life Ministries in the Council of Ministers"

Environmental protection and the conservation of the natural resources are amongst the most important tasks of the Austrian Development Cooperation", said Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger with regard to the adoption of the "Environment and Development" guide in the Council of Ministers. The objective of the guide is to further integrate the topic of environmental protection in development cooperation and to support developing countries in the sustainable use of natural resources in favour of poor population groups and in adjusting to the impact of global climate change.

"Environment and development must complement and promote each other. Poverty reduction and sustainable development can only be successful if environmental aspects are consistently taken into account. The economic, social, and cultural needs of the people must be reconciled with ecologic requirements", said the Foreign Minister.

In recent decades, the environmental situation and natural resources have continuously deteriorated, above all in poorer countries. Climate change further aggravates this situation. Developing countries are particularly affected by its impact. The expansion of the deserts, deforestation, the loss of biodiversity, yet also insecure land rights are threatening the people's very existence. "Our aim is to integrate environmentally compatible and sustainable action in all areas of life. This also applies to agriculture. The sustainable use of natural resources and genetic diversity for food security are therefore essential items in the Strategic Guide", stressed Environment Minister Niki Berlakovich.

"International conventions on the environment are also mentioned therein, because only when every state has an equal opportunity to implement these conventions will we have the ideal conditions to confront worldwide environmental problems with targeted measures", explained the Environment Minister.

The Strategic Guide shows how environmental and resource protection should be integrated in all areas of development cooperation. Accordingly, the activities suggested therein are quite varied. They range from the promotion of sustainable management of natural resources and chemical and waste management, climate protection through greater energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies to assistance in the fight against the impact of climate change. The planning principles, institutional frameworks, and the capacities must also be improved. The guide also focuses on integrated water resource management to enhance water quality and use, as well as on waste water management and settlement sanitation.

The guide was jointly developed by the Foreign Ministry and the Environment Ministry and non-governmental organisations, and is intended as a guiding principle for all those players involved in the area of environment and development: "Everyone is called upon to contribute their knowledge and experience to conserve the environment while, at the same time, actively promoting a sustainable, social, and economic development", concluded Foreign Minister Spindelegger.

Contact:

Federal Ministry for European
and International Affairs
Alexander Schallenberg
Spokesperson of the Foreign Minister
Tel.: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3265
Fax: ++43 (1) 535 50 91
mailto:kabbm@bmeia.gv.at
www.aussenministerium.at

Life Ministry
Press Department
Doris Ostermann
Spokesperson
Tel.: (++43-1) 71100 DW 6703, DW 6823