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9^ ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVII.OPMENT 



This would involve rwo major initiaiives. The first is the establishment of 

 an international consultative group for research on environment to review 

 progress in environmental research in relation to developing countries, to 

 improve research for these countries, and to enhance the effectiveness of 

 research institutions by promoting cooperation between them; and the second 

 is an improvement in the internationaJ scientific assessment of environmental 

 issues and the integration of this assessment more effectively with interna- 

 tional policymaking. Improved links between assessment and policymaking 

 would involve strengthening cooperation between internationaJ scientific 

 and technical organizations. It would also mean developing stronger tics 

 between U.S. Government agencies that give science policy advice and their 

 countctpaiTs in other nations. 



In an effon to improve the international links between environ- 

 mental assessment and policymaking, the International Council of Scientific 

 Unions is promoting the organization of a group of nongovernmental inter- 

 national and national agencies to assess environmental problems. The group 

 would undenake assessments and meet regularly with representatives of gov- 

 ernment agencies to appraise R&D priorities and to consider approaches 

 to achieve international environmental protection and sustainable develop- 

 ment objectives. 



The United States as a Reuable Partner 



The United States must work to improve its reputation as a reliable partner 

 in international environmental efforts and must reesublish its leadership 

 role in setting environmental pwlicy. While other nations, such as japan, 

 the Netherlands, and Germany, have placed an emphasis on sustainable 

 development, U.S. policies have lagged. U.S. governmental agencies must 

 devote more attention to the sustainable use of resources and must direa 

 substantially greater resources to addressing global environmental challenges 

 through international R&D activities. One reason for establishing a new 

 Department of the Environment is that such a department could provide 

 leadership for U.S. governmental agencies in addressing global environmental 

 problems while acting as a focal p>oint for linking our environmental R&D 

 efforts with those of other nations. 



Becoming a more reliable panner in envirorunental efforts will also 

 require a change in the f>osture of the United Sutcs Government toward 

 international scientific cooperation. A recent study of the U.S. role in co- 

 operating with the industrialized democracies on science and technology 

 found that cooperation was hampered by two major factors: the lack of a 

 coherent policy by the U.S. Government or its specific agencies toward inter- 



