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CHAPTER 2: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO ACCELERATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND RELATED DOMESTIC POLICIES

This chapter of Agenda 21 addresses the relationship between international economic relations, the economic policies of individual countries and sustainable development. Although discussions of this chapter were not as contentious as they were at PrepCom IV, the remaining bracketed paragraphs, as well as some unbracketed ones, led to much discussion. The US requested to reopen paragraph 2.2 for discussion. The text stated that the development process "will not gather momentum" if the external economic environment is not conducive to domestic economic growth. The US proposal, in effect, attempted to shift the responsibility from the global economic environment to domestic economic policies of developing countries. The proposal was not well received. It was ultimately decided to retain the paragraph as is, since it was unbracketed text and the US had no ground to reopen it. The US attempted to reopen a number of paragraphs in this chapter expressing concern about the current use of existing financial resources. Paragraph 2.24, one of these paragraphs, was amended to include "and the efficient utilization of such resources are essential."

The final text has four programme areas: Promoting sustainable development through trade liberalization; Making trade and environment mutually supportive; Providing adequate financial resources to developing countries and dealing with international debt; and Encouraging macroeconomic policies conducive to environment and development.