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 111. Over the past decade, bilateral aid agencies have gradually given more attention to the environmental dimensions of their programmer and projects. A 1980 survey of the environmental procedures and practices of six major bilateral aid agencies indicated that only one. USRID. had systematic and enforceable procedures Racked by the staff resources necessary to carry them out. Sir, cs then, others have made some progress on the policy level, increased funds for environmental projects, and produced guidelines or checklists to guide their programmer. However, a 1983 study of those guidelines concluded that there was little evidence of their systematic application.

112. An important step towards concerted action was taken in 1986 with the adoption by OECD of a recommendation to member governments to include an environmental assessment policy and effective ptoceduree or applying it in their bilateral aid programmes. It is based on a detailed analysis and studies carried out by a joint group of governmental experts from both the Development Assistance Committee and the Environmental Committee. The recommendation, includes proposals for adequate staff and financial resources to undertake environmental assessments and a central office in each agency to supervise implementation and to assist developing countries wishing to improve their capacities for conducting environmental assessments. We urge all bilateral aid agencies to implement this recommendation as quickly as possible. it is essential, of course, that this should not reduce aid flows in the aggregate or slow disbursements or represent a new form of aid conditionality.

6.2.3.New Sources of Revenue and Automatic Financing
113. We have made a series of proposals for institutional change within and among the organizations and specialized agencies of the UN system in the sections on 'Getting at the Sources' and 'Dealing with the Effects' Most of those changes Will not require additional financial resources but can be achieved through a reorientation of existing mandates, programmes, and budgets and a redeployment of present staff. Once implemented, those measures will make a major difference in the effective use of existing resources in making the transition to sustainable development. /…