Number: 1994-11
WHEREAS, the concept of environmentally sustainable development, based on the premise that the present generation of humans should meet its needs in ways that do not deprive future generations of the ability to meet their own needs, is gaining widespread understanding and acceptance; and
WHEREAS, this fundamental obligation has been recognized by virtually every nation on earth, as reflected in mutual commitments made at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June, 1992, and is now being embraced by communities throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, within the United States, articulating the principles of environmentally sustainable development and recommending their application to U.S. domestic policies are now the object of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development (on which the National Wildlife Federation is represented), with strong and active support from the Administration; and
WHEREAS, the philosophy of environmentally sustainable development has become established over the years in the National Wildlife Federation and is implicit in its mission statement; and
WHEREAS, it is increasingly evident that many of the policies and practices of the U.S. are unsustainable and if left unaddressed will lead inevitably to a lessened quality of life for every citizen; and
WHEREAS, it is obvious that achieving environmentally sustainable development on a national scale is going to be one of the greatest challenges ever faced by U.S. environmental, business, and social interests, and governments at every level; and
WHEREAS, national efforts within the U.S. could be undermined if sustainable development is not pursued on a global level; and
WHEREAS, the end of the Cold War has presented the U.S. with an unprecedented opportunity to resume a position of world leadership in protecting the Earth’s environment upon which future generations depend; and
WHEREAS, the Clinton Administration has already proposed reprioritizing U.S. foreign policy operations in H.R. 3765, the Peace, Prosperity and Democracy Act of 1994, which promotes sustainable development in developing countries by protecting the environment, ending poverty, stabilizing populations, and building democracy; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation, other major U.S. environmental groups and the United Nations strongly support this vision of human-centered development around the world, which enables people and nations to meet their basic needs and maintain a decent quality of life without sacrificing future generations’ ability to do so; and
WHEREAS, implementing this new approach to overseas assistance will be effective only if it is done in coordination with other components of U.S. foreign policy, such as export trade promotion; and
WHEREAS, small, strategically-invested amounts of sustainable development assistance prevent the need for a costly U.S. response to the kind of human misery, environmental destruction, and political instability witnessed in recent events in Somalia and Bosnia-Herzegovina;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 4-6, 1994, in Austin, Texas, hereby reaffirms its commitment to the principles of environmentally sustainable development, and calls upon the Administration and the Congress to make environmentally sustainable development a central theme of not only national environmental and economic policy, but also all aspects of U.S. foreign policy; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon President Clinton to commit the U.S. to fully fund in Fiscal Years 1995 through 2000 those international assistance programs which promote sustainable development through protection of the environment, alleviation of poverty, stabilization of global population, and fostering of democratic institutions.