de certaines lacunes dans la prtparation de cette rtunion; celles-ci n'ont pas manqu6 de peser sur les travaux. On a pu aussi se rendre compte des difft- rences qui existaient entre les conceptions des divers experts qui, pour 6tre invitts en qualit6 personnelle, n'en 6taient pas moins des experts gouvernementaux: certains d'entre eux estimaient que le Groupe devait s'en tenir ~ une rtflexion prtalable sur le problbme, alors que la majorit6 a entendu aboutir/~ la formu- lation de certains principes qui pour- raient servir soit pour guider les gouver- nements d~sireux d'adopter des mesures 16gislatives dans ce domaine, soit pour inspirer des dispositions ~ instrer dans des conventions internationales.

I1 n'en reste pas moins que certaines options fondamentales ont pu 6tre prises: elles correspondent ~ celles qu'avait adopttes le C. E. D. E. quelques semaines auparavant. D'une part l'6tude, devra couvrir les dtttriorations de l'environnement autres que celles caustes parla pollution; d'autre part, toutes les activitts tendant fi l'exploration ou fi

l'exploitation du fond de l amer et de son sous-sol devraient y 6tre incluses. I1 a 6galement 6t6 reconnu que les aspects prtventifs de la rtglementation devraient l 'emporter sur toute autre considtration. C'est ainsi que la nt- cessit6 d'tvaluer les effets des activitts envisagtes sur le milieu matin a 6t6 soulign6 et que les proctdures permet- tant une telle 6valuation figurent en priorit6 au programme de travail adopt6 par le Groupe. Aussi la tache la plus immtdiate du Groupe sera-t-elle d'ttudier les probl~mes suivants en rue d'ttablir, si possible, des principes directeurs: - 6tude de l'impact sur l'environnement; - prise en compte du point de rue de l'environnement dans des syst~mes nationaux d'autorisation relatifs aux activitts mini~res et de forage en mer; - systbmes pour assurer le contrtle de l'environnement; - prise en compte de l'impact ~ l'ex- ttrieur des fronti~res au moment d'auto- riser des activitts mini~res et de forage en mer et, en particulier, notification et consultation.

I1 est certain que ces rtsultats, mtme partiels, n'auraient pu 6tre obtenus sans la volont6 de faire progresser le droit de l'environnement manifestte par cer- tains experts, ni, surtout, sans la fagon

la fois ferme et souple dont le Prtsident, M. G. W. Maas Geesteranus, a su diriger les discussions et 6viter les blocages.

A.K.Vq Voir Selected Documents page 137.

Day" "Sun Day" was observed for the first

time on May 3. In a speech issued to mark this occa-

sion, Mr. Mostafa Tolba stated that solar energy plays an important role in UNEP's efforts to establish experimental rural energy centres in a number of countries and that UNEP's International Referral System (IRS) provides the latest infor- mation on the use of solar energy.

In UNEP's permanent headquarters, which will be built in Nairobi, solar power will be included for the energy requirements of this new centre. []

Agreement Reached at Kuwait Conference Eight Gulf States* have agreed upon

two environmental protection treaties and an Action Plan for environmentally sound development**. Concern over the deterioration of their common sea and coastline led these states into launching joint action. The meeting, which was convened by the United Nations Envi- ronment Programme (UNEP) as part of its regional seas programme and hosted by the government of Kuwait, had the support of various organizations of the United Nations System.

In this region, marine pollution primarily affects coastal areas because the winds and surface currents drive the pollution towards the shore. It is accentuated by the particular physical nature of this regional sea, which is narrow, shallow and semi-enclosed and on the average, only 35 metres deep. Shore waters less than 10 metres deep stretch for many kilometres offshore. The sea, which is also very salty and warm, has only a limited capacity for breaking up and absorbing industrial waste and urban sewage - although it is the only body of water which receives the waste and residues of

*Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Quatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emixates. **See Selected Documents, page 131.

Environmental Policy and Law, 4 (1978)

the industrial and urban activities of the region.

The first of the draft treaties, a framework convention, states in its preamble that the eight countries realize that pollution of the marine environment in the region shared by them by oil and other harmful or noxious materials arising from human activities on land or at sea, especially through the indiscriminate and uncon- trolled discharge of these substances, presents a growing threat to marine life, fisheries, human health, the recre- ational uses of beaches and other amenities.

The second treaty, a protocol, calls upon signatories to cooperate in combatting pollution by oil and other harmful substances in cases of emergency. Such emergencies include collisions, petroleum production, blow-outs and other incidents or accidents that could cause substantial pollution.

The importance of these two treaties is highlighted by the fact that about 60 per cent of all the oil carried by ships throughout the world - around one billion tons per year - is exported from this region, and in view of the regions extraordinarily rapid industrial develop- ment.

The eight-country Action Plan is designed to contribute to the overall

development of the region, and puts much more emphasis on applied research and development than on academic' research. It also involves contingency planning for accidents arising from oil exploration, exploitation and transport, environmental engineering, public health problems, acquaculture, marine parks, port pollution and fresh water manage- ment. Intensive training programmes and public awareness campaigns are also foreseen.

Another aspect of the Action Plan deals with the exploitation of open sea and bottom-dwelling fish, crustaceans and molluscs, including species already o f commercial importance, such as shrimp. Increased plankton production is also an objective.

As tanker operations and the spread- ing of oil spills are strongly influenced by meteorological conditions at sea, of special interest is the intention to strengthen and coordinate the region's marine meteorological services. In this connection, two regional marine meteo- rological meetings are planned to be held during 1978.

The treaties will enter into force upon ratification by five countries. It is expected that this will take between one and two years. However, work on the cooperative programmes approved at the conference will start very soon, without waiting for the necessary ratifications. []

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