JOINT STATEMENT OF INTENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

PREAMBLE

The Government of India and the Government of the United States ofAmerica, hereinafter the parties, desirous of pursuing a CommonAgenda for the Environment (hereinafter referred to as the "Agenda"),wish to record the following:

ITEM I - INTRODUCTION

It is the intention of the parties to establish the Agenda as acooperative process for collaboration on environmental issues. Bothcountries recognise that environmental protection, economicdevelopment, and social development are interdependent and mutuallyreinforcing components of sustainable development. They acknowledgethat human resource development, eradication of absolute poverty andhunger remain challenges everywhere. While managing resourcessustainably,an environmental policy that focusses mainly onconservation and protection must take due account of those who dependon the resources for their livelihood.

The Agenda is intended to outline key areas of common concern andto reflect the intention of the parties to engage in dialogue andcooperation on approaches to meeting both global and domesticenvironmental challenges. Within a framework of common interest andmutual benefit, the Parties intend to establish working groups todiscuss key environmental issues of importance to both countries andto identify and carry out activities which implement the Agenda, suchas workshops, conferences, and studies. The Groups should consist ofparticipants from Government, Non-Government, and PrivateInstitutions.

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research andenvironmental

and technologicalefforts to address

a) to share perspectives and positions on key global environmentalissues such as global warming, ozone depletion,desertification, biodiversity conservation and hazardous waste;

The objectives of the Agenda seek to achieve U.S. and Indianenvironmental policy goals. The objectives are:-

ITEM II - OBJECTIVES

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b) to facilitiate scientificexchanges and other jointproblems of mutual concern;

c) to exchange information on environmentally sound technologies,including sustainable energy generation and use, pollutionabatement and prevention, waste management, and watertreatment;

d) to seek increased efficiency in the use of available funds and tomobilize additional funds from existing and new sources, includingthe public and private sectors to meet environmentalchallenges;

e) to support implementation of India's Environmental ActionProgramme.

ITEM III - GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

issues.

The parties share deep concerns about global environmentalissues such as global climate change, ozone layer depletion andbiodi versi ty loss as evidenced by their approval of, and activeparticipation in, International Agreements and fora on these

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The parties are both key contributors to the Global EnvironmentFacility and participants in the United Nations Framework Conventionon Climate Change, The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Depletethe Ozone Layer, The Basel Convention on the Control of TransboundaryMovements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, The Convention onBiological Diversity, The Convention on International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, The Convention to CombatDesertification in those Countries experiencing serious droughtand/or Desertification particularly in Africa, The U.N. Commission onSustainable Development and other fora. The Framework of the Agendais intended to provide an opportunity to discuss informally theirmutual views and positions on Global Environmental issues that may betaken up for consideration in international settings.

The Agenda is intended to provide for the periodic exchange ofinformation between the Parties, offer a forum for expandeddiscussions with non-governmental organizations and the privatesector, and permit exchanges of senior technical personnel.

ITEM IV - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ISSUES

Both parties have benefitted from active programmes involvingcollaboration on scientific and technical issues for more than 35years, and there are growing opportunities for promoting cooperationbetween the parties on environmental research and related programs.The Agenda would help establish priori ties for joint work on research,technology, and scientific exchanges related to environmentalissues.

ITEM V - ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGY ISSUES

The parties face many similar environmental challenges•domestically from increased urbanization, industrialization, and

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loss of natural resources. The development and use of environmentallysound technologies and environmental management practices isimportant for the realization of both countries' environmentalobjectives. The Parties intend to look for ways to promote the widertransfer and utilization of these technolgies through a)cooperative programs on pollution abatement and prevention, wastemanagement, waste treatment, clean transport, renewable energysources, and energy efficiency; b) utilization of informationdatabases and exchanges, and c) support for private sectorinitiatives. An example of a program for consideration is the CommonSense Initiative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency whichaddresses the pollution problems of industry on a sector by sectorbasis.

ITEM VI - INDIA ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROGRAMME

The Government of India's Environmental Action Programme laysout a strategy for integrating environmental considerations into anational programme for sustainable development and an ambitious planof action. The Government of the Uni ted States of America intends tosupport that programme through the Agenda and mutually agreedadditional initiatives.

On behalf of the Government ofthe United States of America

On behalf of theGovernment of In~ia

April, 1995 at New Delhi.

(Vinay Shankar)for Global Additional Secretary to

the Government of IndiaMinistry of Environmentand Forests

Signed this

G:O(Timot y

Under Secretary ofAffairsDepartmnent of State