A
LETTER
FROM
THE
CHAIR
TO
MINISTER
PRIME
THE
This IS the third annual report ofthe Natjonol Round Table. i hope that it will convey to you an lmpressrop thot the Round Table has grown rapidly toward maturity - that it has defined and engaged some ofthe major issues ofsustainable
development in Canada and abroad, and that
progress on several fioonts is now palpable.
3ur foremost commitment throughout
the year was preparat!on
on the Envrronment and Development - the “earth sum,&’
for the United Nations
Conference
- which culminated In the meeting of
heads ofstote in Rio dejoneiro injune.
The Round Table’s Committee on Foreign Poky ontrcrpated the importance years ago. Tile conference
was expected
to be a major opportunity
of LIKED
for advancement
over three ofsustainable
devei’opment oround the globe. This interest and concern wus first signoiied to you in our inaugural annual report ofJune
1990.
The Round Tobie tendered formal advice to you in March i 992, addressing Issues ofstrotegy
as well
GS substance. At your suggestion we hod useful dialogue with the Minister of External Afairs, the Minister of the Environment, and senior oflc;als who were engaged K UNCED our meriloers, Pierre Morc]ohnson
ondjim
MocNeili,
joined the Canadian
preparations.
delegotron
Two of
to UNCED,
and were active participants in RIO.
in the aftermath it is clear that the Canadian deiegction, with your strong ieadershjp, had o major and positive impact
on the outcome. Your initiative OS the first signatory ofrhe Convention
on
Biodiversrty was noticed around the world, and mcy have been a crucial step in the recruitment
of
other s’gnctor;es. For this, as we/l as many other srgnificont :nterventions, you and your support team ore to be congratulated.
it is too e&y
yet for on appraisal of UNCED.
Many
who poped for global unanimity
and funding on
o scale commensurate with the problems are disappointed. Realists will recognize, however, that co,mmrtment to revolutionary ovemigr?t.
change which must ultimately
embrace all nations connot be achieved