*Constitution of the Conference
The question of convening an international conference on the environment was raised by the Economic and Social Council at its forty-fifth session. In a resolution on the subject (1346 (XLV)), the Council underlined, inter alia, the urgent need for intensified action at the national and the international level, to limit and, where possible, to eliminate the impairment of the human environment. It emphasized that due attention to problems of the human environment was essential for sound economic and social development; and recommended that the General Assembly, at its twenty-third session, consider the desirability of convening a United Nations conference on problems of the human environment.

*Brief Summary of the General Debate
In a statement to the Conference at its 1st plenary meeting, on 5 June 1972, the Secretary-General of the Conference, Maurice F. Strong, stated that the high level of participation in the Conference was most encouraging; it was greatly to be hoped that the reasons for the absence from the Conference of some countries which had played such an important role in the preparatory process-reasons which were not related to environmental issues-would soon be resolved, and that those countries would be actively involved in dealing with the tasks presented by the problems of the human environment.

*Resolution on Institutional and Financial Arrangements
Institutional and financial arrangements
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment; Convinced of the need for prompt and effective implementation by Governments and the international community of measures designed to safeguard and enhance the human environment for the benefit of present and future generations of Man; Recognizing that responsibility for action to protect and enhance the human environment rests primarily with Governments and, in the first instance, can be exercised more effectively at the national and regional levels,

*Annex I
1. The Working Group on the Declaration on the Human Environment was established by the United Nations Conference on the 14uman Environment at its 7th plenary meeting, on 8 June 1972, in accordance with a proposal of China as orally mediated by Iran. Under that revised proposal, the Conference had resolved to devote more time, as appropriate, to the discussion of the draft Declaration, and for that purpose, to set up a working group open to all States participating in the Conference.

*Annex II
At its 1st plenary meeting, held on 5 June 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, in accordance with rule 4 of its rules of procedure, appointed a Credentials Committee. The Committee was composed of the following States: Australia, Colombia, France, Ireland, Liberia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America and Yugoslavia.

*Marine Pollution
It is recommended that Governments, with the assistance and guidance of appropriate United Nations bodies, iii particular the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP):
(a) Accept and implement available instruments on the control of the maritime sources of marine pollution;
(b) Ensure that the provisions of such instruments are compiled with by ships flying their flags atid by ships operating in areas under their jurisdiction and that adequate provisions are made for reviewing the effectiveness of, and revising, existing and proposed international measures for control of marine pollution;

*Pollution Generally
It is recommended that Governments be mindful of activities in which there is an appreciable risk of effects on climate, and to this end:
(a) Carefully evaluate the likelihood and magnitude of climatic effects and disseminate their findings to the maximum extent feasible before embarking on such activities;
(b) Consult fully other interested States when activities carrying a risk of such effects are being contemplated or implemented.