UN General Assembly
1963

92. In the light of the breathtaking scientific developments in our century, the pessimistic Malthusian estimates of world resources have given way to more optimistic appraisals. In this respect, the United Nations Conference on the Application of Science and Technology for the Benefit of the Less Developed Areas has focused our attention on theinspiringpossibiliti.es for the acceleration of economic progress through exploitation of scientific and technological potentialities. Today I think we can affirm that world resources are so great that, if fully and rationally exploited, they should be amply sufficient to meet the needs of the rapidly growing world population. But for such a rational exploitation and equitable use of world resources, exact knowledge of the character and magnitude of these resources is a prerequisite.