This will require a vast strengthening and re-orientation of institutional mechanisms and capacities at every level and an incorporation of the objectives of Agenda 21 into international agreements and arrangements in respect of trade, investment and finance. It will require the development of an effective and enforceable international legal regime which will extend into the international arena the rule of law, which is the basis for the effective and equitable functioning of national societies. It will require the integration of ecological disciplines into our educational system, and the development of the understanding and skills required to manage these issues. The values on which implementation of Agenda 21 in the final analysis will depend must be integrated into our cultural and social systems. Each sector of society business and industry, trade unions, scientists, farmers, educators, religious leaders, communicators, indigenous people, women, children and youth must be fully committed to and engaged in the implementation of Agenda 21.
Industrialized countries have a responsibility to take a lead and set an example.
And, of course, this responsibility is concentrated in the continents of Europe and North America. Under today's conditions, it is unrealistic to expect funds of this magnitude to be forthcoming in the form of increased foreign aid in the traditional sense even though it would be conceivable if industrialized countries met the internationally accepted target of 0.7 per cent of GDP for development assistance. We will have to find new ways of transferring resources, and ultimately this may involve some form of international taxation such as an earmarked portion of a nationally levied environment tax, like a carbon tax. Another prospect that has, in my opinion, great potential and may be more achievable, is the introduction of a system of internationally tradeable emission permits. Whatever the means, increased financial assistance to developing countries must be seen as an indispensable investment in our own environmental security.