The ratio of ODA to GNP fell to 0.29 per cent, the lowest since 1973. Competition for these limited resources increased and a significant portion was diverted to emergency operations and disaster relief. While IDA, the soft loan arm of the World Bank, was replenished in December of 1992 at a level equal in real terms to its previous level, the promise of the Earth Increment to address national environmental concerns remains unfulfilled. Since we met in Rio, the World's population has grown by 200 million, with most of the newcomers in poor countries. Carbon-based energy consumption is up despite our concerns about global warming.
Poverty continues to plague the developing world.
An equal number have no access to clean water, and another 1.7 billion people do not have adequate sanitation. Over 35 developing countries remain severely indebted with outstanding debt in excess of their GNP, and more than four times their export earnings. Many developing countries, including some of the poorest, continue to experience economic stagnation and decline. And the outlook for Russia and some other economies in transition remains uncertain. This is the bad news.