A working conference on engineering education  and training for sustainable development was held in  Paris in late September, 1997. The conference partners  were the World Federation of Engineering  Organizations (WFEO), the World Business Council  for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the Industry  and Environment Office of the United Nations  Environment Programme (UNEP I/ E), and the Ecole  Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, Paris. All four  partners have a deep interest in educational progress  and the environment, and a shared concern about the  need for reform, particularly in the teaching of  environment and sustainability in engineering  education. A survey by the WBSD has shown that a  number of internationally important companies are now  explicitly testing job applicant's competence in  environmental matters as a criterion for selection.

The conference was designed to promote the  following objectives:

• promoting the concept of the environmentally literate engineers.
• giving examples of good practice in environmentally sound engineering and  sustainable development, including a list of the  skills needed.
• Establishing an ongoing network for a  continuing exchange of information and  experience.
• Understanding the attitudes, skills, and  knowledge of environmentally literate  engineers currently in practice.
• Assisting educators to develop curricula.
• Agreeing on the fundamental principles of  how to teach to obtain the desired result.
• Providing examples of successful initiatives,  curricula, and academic case studies.

General recommendations covered a very wide  range of actions, including sharing experience fin  development of curricula, introductory courses at  appropriate levels, changes to existing courses, the  need for education materials and case studies, bench-marking  of existing courses, country inventories of activity, information technology for distance learning,  communication with other professions, general  dissemination of conference information, bringing  business, government and academia together, and  support of a common Web site.

A full account of conference general recommendations  will be published with the Proceedings.

Contact: David Thom , WFEO, c/o KRTA Ltd.,  Auckland, NZ, (phone: 011-64-9-520-6069; fax: 011-64-9-520-4695; e- mail: dthom@ihug.co.nz)

Georgia Tech has incorporated issues of  sustainability into their work in many creative and  successful ways. Institute- wide multi- disciplinary  programs fall into three core areas: environmentally  conscious design and manufacturing, urban and  industrial ecology, and campus ecology. Examples of  these initiatives include the following:

• The Environmentally Conscious Design and  Manufacturing (ECDM) Program addresses  the needs of industries facing higher costs for  scarce resources, more restrictions on  environmental releases, and increased  responsibility for the impacts associated with  their products throughout their life- cycles.  With support from the Georgia Research  Alliance, the ECDM program is developing  laboratories in three areas representing short- to  long- term technology innovations directed at  increasing global competitiveness of U. S.  manufacturers: (1) sensors and control  technologies that improve efficiencies in  existing manufacturing processes; (2) new  environmentally benign processes for  industries requiring chemical separations or  precise machining processes and (3)  technologies that support information  management and use in decisions throughout  a product life- cycle.
• Urban ecology brings together diverse groups  of faculty with expertise in environmental sciences, biodiversity, urban planning, and  engineering to address the current and  anticipated impacts on quality of life in an  increasingly urban world. A new international  program called China- MAP (metro- agro- plex)  is Georgia Tech's largest urban ecology  initiative. China- MAP researchers seek to  understand the interactions among social,  economic, and environmental variables in the  Yangtze Delta region. Recognizing the need  to address the complex interactions among  population growth, agricultural needs, energy  use, urbanization, and the influences of  pollution on crop production, the China- MAP  team members have designed their research  program to provide information for sustainable  development in the region.
• In the 21 st century, photovoltaics (PV)- direct  conversion of sunlight into electricity- can  help meet the rapidly growing demand for  electricity with minimal environmental  consequence. To address these issues, the  Department of Energy established the  University Center of Excellence for  Photovoltaics Research and Education at the  Georgia Tech, one of two such centers in the  United States. This Center's work includes the  world's largest roof- top photovoltaic array  featured on the 1997 Olympic Natatorium.  These two arrays, consisting of 2,856 solar  panels produce a combined 345 kilowatts per  hour and save Georgia Tech an estimated  $30,000 to $45,000 per annum in energy costs.
• The recommendations in the preliminary  Campus Master Plan (CMP) are founded on  one guiding principle: sustainability. The new  CMP will provide a framework to guide the  development of the campus over the next 15  years, and will examine longer- range  development as far as 50 years into the future.  Some examples of how the CMP incorporates  sustainability include: enhancement of green  spaces, expansion and improvement of the  pedestrian environment, and incentive  programs that will contribute to an overall  reduction of autos on the campus.

Contact: Jorge Vanegas Georgia Institute of  Technology (phone: 404-894-9881; fax: 404-894-2278;  e-mail: jvanegas@ce.gatech.edu)

The mission of the State University of New York  College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)  is to provide instruction, research and public service  related to:

• understanding the structure and function of the  world's ecosystem,
• the development, management, and use of  renewable natural resources,
• improving outdoor environments, ranging  from wilderness to managed forests to urban  landscapes,
• maintaining and enhancing biological  diversity, environmental quality, and resource  options

Provost William P. Tully briefed the Forum on the ESF  programs. The Environmental and Forest Biology  Program includes investigations into the biochemistry  of ecosystems; utilization of DNA sequencing in the  recognition of wildlife populations; community  ecology of forests and streams; the impacts of acidic  deposition; forest pathology and entomology; and  bioengineering for disease- resistant trees. The  Biotechnology Program addresses pressing issues of  forest pathology and productivity, enhancement of  wood and fiber properties, and environmental  remediation and pollution abatement. The Chemistry  Program includes biochemistry , national products  chemistry, and environmental chemistry. The  Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering  Program conducts basic and applied research in  environmental and resource engineering analysis and  design for the measurement, assessment, conservation,  and development of natural resource. The Forestry  Program includes the biology of forest ecosystems,  wilderness management, forest policy and  administration, forest commodity production, and  silviculture practices that enhance forest health and  productivity.

The Great Lakes Research Consortium, headquartered  at ESF, links 12 colleges and universities in New York  in a collaborative effort to understand and improve the  Great Lakes ecosystem. Multi- campus teams work on  an array of research and service projects related to  human health and toxicology, fisheries and exotic  species, aquaculture, environmental modeling,  environmental processes and engineering, and Great  Lakes education.

Contact: SUNY College of Environmental Science  and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210  (phone: 315-470-6510; website: http://www.esf.edu)

The University of Florida is home to one of the  largest faculty groups of environmental scientists and  engineers of any major university in the country.  These faculty are linked between their home  departments and colleges to the innovative College of  Natural Resources and the Environment and several  campus- wide centers, including the Center for  Sustainable Construction in the College of  Architecture, the Center for Wetlands, the Center for  Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, and the  Center for Natural Resources. Environmental  engineering faculty have been active internationally in  projects located, for example, in Brazil, Italy, Mexico,  Morocco, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Venezuela.

Faculty of the College of Engineering are  designing curricula to be responsive to sustainability  concerns. In the Department of Environmental  Engineering Sciences, (DEES) course work has  emphasized traditional pollution control strategies to  protect the air, water and terrestrial environments,  coupled with ecological and economic considerations.  DEES is transitioning to focus on "Green  Engineering," with the goal of pollution prevention at  the process source and expects to see initiatives  emphasizing the concepts of process control, pollution  prevention, and systems analysis, leading ultimately to  sustainable ecosystems as pollutant loadings and  environmental disturbances are reduced and  subsequently eliminated.

Examples of research accomplishments include: optimization strategies for efficient management of  water reclamation facilities (nitrogen and oxygen  demand reduction); removal of particulates from stack  emissions; development of biofilters to economically  reduce odorous air emissions; optimization of wet cell  technology to enhance the degradation of solid waste  in landfills; development of loading and withdrawal  strategies to enhance the sustainability of wetland  ecosystems; and performance of energy analyses for  countries that have seriously begun to evaluate their  overall energy use patterns.

In the area of site remediation, DEES has  conducted projects that have accomplished: the  restoration of terrestrial ecosystems that were  extensively strip- mined and then abandoned; the  restoration of water bodies that received excessive  nutrient inputs and of wetlands whose functions had  been significantly altered by waste discharges; the  remediation of contaminated surficial aquifers through  the application of innovative solvent flushing  technology; and the design of radon minimization  strategies to reduce threats to housing residents.

Contact: Joseph J. Delfino , Department of  Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of  Florida, Gainsville, FL 32611-6450 (phone: 352-392-0841; fax: 352-392-3076; e-mail: jdelf@eng.ufl.edu;  home page: http://www.enveng.ufl.edu)

The Sustainable Development Caucus is a  bipartisan Congressional caucus in the U. S. House of  Representatives formed at the beginning of the 105th  Congress. Representatives Elizabeth Furse (D- OR) and  Wayne Gilchrist (R- MD) are co- chairs of the Caucus.  Currently, the Caucus has more than 20 Republican  and Democratic members. The purpose of the Caucus  is to educate congressional members and staff on what  sustainable development is and where it is happening  on the local level around the country. Members will  then be able to use this knowledge as a filter when  looking at legislation to ensure that federal policies  promote rather than impede local sustainability efforts.

The Caucus will host monthly briefings by local  experts on sustainability topics to help educate  members and staff. Caucus members will receive  information and reports on different sustainable  development concepts and initiatives. Periodic "dear  colleague" letters will highlight local success stories.  The Caucus will coordinate with outside organizations  working on sustainabilty issues.

The Caucus is interested in the multitude of  sustainable development issues, including:

• Urban sprawl and loss of open space
• Transportation planning
• Brownfields redevelopment and urban  revitalization
• Sustainable taxation policies
• Post- disaster rebuilding
• Watershed- based planning efforts
• Renewable energy and energy conservation

Contact: Melane Stanley, Office of Representative  Furse (phone: 202-225-0855; fax: 202-225-9497)

On January 14, 1998, the National Environmental  Education and Training Foundation (NEETF) , along  with the President's Council on Environmental Quality  and with support from EPA, hosted a conference on  "Business Helping Business: Corporate Environmental Mentoring ." The conference was  designed to promote the use of mentoring as an  effective, low- cost non- regulatory method for sharing  valuable information among businesses about  successful environmental management approaches, and  to examine the value of mentoring as a tool to improve  the collective corporate environmental performance of  American business. The idea is to match larger  environmentally- conscious companies with smaller  companies that can benefit from the larger companies'  greater access to resources and experience in creating  environmental management strategies.

The conference included 30 corporate  representatives from some of America's top  corporations, including: AT& T, 3M, Coors Brewing Company, Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Lucent  Technologies, Inc., The DuPont Company, Monsanto  Company, Starbucks Coffee Company, Motorola, Inc.,  Kaiser Permanente, Lockheed Martin Corporation,  Veryfine Products, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb and R.  R. Donnelley & Sons Company. While these  companies brought different perspectives to the  Corporate Environmental Mentoring Conference, all  shared the belief that the business community should  be concerned about, and address, the environmental  issues facing us today.

In addition to the 30 corporate representatives, the  conference also included mentoring program directors;  mentoring program participants; several government  agencies including DOC, DOD, and EPA;  environmental organizations; academic institutions;  and non- profit organizations.

Conference participants discussed a variety of  topics, including: the benefits of mentoring, examples  of specific types of mentoring (supplier education,  regional networks, government programs, etc.), the  challenge of measuring the environmental outcomes of  a mentoring program, how to design your own  mentoring program, what would be useful to smaller  companies to achieve compliance, and, finally, how  small companies can finance environmental  improvements.

The Foundation is exploring a number of follow- up  projects to support the interest in corporate  environmental mentoring, including:

• a mentoring handbook
• the "mentor center" , a website which would  list all of the mentoring programs offered by  government agencies, non-profit  organizations, trade associations and business  as well as examples of successful  environmental management approaches/ tools  that could be easily replicated.
• a series of regional mentoring forums which  would bring together state and local  government agencies, corporate  representatives and environmental  organizations to explore the benefits of  mentoring in their region

Contact: Deborah Sliter, Senior Director,  Environment and Business Programs at the National  Environmental Education and Training Foundation  (phone: 202-628-8200, ext. 22)

The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) held its General Assembly in Hong Kong in late November. Its Standing Committee on Transfer, Sharing and Assessment of Technology (ComTech) drafted three resolutions for presentation to he full General Assembly. They concerned Freshwater, Global Warming, and Inclusion of Sustainable Development in Codes of Ethics for Engineer. These resolutions were adopted unanimously by General Assembly participants.

The WFEO also unanimously adopted the following resolution:

"The ninety-nation World Federation of Engineering Organizations represents over eight million engineers who have a vital and powerful role in the successful implementation of sustainable development. As engineers accomplish their work in the built environment and in manufacturing products, they provide an important linkage to parties addressing sustainable development.

WFEO encourages all engineers to:

1.0 Become knowledgeable of sustainable development principles and be continuously trained about the current sustainable technologies applicable to their work.

2.0 Incorporate long-term environmental impacts and costs into the analysis of alternative solutions being considered.

3.0 Re-address engineering responsibilities by incorporating sustainable development principles into the codes of ethics of engineering organizations throughout the world.

4.0 Continuously participate in explaining to the public the principles of sustainable development as they relate to the worlds of engineers."

Other significant business at the General Assembly was the election of James W. Poirot to a four- year term as a vice president of WFEO. He will continue as President of ComTech. Mr. Poirot's additional responsibilities will include coordinating WFEO's external activities; serving on a task force to examine WFEO's organization, membership and subscription/ dues; and serving on the Ethics Task Committee.

After the first of the year, the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES), the U. S. member of WFEO, will organize a steering committee of representatives from its member societies that will be involved in international activities in 1998. One of the group's responsibilities will be to provide a voice for U. S. engineering concerns to WFEO. AAES Member societies will be asked to name a representative to this body, which is expected to meet quarterly.

Contact: Jane Moran Alspach, AAES (phone: 202-296-2237, ext. 205; fax: 202-296-1151; e-mail: jalspach@aaes.org)

The theme of the 1997 Annual Convention of the  American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in  Minneapolis, October 5- 8, 1997, was "Innovative Civil Engineering for Sustainable Development ."  The subject was addressed in a Plenary Session and  twenty Panel Sessions. The Plenary Session, chaired  by James W. Poirot, featured a presentation on  "Engineering and Sustainability: Challenge and  Progress" by David Thom, Vice President of the World  Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and  Chair of the WFEO Standing Committee on  Engineering and Environment. Subjects addressed in  the Panel Sessions included Social Issues of  Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development  and Engineering Education, Sustainable Transportation  Concepts, Balancing Development Pressure and  Environmental Stewardship, Meeting Global Research Needs, Creating Sustainable Government Engineering  Organizations, Planning to Promote Sustainable  Development, and Implementing Sustainable  Development in North America through NAFTA.

The current ASCE Strategic Plan includes the  following FY1998 Strategic Objectives:

1.5 Promote more comprehensive planning toward  achieving the objectives of infrastructure construction  and sustainable development in a sensitive  environment.

2.6 Increase international cooperation on  sustainable development issues.

ASCE is updatingits Policy Statement on The Role  of the Engineer in Sustainable Development to  incorporate the inclusion of sustainable development in  its Code of Ethics and Strategic Plan.

Contact: Walt Marlowe, ASCE (phone: 703-295-6191; fax: 703-295-6132; e-mail: wmarlowe@asce.org)

The Civil Engineering Research Foundation  (CERF), an affiliate of the American Society of Civil  Engineers (ASCE) is working to continue its role as  "facilitator, coordinator, and integrator," of engineering  and construction projects for sustainable development  in the 21st century. CERF has already taken a number  of steps in support of implementing the global research  agenda:

• CERF has established a Global Innovation  Forum which focuses on innovation in the  engineering and construction industry.
• CERF had developed a subscription  newsletter, entitled "Emerging Technology,"  which is issued bimonthly and focuses on the  latest in industry innovation from around the  world.
• CERF and the International Council for  Building Research Studies and Documentation (CIB) are coordinating a one- day symposium  to be held during the CIB Building Congress  in Sweden, June 7- 12, 1988. This follow- on  symposium is entitled "Engineering and  Construction for Sustainable Development in  the 21 st Century, Part II."
• CERF has begun planning and estimating  resource requirements to develop the next  International Research Symposium in  Washington, D. C. in the fall of the year 2000.
• CERF has broadened the High- Performance  Construction Materials Program (CONMAT)  to reflect the widespread recognition that the  development and increased use of high-performance  materials is critical for enhanced  sustainability.
• CERF is building an international approach to  verifying the performance of technologies that  can contribute to sustainable development.  CERF has established a family of innovation  centers, based on the HITEC model  established for the highway community, to  address infrastructure (CEITEC),  environmental technologies (EVTEC), and  buildings in support of the National Evaluation  Service (NES-BIC).

Contact: Richard Belle , CERF (phone: 202-842-0555; fax: 202-789-2943; e-mail: rbelle@cerf.a)

Over sixty representatives of the sustainable  development community gathered in Washington, D. C.  on December 17- 18, 1997 for a workshop on "Strategy  for Enhancing the Materials Role in Environmental  Technology and Sustainability: Assessment and  Linkages."

The workshop, sponsored by the Federation of  Materials Societies (FMS) and the federal interagency  working group on materials in the environment  (EMAT), linked materials researchers with materials  life- cycle policymakers. Its purpose was to encourage development of a long- range strategy in environmental  technology and sustainability for materials research.  The report from the workshop will be available in  March, 1998.

Contact: Betsy Houston FMS, (phone: 202-296-9282 ; fax: 202-833-3014 ; e-mail: betsyhou@ix.netcom.com)

The President's Council on Sustainable  Development (PCSD) held its last meeting of 1997 in  Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting was largely devoted to  climate change, with an added event. The day before  the Council meeting, November 19, the PCSD, in  conjunction with local groups and hosted by the  Georgia Institute of Technology, held a " Community Forum on Quality of Life Issues and Climate  Change."

In this forum, experts were brought in to present  information on climate change to the public, including  information on the science, impacts, technology  strategies and economics. Attendees divided into four  groups (home/family, work/economy, outdoors/recreation, and learning/information) to  identify their concerns in these areas and whether and  how they might be related to climate change causes or  impacts. The participants tried to identify solutions  that would solve multiple quality of life issues and  climate change.

Representatives from each breakout group  presented their results at the Council meeting on  November 20. Additionally, Council members heard  expert presentations on emissions sources, and possible  technological responses to emission reductions in each  sector, including buildings, industry, transportation,  and power generation. In keeping with the technology  theme, the meeting included visits to the University  Center for Photovoltaic Research on the Georgia Tech  campus, the Southface Energy Institute - a  demonstration home with the latest in energy efficient  and recycled materials, and a chance to drive GM's  EV- l, its new sporty electric vehicle and an electric  Chevy S- 10 truck.

The Council's task forces proceeded with efforts to  get their work plans furthered or approved. A proposal  for a "visioning exercise" for the 'Environment  Management Task Force was enthusiastically  approved. The Climate Change Task Force decided to  form three working groups for a more in- depth pursuit  of policy recommendations: on technology, economic  policy/ voluntary measures, and cross- cutting policies.

The next meeting of the PCSD will be in  Washington, D. C. on March 17, 1998.

Contact: Catherine McKalip, PCSD (phone: 202-408-5040; fax: 202-408-6839; e-mail:  cmckalip@erols.com)

The policy mission of the Renewable Natural  Resources Foundation (RNRF) is to advance  interdisciplinary science, understanding and  stewardship of renewable natural resources. The  Statement on Policy Principles, updated in November,  1997, identifies broad areas of interest and agreement  relating to renewable natural resources policy shared  by the Foundation and its Member Organizations. It is  also intended to increase public awareness and  understanding of the major issues and needs associated  with the future of renewable natural resources. The  Policy Principles address Sustainability, Ecosystems,  Biological Diversity, Cultural Diversity, Human  Populations, Resource Management, Water  Management and Quality, Air Quality, Science,  Education, and Information Services.

Recognizing that managing and conserving  renewable natural resources is a global challenge which  is being addressed on an international scale, the RNRF  Board of Directors has established a task force to  identify current activities, strategies and research  projects related to renewable natural resources in other  countries, and explore opportunities for cooperation  and information exchange.

Contact: Chris Koster , RNRF (phone: 301-493-9101; fax: 301-493-6148; e-mail: RNRF@aol.com)

RENEW AMERICA's 4th Annual National Town  Meeting video teleconference on " Global Warming: Local Solutions," will take place on Earth Day, April  22, from 1: 00 to 2: 30 p. m. Eastern Daylight Time. The  Town Meeting presents an opportunity for local  government to join with community groups educators,  environmental interests and businesses to discuss  practical techniques for tackling climate change on a  local level. The teleconference panelists will focus on  innovative ways to increase business efficiency and  profitability, enhance the quality of life in our  communities, and protect the environment now and for  future generations. Questions from teleconference  participants will also be addressed live.

Panelists include William McDonough, Dean of  the University of Virginia School of Architecture and  founder of the Institute for Sustainable Design; Amory  Lovins, Director of Research for the Rocky Mountain  Institute; Braden Allenby, AT& T Vice President for  Health and Safety and coauthor of Design for Environment and Industrial Ecology ; Nancy Skinner,  U. S. Director of the Cities for Climate Protection  Campaign and the International Council for Local  Environmental Initiatives; and Kurt Schmoke, Mayor  of Baltimore, Maryland.

To participate in the National Town Meeting by  organizing a downlink in your community, call Ida  Rademacher at Renew America. More information is  available on the Internet at http://www.crest.org.

Contact: Ida Rademacher , RENEW AMERICA  (phone: 1-800-922-RENEW; 202-232-2252; fax: 202-232-2617; e-mail: renewamerica@igc.org)

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the  National Research Council has published a report entitled "Toward a Sustainable Future: Addressing the  Long- Term Effects of Motor Vehicle Transportation on  Climate and Ecology."

According to this study, Special Report 251, major  changes in U. S. transportation policies, technologies  and practices may become necessary to reduce motor  vehicle emissions and the subsequent risk of global  warming during the next century. Because  transportation plays an integral role in the nation's  society and economy, a balance must be struck between  the mobility and access needs of people on the one  hand, and environmental and natural resources needs  on the other.

Contact: Transportation Research Board, Box 289,  Washington, D.C. 20005. (phone: 202-334-3214; 202-334-2519)

This project, "Recycling Waste for Agriculture: The Rural- Urban Connection" , was developed by the  World Engineering Partnership for Sustainable  Development (WEPSD) in partnership with the World  Bank, United Nations Development Program, World  Health Organization, and the private sector.

Initial findings from the project include the following:

• Growing Urbanization and Decrease of  Yields The growth of urban areas in  developing countries increases the demand for  agricultural production at the same time that  additional land is scarce. To meet such  demand, cultivation on existing land must be  intensified. Continuous cropping is a  widespread practice today. However, this  practice leads to a continuous decrease in  organic matter and lower yields. On average,  the global decline of organic matter is close to  four percent per year.
• Adding Compost Improves Yields. By  adding manure, compost, or composted  organic waste to the soil, yields can be improved. This will result in improved  farming systems and an increased  sustainability. Compost added to soil  increases the water retention capacity,  improves the availability of nutrients to the  plant, acts as a buffer against rapid changes in  pH, counteracts the toxicity of pesticides, and  reduces disease. Compost, used together with  chemical fertilizer makes the latter more  effective. Currently, private- public  partnerships in Scandinavia and in Sri Lanka,  are exploring potential business opportunities  combining recycled organic waste and  chemical fertilizer for designated markets.
• Waste Management and Resource  Recovery. It has been estimated that 20- 50  percent of solid waste remains uncollected in  cities of the South. Waste management is  labor and capital intensive, consuming as  much as 30- 60 percent of municipal  operational budgets, but it remains a low-priority  for municipalities. With an improved  waste management system, municipalities can  reduce costs and increase opportunity savings.  By introducing a resource recovery system,  recyclable inorganic materials can generate  income, and recycled organic material can be  composted for sale to farmers. Further,  resource recovery can reduce the net cost of  waste management, save transportation costs,  and extend the life of landfills. In developing  countries 50- 80 percent of household solid  waste is organic matter, making it suitable for  composting.
• Health Risks and Waste. Several health risks  are associated with poor management of solid  waste, including respiratory problems,  diarrhea, and skin and eye infections. There  are also risks from disease vectors that feed or  breed in garbage - i. e. toxic wastes from  industries and hospital waste. In Mexico City,  the rate of cholera decreased from 50 to 20  percent when an effective waste collection  system was implemented. Drinking water is  also polluted, either directly by solid waste  dumping, or, indirectly, via lechate from  dumps. Effective waste management represents an investment in public health. It  provides a long- range positive impact on urban  residents, and it substantially improves urban  living for a municipality.

Contact: Michael Sanio, WEPSD, (phone:  703-684-2893; fax: 703-836-4875; e- mail: msanio@igc.org)

On November 24, 1997, members of engineering  and other non- governmental organizations (NGOs)  participated in a dialog with Administration officials  about U. S. efforts to promote sustainable development.  The meeting, held in the Environmental Protection  Agency's new offices in Washington, D. C. was one in  a series of dialogues bringing together a wide range of  NGOs with representatives of the Clinton  Administration's interagency working group on the  U. N. Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD),  the President's Council on Sustainable Development  (PCSD) and the White House Office on Environmental  Policy.

Much discussion focused on NGO concerns that  the U. S. effort to promote sustainable development  suffers from poor coordination and a low level of  political commitment. Keith Laughlin, Assistant  Director of the White House Office on Environmental  Policy, said that the Clinton Administration is making  great progress on encouraging sustainable development  throughout the Federal Government. However, he said  that, barring much greater public pressure, they are  unlikely to establish any new capacity within the White  House to coordinate sustainable development work  across domestic and international lines, nor does the  Administration intend to promote Agenda 21 (the  global action plan adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit)  per se.

A follow up meeting on the issue of coordination  is being organized for March, 1998. To receive a  meeting notice, send a fax to Kathy Sessions of the  United Nations Association of the U. S. A. (UNA-USA)  at 202-628-5945 or e-mail to brigler@unusa.org .

Also discussed at the November dialog were  specific issues on the agenda of the annual meeting of  the U. N. Commission on Sustainable Development  (CSD), including freshwater quality, the role of  industry in sustainable development, and education and  awareness raising.

The upcoming meeting of the Engineers Forum for  Sustainable Development will focus on freshwater  issues; other NGO- government dialogues on water are  being organized by John Waugh, IUCN, tel: 202-797-5454. An NGO-government meeting on industry and  sustainable development is being organized by Jeffrey  Barber, NGO Taskforce on Business and Industry, tel:  202-872-5339.) Non-governmental input on these  issues is strongly encouraged, both to the U. S.  delegation to the CSD (through the meetings discussed  above) and to the CSD process itself.

For more information on the CSD and the issues on  its '98 agenda, check the secretariat's website at: http://www.un.org/esa.

Contact: Kathy Sessions , UNA-USA (phone: 301-229-9774; fax: 301-229-9775; e-mail:  unaofusa@igc.org)

The fifth annual World Bank Conference on Environmentally and Socially Sustainable  Development was held October 6- 7, 1997 in  Washington, D. C. The theme of the Conference was  the scientific, legal, and economic requirements of  global ecosystem management. The conference  objectives were: "(1) to engage external experts with  Bank managers and country staff; (2) to provide a  unique opportunity for major professional groups to  interact on the requirements to link scientific,  economic, and legal solutions for global ecosystem  management at the country level; and (3) to promote  understanding as to how best practice and innovations  can be used for shared ecosystem management in  sustainable development planning."

The October 6 session of the Conference included  presentations by World Bank President James  Wolfenson; Robert T. Watson, Director of the Bank's  Environment Department; and Caio Koch- Weser,  World Bank Managing Director. The session also  included panel discussions on " The Sovereignty and  Systems of Nature and Nations," chaired by Maurice  Strong, U. N. Undersecretary General and Senior  Advisor to the World Bank President, and on "The  Global Treaties: Making Connections for Efficiencies,  Effectiveness, and Equity," chaired by Mostafa K.  Kolba, President of the International Center for  Environment and Development at Cairo University.

The October 7 morning session featured concurrent  roundtables on climate change; biodiversity,  desertification and forests; and international water  regimes. The afternoon session featured a presentation  on "Aggregating Knowledge for Policy: Global  Information Systems," by Kass Green of the Pacific  Meridian Resources and a panel session on  "Private/ Public Partnerships: Applications and Best  Practice," chaired by Sven Sandstrom, Managing  Director of the World Bank.

Contact: Sarwat Hussain, The World Bank (phone:  202-473-5690; fax: 202-473-3112; e-mail: shussain@worldbank.org)