Environment protection and developmental politics

Environment protection and development are characterised as two sides of the same medal. The extent of environmental damage in the developing countries is one of the great challenges of our time. Environment protection is therefore one of the main objectives in the current German developmental policy and as a cross-sectional task figures as a standard in all the other sectors of the field. The support offered to developing countries in fulfillment of global agreements for environment protection represents a service rendered in the interest of the world community. In this regard it should be classified under compensation payments rather than under measures of development aid. It is important to strengthen the economic power of and enhance export opportunities for the developing countries because environmentally benign trading is the best aid for a sustainable development. (orig./HSCH)