in converting bilateral loans to grants. The Canadians have taken the lead in the international community in recognizing and supporting the legitimate aspirations of nations that wish to grow at a rate that would result in steady improvement of the living standards of their peoples. Growth and development policies in all countries nust be formulated with an appreciation of the need to balance human goals with a safe and clean environment - The current preparatory process for the 1992 Conference on Environment and Development will focus on the link between poverty and the degradation of the environment. Problems such as desertification, deforestation, soil erosion, floods, and water and air pollution result from the depletion of natural resources as developing nations under extreme economic pressure seek to maximize agricultural potential. The poor and hungry will frequently destroy their surrounding environment in the struggle for survival. A people mired in absolute poverty and eking out an existence from their environmental-resource base regard efforts aimed at safeguarding the future as irrelevant. Although efforts at conservation may divert funds from necessary economic and social activities, ecological considerations must remain a part of our development planning. Further deterioration of our environment will result in a vicious spiral, since, according to the 1987 Brundtland report, environmental degradation can undermine economic development. The dilemma many countries find themselves facing is how to sustain economic growth while preserving the environment. International co-operation in establishing equitable economic terms is a fundamental factor in balancing that RM/11 A/S-18/PV.9 43 (Mr. Rogers, Belize ) delicate equation. Proportionate responsibility for the preservation of our common future should be borne by the industrialized nations, which in many cases benefit from the exploitation of the resource base in our developing countries. Residuals, by-products and emissions caused by the very processes to which some developed 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the relationship between economic development, poverty, and environmental degradation, highlighting the need for sustainable development and international cooperation to balance economic growth with environmental protection. It emphasizes the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on developing countries and the responsibility of industrialized nations to address this issue.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Economic development