and creativity. I believe that we are capable of buildinq a common future for the world that is more prosperous, more just and more secure than the world of the present. We must not let our planet slip into ever-increasing human misery and environmental decay. We are determined to strive for a new era of economic growth in order to reduce the extensive and deepening poverty existing in many of the houses of our common village. If we are to achieve economic well-being, we must base it on policies that sustain and even expand the environmental resource base. This resource base is vital for all our activities and must therefore be maintained and safeguarded at all costs. That means that our economic development cannot continue to achieve its objectives at the expense of our environment. The preservation and protection of the environment is a twin brother of the developmental process. At the same time, we must recognize how essential economic development is for the achievement of ecoloqical objectives. Poverty has proved to be one of the BCT/td A/S-18/PV.S 12 (Mr. Rieqler, Austria) worst polluters. Since we share a common future, we must be ready to assume responsibility for the economic well-beinq of those countries and reqions whose lack of sustainable develoPment not only is becominq a threat to their own survival but is also prone to lead to neqative consequences on a qlobal scale. If we continiJJe to destroy and pollute our forests, lakes and rivers, if we continue to increase the greenhouse effect by indiscriminate use of fossil fuels, if we continue to destroy the protective ozone layer, our earth will soon be a wasteland, a place~ unable to sustain human life, not to speak of the democratic societies to which we adhere. What is to be done? I believe that the Brundtland report, with its focus on 
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the interdependence of economic development and environmental protection, emphasizing the need for sustainable development to ensure a prosperous, just, and secure future for the world. It highlights the importance of preserving natural resources, reducing poverty, and addressing global challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation. The text also touches on the responsibility of developed countries to support the economic well-being of developing countries.

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