sustainability cannot simply be achieved by action only at the level of individual ecosystems, economic sectors and geographic regions, a combination of national I••. A/CONF.151/PC/10 English Page 19 assessment and response and international co-ordination and co-oreration is needed. 7. In order to achieve sustainable development, policies must be based on the precautionary principle. Environmental measures must anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of environmental degradation. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific c,ertainty should not be used as a reason _for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. 8. Environmental problems require greater and more systematic use of science and scientific knowledge. Environmental science activities must therefore be strengthened nationally and internationally. We invite the international science community to contribute towards the advancement of sustainable development policies and programmes. Scientific analyses and forecasts are especially needed to help identify longer term policy options. 9. The evolving political and economic processes in Europe will provide new opportunities for member countries of ECE to co-operate more actively in implementing the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operatio~ in Europe (CSCE) and in particular the conclusions and recommendations of the concluding documents of the Vienna Meeting of the CSCE (1989), of the CSCE Meeting on the Protection of the Environment held in 1989 in Sofia and or the Bonn Conrerence on Economic Co-opera tion in Europe (1990) a~ well as the ECE Regional Strategy for Environmental Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources. 10. We believe that the attainment of sustainab1 ,e development on the national, regional and global levels requires fundamental changes in human values towards the environment and in patterns of behaviour and consumption as well as the establishment of necessary democratic institutions and processes. 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the importance of sustainability, international cooperation, and the use of science in achieving sustainable development. It highlights the need for a combination of national and international efforts to address environmental degradation, and emphasizes the importance of changing human values and behavior towards the environment. The text also references international agreements and conferences, such as the Helsinki Final Act and the Vienna Meeting of the CSCE.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Science and technology