the interdependence between environment and development, provides us with a valuable conceptual framework both for national policies and for measures on the international level. Furthermore, we believe that the upcominq United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in 1992, should, after careful preparation, deal in a concrete and innovative manner with the comPlex relationshiP between nan and society on the one hand and our environmental resource systems on the other. We hope that this United Nations Conference will ooen up new directions and serve as a lonq-term launchinq pad for ecoloqicallY sound development, improved multilateral co-operation and the reversal of the diverse processes of environmental degradation. Let me now briefly deal with the Austrian apProach to the challenqe of development. After the Secord World War, when we had to rebuild our country from scratch, we relied on the will power, inqenuity and perseverance of our peoPle. We opted for a market economy as the framework in which these qualities should be brouqht to bear. We succeeded, and we were able to add a social dimension to our economic model. This socially oriented market economy has proved to be a winner. BCT/td A/S-18/PV.S 13 (Mr. Riegler, Austria) It relies on the principle that economic activity is not an end in itself but serves the welfare of the people. Faced with the challenge of the coming millenium, we must take the concept of the socially oriented market economy one step further and add the necessary ecological dimension. We believe that this eco-social market economy, as we call it, will be the economic system of the future. The basic principle of this innovative aPProach is that the protection and development of environmental resources is an independent goal and an imPOrtant product of human endeavour. It is by the forces of the 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the interdependence between environment and development, highlighting the importance of considering ecological factors in economic development. It also mentions the concept of an eco-social market economy, which emphasizes the protection and development of environmental resources. This suggests that the text is focused on the relationship between economic development and environmental sustainability.

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